Lola Young
Lola Young is an English singer, musician and songwriter. In this article, we will take a detailed look at her biography and discuss her awards and nominations. We will also focus on the artist’s personal life.
Full name | Lola Emily Mary Young |
Date of birth | 4 January 2001 |
Age | 25 |
Place of birth | Croydon, London, England |
Parents | Mother – English; father – of Jamaican and Chinese descent |
Occupation | Singer, songwriter |
Genres | Pop, indie pop, R&B |
Years active | 2019 to present |
Education | BRIT School |
Instruments | vocals, piano, guitar |
Best-known hit | ‘Messy’ |
Net Worth | approximately £1.5 million |
Awards | Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance (2026) |
Lola Young's Biography
Lola was born on 4 January 2001 in Croydon, south London. She attended the BRIT School, which is renowned for nurturing young musicians and performers. Adele and Amy Winehouse also studied at the same school.
Lola Young younger
Early life
Lola Young began studying music during her school years: she played the piano, took guitar lessons and sang, and from the age of 11 she started writing her own songs. The singer’s musical talents emerged during her teenage years, and this shaped her future path.
As a teenager, Lola was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder; the theme of mental health is frequently addressed in her song lyrics.
Family
Lola Young and her Mother
Lola grew up in a musical household; her mother, who is English, always encouraged her daughter’s passion for performing on stage. The artist’s father is of Jamaican and Chinese descent. She inherited a rich cultural heritage from her parents. Her stepfather was a bass guitarist, and, according to Lola, it was he who inspired his stepdaughter to play and compose music.
In addition, she had a creative role model in the family in the form of her aunt, the children’s author Julia Donaldson. She too influenced Lola’s creative development in her early years.
Lola Young Aunt Julia Donaldson
Lola Young’s career
Lola Young quickly transformed from a young artist into a prominent figure on the British music scene. Her music combines heartfelt lyrics with melodic appeal, which has caught the attention of not only fans but also industry professionals. Audiences and critics alike praise Lola’s live performances and her talent for writing catchy songs.
Young’s path to fame was far from easy: in her early years, she released EPs and experimented with different styles, but the turning point came with her cover of the song ‘Together in Electric Dreams’, which was featured in the John Lewis Christmas advert in 2021. Thanks to this, the singer expanded her audience. Since then, she has performed regularly at major venues such as the O2 Academy Brixton. She has also frequently appeared on stages in Birmingham, gathering an ever-growing fanbase.
Singer Lola Young
Early career
In 2016, Young won the under-16 category at the Open Mic UK competition and reached the final of the CBBC children’s and teenagers’ TV show Got What It Takes?. In 2019, she signed with Island Records and released her debut single ‘6 Feet Under’, followed by the EP Intro.
Her real breakthrough came in 2024 with the release of the single ‘Messy’, which stormed the music charts and made Lola Young one of the most talked-about young artists on the British scene. Her music balances pop, R&B and indie — she sings with raw honesty. Many of the artist’s songs are based on her own experiences, relationships and complex emotions. This makes them resonate with a wide audience.
In 2024, the artist recorded the track “Like Him” with Tyler, the Creator for his album Chromakopia. On 21 January 2025, Lola performed her hit ‘Messy’ on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
In 2025, the singer filed a lawsuit against producer Carter Lang. A dispute over copyright arose between them.
Albums and popular songs
Lola Young Albums
Over the course of her career, Lola Young has released several albums:
- My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely (2023)
- This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway (2024)
- I’m Only F**king Myself (2025)
Lola Young - Messy
The artist’s most popular songs:
- ‘Messy’ — the track that made her name on the British music scene.
- ‘Together in Electric Dreams’ — a cover used in the John Lewis Christmas advert.
- ‘Echoes’ — a 2022 single performed during live shows at the O2 Academy Brixton.
- ‘Into the Light’ — a popular track from the EP Rising, featured on BBC Music playlists.
- ‘Waves’ — a track from an early EP that caught the critics’ attention for its sincerity and melodiousness.
Lola Young - d£aler
Awards and nominations
Young has already made a name for herself on the international stage, having garnered.
- In 2025, she received the Vanguard Award at the ASCAP London Music Awards — an award for outstanding contribution to music.
- In 2021, the BBC included her in the Sound of 2022 list, where Lola took fourth place among the most promising young artists.
Lola Young Brit Awards
The Brit Awards have been a special occasion for her:
- in 2021, she was nominated as Rising Star;
- in 2025, Lola was nominated in the British Pop Act category;
- in 2026, she was nominated again for British Pop Act, as well as for Rock/Alternative Act and Song of the Year for her hit ‘Messy’;
- in the same year, Lola won the Breakthrough Artist award and was nominated for Artist of the Year.
Lola Young Grammy 2026
The 2026 Grammy Awards also recognised her talent: Lola was nominated for ‘Best New Artist’, and her song ‘Messy’ won Best Pop Solo Performance.
At the 2025 Ivor Novello Awards, Lola was nominated for Best Album (This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway) and for Best Song Musically and Lyrically for ‘Messy’, and she won the Rising Star award.
Her song ‘Messy’ was nominated as the PRS for Music Most Performed Work in 2026. Also in 2025, Lola was nominated for the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (Favourite Viral Song) and the TikTok Awards (Artist of the Year).
Lola Young - Messy | Glastonbury 2025
At the 2025 UK Music Video Awards, the singer’s video for “One Thing” was nominated in the “Best Pop Video” category. Furthermore, her performances at major festivals cemented Lola’s status as one of Great Britain’s most promising young artists. Her appearance at major festivals, such as the Glastonbury Festival in 2023, served as further proof of her talent and popularity on stage.
Lola Young’s personal life
Lola Young Before and Now
Lola Young keeps a fairly private personal life, preferring to focus on her music and career. Despite her young age, she has already faced health issues: in 2022, she fainted due to severe exhaustion and burnout. Following a similar episode, she pulled out of a performance at the Leeds Festival. Since then, the singer has been carefully monitoring her sleep, diet and mental health to stay in shape for her creative work and live performances.
Relationships
Lola Young does not publicise her romantic relationships. At this stage of her life, she is more focused on her career than on finding a life partner. In an interview with British GQ, the singer revealed that she first experienced the feeling of being in love at the age of 14. She believes that it is possible to fall truly in love even in early adolescence.
Lola Young
Net worth
Lola Young’s net worth is estimated at approximately £1.5 million. Most of her income comes from singles, EPs, live performances and brand partnerships.
Place of residence
Lola lives in London, where she has a recording studio in which she spends a lot of time. The singer is able to get to concert venues and music events quickly. The city provides her with proximity to the professional music industry.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Lola Young from?
Lola was born and raised in Croydon, in south London, Great Britain. It was there that she took her first steps in music, playing the piano and guitar, and later began writing her own songs.
Why did Lola Young collapse?
In 2022, during one of her rehearsal performances, Lola had to temporarily stop rehearsing after fainting due to severe exhaustion and overwork. She later explained that this was her body’s way of signalling the need for rest and to look after her health.
What nationality is Lola Young?
Lola is British. Her family has an interesting mix of backgrounds: her mother is English, and her father is of Jamaican-Chinese descent.
What school did Lola Young go to?
She studied at the renowned BRIT School in London — a school for young talent in music and the arts. It was there that she gained the fundamental knowledge that helped her develop as a singer and songwriter.
Why did Lola Young pull out of Reading Festival?
In 2023, Lola was announced for the Reading Festival, but later had to pull out due to a clash of schedules with other gigs and studio commitments. She emphasised that she would like to perform at the festival in the future, when her schedule allows.
