Lola Young, the up-and-coming singer-songwriter from South London, chats about her album, This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, and what makes her hometown unique.
Finding Herself Through a Haircut
Lola Young shared with Rolling Stone’s Delisa Shannon at Lollapalooza that creating her new album made her feel truly herself for the first time. She said she felt free from self-doubt and external opinions. When asked how she achieved this mindset, she joked, “I basically cut my hair.â€
She explained further, “I used to be that person who’d say, ‘I’m not cutting my hair,’ and I had a terrible bob. But, you know, when people say a haircut can change things, especially for a woman, I think it marks a transition. It’s a moment of realizing, ‘Wait, I can be whoever I want to be.’â€
Love for South London and Future Music
During the interview, Lola also expressed what makes recording in Los Angeles special while emphasizing her deep love for her lifelong home, South London. Although her album This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway was just released a few months ago, she’s already thinking about her next musical projects.
Fans feel connected when artists share their personal journeys.
Describing her creative process, she said, “I always believe that music is cathartic. It’s an open book, so I’m able to take bits and leave bits, and then I want to say everything, and then I want to say nothing — it’s just great to have that always in my life. It’s my only true love.â€
Upcoming Tours
Lola has a North American tour coming up this fall, starting on Sept. 25 in Toronto and ending on Oct. 25 in Vancouver. After that, she’ll head back to the U.K. and Europe for shows in December and early 2025.