Lola Young Gives Us That “One Thing”
Lola Young, “One Thing”
Lola Young only has “One Thing” on her mind, and it may just be her next big hit.
The London-based alt-pop singer dropped her new single, a sultry celebration of a desired one-night stand previously teased on recent tour stops. After her single “Messy” went obnoxiously viral last year on TikTok, Young has been on a steady rise - from late show appearences to a superbly punk rock moment during the recent Coachella weekend 1 where Young ran off stage to vomit before returning to her kickass performance.
Lola Young is perhaps one of the most unique voices to emerge from the music scene in recent memory. Her music is not so easily definable by genre, with influences of R&B, doo-wop, bubblegum pop, and grunge in equal measures. Her aesthetic leans more into the alternative, what with her stylish mullet and facial piercings, and generally Young doesn’t fit the mold of other “pop girlies” of the moment - which is exactly what makes a song like “One Thing” so multilayered in its power.
“One Thing” is a playfully sexy entry in Lola Young’s cheeky musical canon that sits nicely alongside other tracks like “Fuck” and “Big Brown Eyes” off the dynamic 2024 record This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway. Sonically, we’re traveling a funky, disco-influenced landscape, with a heavenly, synthy outro that sparkles like a disco ball and bounces like a roller rink dance routine.
Young truly utilizes her voice as an instrument, from swooping down low and almost comedic in tone at some points, to the floaty layered vocals on the chorus, to the rap-sung second verse. Her personality is apparent across her discography but especially on “One Thing.” It almost feels like a comeback single if not for Young’s consistent output over the last several years. Lyrically, she doesn’t hold back with tongue-in-cheek lyrics like “wanna make you feel appreciated when you’re deep up in me” and “save that big dick energy for my mouth” - but when has she ever held back anyway? Young’s blunt lyrics are part of her style.
Fans are looking forward to another Lola Young Summer. Though she still lingers in the shadow of the absolutely massive (and still viral a year later) “Messy,” devoted listeners know there’s way more where that came from. Meanwhile Young herself is looking forward to a summer of festival stops, including the ever iconic Reading and Leeds. “One Thing” is just the summer bop to keep the energy going.
