Artist: Lola Young
Song: “Messy”
Album: This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway
Label: Island
Genre: Soul-Pop
“Messy” is a new song that was released earlier this year by British singer/songwriter Lola Young. This song has been in my orbit for a few weeks now-two friends from different circles had mentioned they were listening to this song “on repeat”, which means that it’s time to share it with you Indy-readers.
If you’re a lyrics junkie, “Messy” has a lot to chew on. The song delves in to the hypocritical standards that women are forced to uphold in relationships. Young sings about her frustration about being “too this” and “too that”, but never quite allowed to be herself. It is written in the same font as the, now famous, America Ferreira monologue from the recent Barbie film.
“Messy” opens with a simple guitar and and drums. Young’s vocalizations follow in shortly after with a rhythmic narrative about being left in the cold, her insecurities, and her imperfections. The song drives into a catchy chorus and oscillates back and forth into this storytelling style that transmits her frustrations about dealing with expectations beautifully. And lets not forget to mention that her tone and resonance are top-notch.
In an interview with Metal Magazine, Lola discusses her hit single, and her personal relationship with ADHD.
“Messy” is an ADHD anthem, it really showcases everything I felt during my last relationship, but also it is deeper than that, as it talks about how I feel about myself in general — being too messy one day and too clean another, struggling to find that balance in myself.
“Messy” is just one quality track on her 2024 album This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway. Delving a little deeper into her catalogue gives us permission to feel scattered, angry, unsure. Young creates music that let us enter these spaces.
Young is currently touring Australia, and then Europe and the UK. Be sure to see her before she catches fire. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of how soon. Be sure to check out her website here.
“I want to be me, is that not allowed?”
Listen to the track in our Check This 2024 Playlist!
The Indy Review 
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