Lola Young’s music is a striking blend of softness and intensity, reflecting her unique artistic journey. Her debut full-length album, This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, launched last June, is a profound exploration of inner struggles and emotional depth. With its layered soundscapes featuring pulsating 808s and gritty guitars, the album encapsulates Young’s experiences of pain and frustration. Through her songwriting, she reveals a personal truth: she internalizes her most troubling emotions, which she can only express and release through the medium of her music. This duality in her songs resonates with listeners, inviting them into her world of vulnerability and strength.
Young’s artistry is evolving, showcasing her determination to establish herself as a prominent figure in pop music. Although her earlier works often conveyed a sense of urgency, her recent single, “Messy,” has become a significant turning point in her career. Originally released last summer, “Messy” has steadily climbed the Official U.K. Singles Chart and even reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. This success has been bolstered by numerous high-profile television appearances, positioning her on the brink of becoming a household name in the U.K. and beyond. Young’s commitment to her craft is evident, as she continues to captivate audiences with her distinctive sound.
Where does Lola Young envision her future as an artist? After receiving a BRIT nomination and enduring a rigorous tour across the United States, she reflects on her accomplishments with a mix of pride and anxiety. Taking the stage at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town on March 3, she expressed her excitement about reaching this pivotal moment in her career while acknowledging the pressures that come with planning her next steps. Young’s journey has been anything but easy, yet she stands firmly in her achievements, ready to embrace what lies ahead.
The demand for her performance led to a venue upgrade, a testament to her growing popularity. Young has only headlined a few shows in her hometown, having faced challenges in building a fanbase with the more commercially-oriented projects of her earlier days, such as her 2019 EP Intro and its follow-up, Renaissance, which are not featured in her current setlist. In a candid conversation with Billboard U.K. in November, she revealed, “This isn’t about blaming anybody, but nothing was really clicking at the time. Now, I have creative control alongside an understanding of who I am,” highlighting her transformative journey as an artist.
Her unwavering perseverance is evident in her dynamic stage presence. Young captivates audiences with her bold performances and growing confidence. During this monumental show, she showcased her spontaneous nature and self-reliance, embodying a vibrant energy that shines through her signature lashes and heavy fringe. Each performance is a testament to her evolution as an artist, engaging fans and creating memorable moments that resonate long after the show ends.
Here are the top 5 unforgettable moments from her electrifying gig.
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Entering the Stage: A Memorable Arrival
Young made her grand entrance twenty minutes later than scheduled, greeted by an ecstatic crowd chanting her name as the upbeat melody of “Good Books” filled the venue. During her delay, the audience embodied the essence of Gen Z London, emitting a cloud of fruity vape smoke while donning oversized sweaters, using AirPods as makeshift earplugs, and capturing memories on film cameras or via FaceTiming friends from the pit. The atmosphere was electric, filled with anticipation and excitement.
Upon her arrival, Young confidently took to the expansive Forum stage, wearing a stylish bustier top and her iconic mullet hairstyle. Behind her, vibrant Love Hearts-style visuals danced across a large LED screen, dynamically shifting in color and intensity to align with the track’s captivating rhythmic peaks, enhancing the overall experience for her audience.
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Celebrating Hometown Connections
With support from influential artists like SZA and Tyler, The Creator, Young has spent much of 2024 performing at theater-sized venues across the U.S., successfully cultivating a dedicated fanbase overseas. This strategic move has set the stage for her debut at Coachella next month, but it also heightened the stakes for her London performance, given that it had been an entire year since she last graced the stage at home.
Despite the pressure, Young exuded fearlessness during her live performance. She effortlessly riffed and ad-libbed during her collaboration with Lil Yachty, “Charlie,” celebrating the freedom found in charting one’s own course. “I’ve been to a lot of places now, but there’s nowhere like London,” she beamed, connecting deeply with her audience and cherishing her roots.
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Blending Humor with Emotional Depth
Within the context of Young’s fierce artist persona, it’s easy to overlook the delicate and nimble quality of her voice. While her distinctive south London accent has contributed to the edginess of her upbeat tracks, her balladry—especially the poignant “What Is About Me,” performed acapella during the concert—highlights her intense introspection regarding trust and mental health challenges.
Conversely, her playful wit emerged between songs, showcasing her vibrant personality. At just 24, Young has already navigated numerous phases in her musical career, and her growing self-confidence is evident. She humorously dismissed her 2023 viral hit “Don’t Hate Me” as a song she’s now “bored” of, inviting fans to take over the chorus. This interaction exemplified the dynamic exchange between artist and audience, as Young encouraged her fans to meet her on her own terms.
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Reflecting on Success and Growth
“And you said, ‘You’ll never break through in pop music anyway’/ And that really got to me, to be honest,” encapsulates the essence of the second verse from the deceptively upbeat ska track “Revolve Around You,” initially released two years ago. Since that time, Young has ascended to the forefront of British pop, now performing this song with a mix of triumphant delight and unwavering resolve.
The concert felt like a significant milestone, marking the end of an era. Young may never perform at such an intimate London venue again, a realization she seemed to embrace. Before launching into the energetic “Wish You Were Dead,” she shared a heartfelt poem she had penned just moments before taking the stage, reflecting on her journey and the importance of living in the present.
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Creating Unforgettable Moments of Unity
The moment everyone had been eagerly anticipating arrived: “Messy,” an empowering anthem that has solidified itself as Young’s signature song. As the closing track, fans raised their phones high and sang along passionately, while Young delivered the chorus with the intensity of a megaphone, transforming it into a powerful rallying cry for unity and empowerment.
As the song reached its climactic finale, Young encouraged a collective primal scream from the audience, amplified by a thunderous drum pattern. She leaped into the air, embodying the cathartic release of emotion as the crowd roared along with her, creating an unforgettable moment that resonated deeply with all in attendance.
