Getting a TikTok hit today is just as much a blessing as a curse. Someone who has made the most of the opportunity is Lola Young, who, with her timelessly raspy voice and the song Messy, has taken the leap from rising star to superstar. Lola Young got here the old-school way, through years of graft, songcraft, gigging, sporadic mental health issues, recovery, honing her ever-evolving sound from the titans throughout history. Born in Croydon in 2001, she was raised in south London where her mum introduced her to Joni Mitchell, the Smiths, Fleetwood Mac and Prince. So far, she’s released two full-length albums, collaborated with Tyler the Creator and performed on The Tonight Show. With a lot more in store, it’s an honour to be able to welcome her back to Way Out West (she actually played Höjden back in 2023!) again–this time on the big stage.