Lola Young’s ‘I’m Only F**king Myself’ is defiantly unpretty

Recommended tracks: “SPIDERS,” “CAN WE IGNORE IT? :(,” “why do i feel better when i hurt you?”
Artists you might like: Billie Eilish, SZA, Chappell Roan

It’s rare to discover an artist who writes lyrics that read like confessionals without ever feeling performative. Enter Lola Young and her newest LP, I’m Only F**king Myself. Even when things are messy, you get a strong sense of who’s speaking. There’s power in her imperfections.

The 24-year-old has always been one to watch, but something shifted when she released “Messy.” It wasn’t just that the song was good — because it was — it was that it felt honest and defiantly unpretty. She continues down that same path on I’m Only F**king Myself, opening up about her struggles with drug addiction, depression, and sex. The rock track, infused with a hint of funk, opens the album with “F**K EVERYONE,” a song that portrays a nonchalant approach to relationships, expressing a desire for connection with no strings attached. Young finds just that on “One Thing,” framing sex as something casual, flipping the script on who holds the power.

Young faces herself on “d£aler,” and “Not Like That Anymore,” unpacking the messy cycle of self-sabotage and regret. Who doesn’t love a self-aware queen? On “Not Like That Anymore,” Young searches for clarity as she sings “I was a sad little bitch but if I’m honest, shit, I’ve barely damn changed,” highlighting what it feels like to circle the drain before “heading the right way, not the highway.” Old habits die hard on “d£aler,” as she slips into a bit of a relapse, admitting “I should get a fucking grip.”

But on “SPIDERS,” we reach a turning point where Young starts to face up to her fears head-on. She shared on Instagram:

“This song is my favourite from my next album, it’s also, in my opinion, one of the most special songs I’ve ever written. It encompasses all the pain and fear I have ever felt towards myself, and its about wanting someone to love me beyond all of that. Sometimes you want to kill what you’re most scared of in life, but when you actually face up to it, it’s really not as scary as you thought it would be.”

Since it’s September 5 release, “SPIDERS” has become a fan favorite, bringing in over three million streams. Earlier this week, Young performed the track on BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, alongside a cover of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild” and “Post Sex Clarity” from her own LP.

“CAN WE IGNORE IT? :(” blends the spirit of pop punk with fierce guitar work and driving drums, delivering a song that hits with attitude and emotion. It’s safe to say everyone knows that urge to bury something and pretend like everything’s fine, even when it’s not. The chorus, “Can we ignore it, baby, even for just one day? / Don’t wanna talk about it, I just put on my face” hits the nail on the head. Her voice has a way of articulating the push and pull between wanting to escape and the weight of what’s been swept under the rug.

The South-Londoner takes the honesty she’s known for and goes even further with “why do i feel better when i hurt you?”, digging into the complicated feelings that come from hurting those closest to us. If you’ve ever been stuck in a toxic relationship, these lyrics will hit home: “Lets not pretend we don’t find it hard / Just to accept the people we are / Throw words like punches at you / Sharp tables right across the room.”