Lola Wild’s forthcoming EP, Get Up, could be placed anywhere between 1960 and the modern day. Inspired by artists ranging from Roy Orbison to Angel Olsen, the EP exists in a time-wrap sonically, combining moments of doo-wop, Americana and contemporary alt-pop.
Lola sums it up: “Each track on this EP became an audial glimpse of a profound memory or experience, though elements might not be entirely factual it certainly feels like a written memoir in some way. I only hope it can trigger a specific reminiscence for the listener too.”
Intrigued to learn more, we asked her to dive in, track-by-track.
Get Up
This track is an ode to my little youth. Like most young people, you do and say what you thought at the time was necessary to block out certain aspects of life, I guess. Eventually it just got to the point where I needed to get up, move on and sort my stuff out. It’s also an audible glimpse of a lot of anxieties I challenged at the time. Battling with being present, ‘happy’ and being somewhere else mentally, influenced by my obsession with the sad clown paradox – the contradiction between outward appearance and internal emotions, hiding true feelings behind a facade of happiness.
Here I Go (ft. Robert Chaney)
This track acts as a conduit for my Americana and classic country influences. ‘Here I Go’ describes a failing and unfullfilling relationship, it implies a sense of resignation, and a fear you are missing out on something else. ‘Its not whats happened, it’s what I have missed’.
When I began writing this song it always felt like a frustrating, yet mutual conversation between two people. I was listening to a lot of Nancy & Lee at the time too. When I told my producer Jim of this concept, he immediately showed me Robert Chaney’s song ‘Breath’. I immediately fell in love with his music and vocal blend of Bob Dylan & Lee Hazlewood.
Rendezvous
‘Rendezvous’ is an ode to queerness and sexual fluidity. Written about two same sex lovers and the social pressures of where they should sit with their sexuality and gender roles, the song recounts a similar experience at the time I began exploring my own. It details the challenges faced by two ‘hetero’ friends falling in love whilst carrying the weight of the fear of judgment and stereotypes that came with it.
I decided to juxtapose the melancholic narrative by creating a super fun, up-beat dance visual. I was watching a lot of ’80’s hazy dance films at the time such as Flashdance. I’m also a huge fan of Bob Fosse, which influenced the choreography in the music video. Not only visually but Bob Fosse has inspired me creatively for a long time. He created an entire signature style through embracing insecurities and experiences, ditching emulation and embracing individuality, which is certainly something I try and live by with my own art.
Swing Low
Inspired by an old photo I had found in a book in an East London charity shop. It was a picture of a girl looking out to the beach whilst sitting on a swing. There was something quite bittersweet and reminiscent about this picture, it looked like a hazy dream or a distant memory that someone was hanging on to, all tucked away and hiding in this little book. I had recently bought an Omnichord at the time and was playing around with the whimsical strum pad, it slowly morphed the track from a sad ballad into something kind of psychedelic in ways.
Get Up by Lola Young is out on January 26th.
