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00:00The TikTok algorithm brought you to me and it reminded me of those days where I was listening
00:05to Kate Nash and Liliac, like, you know, all these artists. Fresh artists, right?
00:11But the ones that were conversational, that were, like, using their music as a means to heal
00:16and to process. Thank you, yeah.
00:17And I want to know, like, when did you just start letting it come out of you?
00:23Was it always like that?
00:24Yeah, it was. I've always been, like, a songwriter, so
00:28I started super young. I wrote my first song when I was maybe, like, 11.
00:33So it was ridiculous, but, like, also there's a sense of, like, I've just, you know, always,
00:39I've always done that. It's always something that has come naturally to me.
00:43And I'm thankful about that, you know?
00:45How was this album process different than others?
00:49Because it was the most me I've ever felt.
00:52I think every time I create, there's always something that's, like,
00:55slightly different about the way I create.
00:58And a lot of the time, it's a conscious thing.
01:01So, like, I'll feel too conscious about what I'm saying or
01:04how it's going to be perceived or whatever.
01:05This album was the first time I felt like I didn't give a shit.
01:08Do you know what I mean?
01:09And that's what's made it different about this album than anything else I've released.
01:13Was there a transformation for you?
01:15How did you come to this?
01:16I basically cut my hair, as a lot of, you know, people do.
01:21And then they kind of realize, like, oh, it's like a change.
01:25Like, it's crazy because I used to be that bitch that was like,
01:30oh, no, like, I'm not cutting my hair.
01:32Like, and I had some awful, like, bob with, like, little straggly bits.
01:36Right, right.
01:38And I'm exaggerating.
01:39But, like, then I was like, actually, do you know what?
01:42Like, when people say that when you cut your hair and it changes things,
01:46especially for, like, a woman, I think, or, like, you know,
01:50I think that can be really important in a transitional,
01:54like, to create a transitional stage because a point in your life,
01:57because it's like a turning point.
01:59You go, actually, hang on, like, I can be who I want to be.
02:02That's what it means, I think, for me anyway.
02:04And so that's what you were shedding.
02:05You were like...
02:06I was shedding a lot of, like, consciousness.
02:12Like, being too conscious and being too, like...
02:15That part.
02:16I feel like I'm in that stage of my life right now.
02:18I'm, like, so aware of this flesh bag that I'm in
02:23and, like, thinking about how each step informs the next step.
02:26And sometimes it can be so distracting and noisy.
02:29It can be so noisy and life is noisy and being alive is noisy.
02:33And I think understanding that, like, this is, like, this is...
02:38I think that cutting the hair is...
02:39I'm a vessel, right?
02:40So, like, cutting my hair wasn't, like, oh, yeah.
02:42Like, it was a visual, like, an outward thing.
02:47Right, right.
02:47People are going to see and they're going to...
02:49But, like, underneath, it was deeper than that.
02:53And I know for this project, you wanted to make it a point
02:56not to bring in any, like, outside references
02:58and just truly be like, this is me as a vessel
03:02and I'm just going to let it spill out.
03:03Yes.
03:05Have you done things in the past where maybe you've, like,
03:07brought a reference in and then it just didn't feel like it was Lola?
03:11Yeah, because, like, when I bring in a reference, it's like, what am I doing?
03:15I'm not trying to be, like...
03:17Like, for example, if I brought in a reference from a song
03:21that I'd been listening to throughout the fucking week
03:23or the past couple months, it's like, okay, and what?
03:29Like, Lola, you're not that person and you're not that person
03:32and you're Lola.
03:34And it doesn't always mean that I'm not going to bring in a reference.
03:36It just means that I also know that, like, if I want to create...
03:41It doesn't mean, like, some artists, for example,
03:43they don't listen to music.
03:44Like, they won't listen to music when they're creating.
03:45I listen to music. I listen to music all the time.
03:47I'm not a...
03:48I would say I'm, like, a very heavy music consumer,
03:50but I like to listen to, like, an album and I'll listen or repeat
03:52in that ADHD way that we all are.
03:55But, like, I think not we all are, but that I am.
03:58Yes, same.
03:58So, like, so...
04:00I was going to get it.
04:01So, basically, I think that, like, yeah, in terms of references,
04:06I'm not going to, like...
04:08Overload it.
04:09I'm not going to overthink it.
04:11Right.
04:11The process.
04:12And you recorded this album in LA?
04:14I did, yeah. Most of it, yeah.
04:17Has that been different?
04:18Have you recorded most of your music in London or South London?
04:21Or was that, like...
04:22I love recording in LA.
04:25I love recording in LA and I was thinking about this quite a lot today.
04:27Like, I love recording in LA because it's, like, it's got an energy about it.
04:32But also London has an incredible energy.
04:34So does New York.
