Behind: This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway by Lola Young
Written by Taylor Walker
There is something incredibly refreshing about an artist who isn't afraid to be completely, unapologetically themselves, even when that version of themselves is messy, contradictory, occasionally unlikeable and far from perfect. Lola Young's This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway is exactly that. Released in June 2024, this album is an unapologetic exploration of love, heartbreak, anger, insecurity and the general chaos of being young. It is funny, uncomfortable, brutally honest and, at times, genuinely heartbreaking. While Lola has since received considerably more mainstream attention, I think this album deserves to be recognised as so much more than the record that introduced people to 'Messy'. It is an incredibly well-rounded project that showcases just how talented and distinctive she is as an artist.
What I love most about this album is its complete refusal to make Lola seem like a perfect person. There is no attempt to make every emotion sound beautiful or every experience meaningful. Instead, she allows herself to be contradictory. She can be angry one minute, vulnerable the next, completely infatuated with someone and then absolutely sick of them. It feels like listening to somebody think out loud, without stopping to consider whether what they are saying makes them look good. That honesty is what makes the album so captivating. It doesn't feel manufactured for an audience; it feels like something she needed to get out of her system.
The opening track, 'Good Books', immediately establishes this attitude. It explores the desire for validation and the exhausting experience of wanting to be understood and appreciated by somebody who perhaps doesn't deserve that much of your energy. There is a theatrical quality to the production, and Lola's vocal delivery makes the song feel almost like an argument that has been building for far too long. It is a brilliant introduction because it establishes one of the album's central themes: the struggle between wanting somebody's approval and finally realising that you shouldn't need it.
'Wish You Were Dead' takes that frustration somewhere considerably more explosive. It is one of those songs that captures the ridiculousness of being in a relationship where you can simultaneously love someone and absolutely cannot stand them. There is something almost humorous about the bluntness of the title, but underneath the aggression is a very recognisable feeling of emotional exhaustion. Lola manages to turn an incredibly uncomfortable relationship dynamic into something entertaining, catchy and strangely relatable.
Then there is 'Big Brown Eyes', which I think deserves considerably more appreciation. Its playful, almost reggae-inspired sound makes it one of the album's most immediately enjoyable moments, but there is a much more complicated feeling underneath the production. It explores the experience of being so attracted to someone that you willingly overlook the things you probably shouldn't. It is that familiar situation of knowing somebody isn't necessarily good for you but finding yourself drawn towards them anyway. The contrast between the upbeat instrumentation and the less flattering emotional reality is fantastic.
'Conceited' is another standout, demonstrating just how effortlessly Lola can switch between musical styles. The bassline is infectious, the production has a wonderfully gritty quality and her vocal performance is full of attitude. There is an almost confrontational energy to the track, but what makes it interesting is that it doesn't simply present Lola as someone who has everything figured out. There is insecurity and self-awareness sitting underneath the confidence, which makes the song feel much more human than a conventional empowerment anthem.
Of course, 'Messy' is the song that most people will immediately associate with the album, and understandably so. However, I think there is a danger in allowing its success to overshadow everything surrounding it. The song captures the frustration of feeling as though you are constantly being judged for not behaving exactly as other people expect you to. It explores the contradictions of being human and the exhausting experience of trying to fit into somebody else's idea of who you should be. What makes it so effective is that it doesn't offer a neat solution. It simply asks why being imperfect should make someone less deserving of understanding. It is catchy enough to become an anthem, but emotionally honest enough to mean something beyond its popularity.
For me, though, one of the album's most interesting qualities is its ability to move away from anger and reveal a much softer side. 'Walk On By' is a particularly beautiful example of this. Beneath its more upbeat arrangement is a sense of sadness and acceptance, as though Lola is beginning to recognise that sometimes walking away is the only way to protect yourself. 'You Noticed' takes that vulnerability even further. It feels like one of the emotional heartbeats of the album, exploring the pain of loving someone while knowing that the relationship cannot necessarily continue. There is a rawness to her vocal performance that makes the song particularly affecting. It is moments like these that remind you that Lola's talent extends far beyond her ability to write catchy, attitude-filled songs.
'Crush' brings another interesting dimension to the record, capturing the excitement and embarrassment of developing feelings for someone new. It explores that almost ridiculous stage of attraction where every interaction becomes significant and your brain seems incapable of thinking about anything else. Meanwhile, 'Fuck' provides a much more playful and carefree moment, demonstrating that not every song needs to carry an enormous emotional weight. Lola understands that being young is not always about heartbreak and self-discovery; sometimes it is simply about having fun, making questionable decisions and enjoying yourself.
The album's final stretch, particularly 'Intrusive Thoughts' and 'Outro', is where its emotional honesty becomes especially important. After spending much of the record expressing frustration with other people, Lola turns some of that attention inwards. 'Intrusive Thoughts' feels quieter and more unsettling, offering a glimpse into the internal struggles that exist beneath the album's louder personality. The spoken-word conclusion then provides an interesting final perspective on the project's title and its intentions. It reinforces the idea that these songs were created as an expression of herself rather than an attempt to please anybody else.
I also think the production deserves more recognition. Working with Solomonophic and a range of collaborators, Lola creates a sound that moves between alternative pop, soul, R&B, indie and funk without becoming completely predictable. The album is not afraid to be slightly chaotic, and I actually think that works in its favour. The changes in production reflect the different emotional states explored throughout the record. It would almost feel dishonest if an album about the unpredictability of relationships and the messiness of being human sounded perfectly uniform from beginning to end.
Ultimately, I think This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway is one of those albums that becomes more impressive the more time you spend with it. It is easy to focus on the catchy singles, but there is a much more interesting and emotionally complex project underneath them. Lola Young manages to capture the frustration, humour, insecurity, confidence and vulnerability of being young without ever making it feel like she is trying too hard to be relatable.
What makes this album so special is that it doesn't ask you to like every version of Lola. It simply allows you to see them all. The confident version, the insecure version, the angry version, the heartbroken version and the version that is still trying to work everything out. There is something incredibly comforting about hearing an artist embrace all those contradictions rather than pretending they don't exist.
I genuinely believe this album deserves to be revisited as a complete body of work, rather than remembered solely for the success of one particular song. 'Messy' might have introduced a much wider audience to Lola Young, but This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway demonstrates why there was so much worth discovering in the first place.
It is chaotic, unapologetic, occasionally uncomfortable and completely full of personality. And perhaps that is the whole point. Not every album needs to be perfectly polished, perfectly cohesive or perfectly likeable. Sometimes the best music comes from people who are willing to be a little difficult to understand.
If anything, this album makes one thing abundantly clear: Lola Young was never making music to fit into anybody else's expectations. And thank goodness for that.