Lola Young is a British singer and songwriter from London. She is best known for covering “Together in Electric Dreams” for the 2021 John Lewis Christmas advert and for her 2024 song “Messy”, which was her first song to top the UK Singles Chart. Young has been recognised receiving many nominations for awards. She was nominated for the Brit Awards for Rising Star in 2021, Best Pop Act in 2025, and placed fourth in the BBC Sound of 2022 competition.
Young grew up in the Beckenham area of London to a Jamaican-Chinese father and English mother. She attended Balgowan Primary School in Beckenham, Kingsdale Foundation School and later attended the BRIT School in Croydon. Her stepdad, a bass player, and her mother nurtured her musical talents. Her great-aunt, Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo (1999), also influenced her creative development. At six years old, she began piano, guitar, and singing lessons developing a deep love for songwriting by the age of 11.
Young’s early foray into music saw her participating in Open Mic UK singing competitions. At 15, she won the competition with her song “Never Enough”, which led to a consultation package with Future Music and £5,000 for music development. This victory opened the doors to the BRIT School, where she honed her skills. In 2016, Young appeared on CBBC’s Got What It Takes?, finishing as a runner-up. After graduating from the BRIT School in 2018, she continued performing at local gigs and open mic events, eventually catching the attention of industry figures Nick Shymansky, Amy Winehouse’s former manager, and Nick Huggett, who first signed Adele. The two soon became her managers.
In 2019, Young signed with Island Records and released her debut single, “6 Feet Under”, followed by the EP Intro. Her next EP, Renaissance, was released in April 2020. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, she maintained her presence through virtual performances and continued to release music, including the single “Woman”. In 2021, Young gained wider recognition with her performance on The Late Late Show with James Corden and her rendition of “Together in Electric Dreams” for the John Lewis Christmas advert. She was nominated for the Brit Award for Rising Star. Young’s lead single for her debut album, “Stream of Consciousness”, was released in November 2022 and a successful European tour followed. The album, My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely, was released in 2023.
Young’s second album, This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, came out in June 2024. Singles including “Messy” gained popularity through TikTok, leading to a rise in her international popularity. In 2024, Young collaborated with Tyler, the Creator on his album Chromakopia and continued to release singles such as “Wish You Were Dead” and “Big Brown Eyes”. In January 2025, Young performed “Messy” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Her single “Flicker Of Light” is featured in the video game EA Sports FC 25.
