Meltdown Festival: Lola Young at Southbank Centre
Little Simz’ Meltdown Festival has taken over the Southbank Centre, and tonight it’s Lola Young’s turn to perform at the iconic venue. Still relatively new on the scene, the singer’s sound – gritty, soulful and unmistakably her own – has been making waves ever since her hit Messy snowballed up the charts. Packed with vocals, soul and authenticity, she proves she has what it takes to command a room.
Good Books is an anthemic opener, leading straight into Wish You Were Dead – and organically, the crowd are out of their seats for this one. It’s immediately clear they know it and love it. Lights flash for the bridge and the fans erupt. Young’s style sits comfortably in the pop-punk realm: it’s funky and fun, with a Lily Allen-esque charm in the spoken verses and earworm riffs that tumble down the scale. Big Brown Eyes is a standout, its descending chorus deeply satisfying. But there are also moments when her rock roots rise to the surface – and she thrives in them. Tracks like Don’t Hate Me, Fuck and Spiders show the depth of her voice, allowing her to ruminate in the emotion of each song.
The frontwoman slows things down for You Noticed, a heart-wrenching ballad about the ache of being truly seen. She even suggests that this one is best heard sitting down – and she’s right. It’s a vulnerable performance, delivered without filter or distraction, and it commands the audience’s full attention.
Another more subtle moment comes with an untitled song that Young announces she wrote just the day before – in about half an hour. A dedication to her little sister, the piece holds the hall in a trance and rightly earns her a cacophony of applause.
Her encore is made up of two starkly different tracks: What Is It About Me and, of course, Messy. The former is stripped all the way back, her exceptional belt at the forefront, and the lyrics – raw, exposed, unflinching – cut through the air; Messy is loud, confident and joyful. They both prove that, while Lola Young is at the dawn of her career, she is here to stay.
Talitha Stowell
Photos:
For further information and future events visit Lola Young’s website here.
Watch the video for One Thing here:
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