Lola Young is an English musician born in Croydon, South London, on January 4, 2001. She began writing music at age eleven and gained early recognition by winning the under-16 category of Open Mic UK in 2016, which led to her enrollment at the Brit School. Young signed to Island Records at 18 and released her debut single in October 2019, followed by several EPs before her first album, My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely, in 2023. Young's music blends pop with elements of hip-hop, R&B, indie, and art-pop, drawing influences from artists including Joni Mitchell, Prince, and Frank Ocean. Her second album, This Wasn't Meant for You Anyway (2024), achieved significant commercial success when its single "Messy" went viral on TikTok and topped multiple charts. The album reached the UK top 20, and Young won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance in 2026. She has also been recognized with the Ivor Novello Award for Rising Star and the ASCAP Vanguard Award, and was listed on Forbes 30 Under 30.