04:36Like, so does a lot of big cities, but, like, LA felt right for the time
04:40and, like, Solemn Monophonic, my producer, along with Colin Will, it felt great.
04:44Yeah.
04:45So, obviously, being from South London,
04:48I think there's something that I hear in your music I've never...
04:51Obviously, I've never visited.
04:53But I feel like I can imagine the people that are, like, walking down the street,
04:57that, like, live in your neighborhood.
04:58How does South London manifest itself in the music that you make?
05:02Well, it's, like, kind of like New York, but way more like...
05:05London's like New York, but it's way more like everything is there.
05:09It's not, like, separate.
05:10Like, I don't...
05:13It's very multicultural.
05:14It's very, like, you just see culture everywhere in London.
05:18And, like, South London especially is very much like that.
05:21And I love it.
05:22Yeah.
05:22I, like, live and breathe it.
05:23And do you know what?
05:24Coming here has made me miss it more.
05:26Not that I don't love...
05:28Not that I don't love America.
05:29But, like, there's something about London you have to go.
05:33My biggest style icons, actually, are you and Nia Archives.
05:36Wow, thank you.
05:37That kind of, like, to your point, like, how it's so multicultural and everything.
05:41It's, like, as big as the world is, but it's super small.
05:43And it's, like, there's, like, this urgency to the style where it's, like, it is free.
05:50It's, like, whatever I want to show up as today.
05:51It's free. And also, like, I think there's a freedom in expression
05:55that's happening universally at the moment.
05:57Like, everything is, like, about being free and being who you are.
06:01I think it's amazing.
06:01But then also, then everyone wants to be everything.
06:04Right, right, right.
06:04And so there's a very simple, like, there's a very, like, minute,
06:09it's kind of, like, very small difference in London.
06:14Because it's got this, like, weird, yeah, it's got a weird vibe.
06:18Yeah, I don't know how to explain it whatsoever.
06:20But it's exactly, like, it's just, it's, like, it's kind of, like, um, like, like an alchemy.
06:29Yeah, exactly.
06:29It's like a science thing.
06:31I don't know what it is, but there must be something in the water over there.
06:34That just, like, breathes y'all.
06:36Well, there's shit in the water, so.
06:37Well, yeah, facts, facts. Fair, fair.
06:40So thinking about how honest you are in your songwriting,
06:43how are you imagining approaching making new music as you continue to grow?
06:49Like, do you think you'll have to kind of go back, live life a little bit?
06:52Or do you think you'll use it more like a running diary?
06:56It's a running diary.
06:57Yeah.
06:57It's always going to be a running diary for me.
06:59That's just the way I work.
07:01I mean, I think, like, I always believe that, like, music is a cathartic, very, like,
07:09very, like, you know, it's an open book.
07:11So I'm able to, like, take bits, and then I'm able to, like, leave bits,
07:15and I'm able to, like, and then I want to say everything,
07:17and then I want to say nothing.
07:18And, like, you know, it's just, like, it's great to have that always in my life.
07:22It's, like, my only true love, as I said in the record.
07:24Yeah, I was listening to you today, and there's a part in one of your songs where I, like,
07:31first time I heard it, I was like,
07:33is she going to fill this with a rhyming word?
07:35But you just left it silent.
07:37Which song was it?
07:39It was, um, Oh, Lord, What's the Name of It?
07:46Yes, the latest album, and it's very minimal.
07:48The production is, yes.
07:50And I was like, you're going to, in my mind, because I was just like,
07:53What was it?
07:55I don't remember what the word was.
07:59Where was the second verse?
08:00It was the second verse, and it was just, like,
08:03too, it was so silent, and I was like,
08:06it gave me the opportunity to fill it myself.
08:08It was wild.
08:08Oh, wow.
08:09I, like, felt it today.
08:10Thank you, thank you, thank you.
08:11Is that choice?
08:12Like, does that just happen?
08:13Yes, yes, it's choice.
08:13It's choice.
08:14Is it something where you, like, put a word in,
08:16and then you're like, nah, I'll take that out?
08:17Or it's just, like, it just happens after?
08:18No, it's just, like, I just choose to, like,
08:21the, like, my writing style is, like, developed.
08:24So, like, I'll go, like, nah,
08:26probably the word you're thinking of is maybe I never even thought,
08:28but, like, as in, like, I would choose to specifically
08:32not do something on purpose, because it just,
08:35it makes sense to me, you know what I mean?
08:36Yeah.
08:37Like, it feels right for the, what I'm saying,
08:38the emotion in the record or whatever.
08:40Right, and it's not like there weren't words that could fit.
08:43It was just.
08:44Oh, yeah, I need to know what bit you're talking about.
08:45Yeah, I will, literally, after this, I'll cue it up,
08:47and we'll listen to it.
08:48Yeah, it was really, really special.
08:50I love the choices that you make.