The South London artist is for the people—unless you’re her ex

South London songwriter Lola Young’s 2024 album This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway has a misleading title. The genre-bending rising star crafts soaring choruses that unite people speaking different languages, and blends styles from disparate genres. Lola Young is for the people—unless you’re her ex. That’s who this album wasn’t made for.

Take “Messy”, one of the project’s early singles. The bassline and drum groove interlock to create a solid backbeat while Young dips into a half-rapped flow and shuts down excuses from a former lover. She spits, “I get what you're saying/I just really don't want to hear it right now/Can you shut up for like once in your life?/Listen to me.” It’s a song that’s emblematic of the album’s approach to hypocrisy. Throughout This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, Lola Young comes correct at anyone trying to do her dirty, giving it right back without a second of hesitation.