Lola Young has opened up to NME about taking a hiatus to focus on her mental and physical health, and said that she is new ready to embark on a “bright new chapter” with latest single ‘From Down Here’.
The former NME Cover star caught up with us on the red carpet at The 71st Ivor Novello Awards, which took place at Grosvenor House in London last night (Thursday May 21) and saw her awarded the PRS For Music Most Performed Work trophy for the hit single ‘Messy’.
The award came following the London singer recently making her return to the live stage after cancelling her 2025 tour to recover from exhaustion, having previously collapsed on stage in New York City. She would later go on to open up about seeking treatment for addiction during that hiatus and attending AA meetings to help get things back on track.
Speaking to NME on the red carpet, Young told us that while she believes “all healing journeys are never ending”, she is “definitely in a much better place”, and feels “excited and ready to perform and to release music” now.
As for the support she received from fans after opening up about her personal struggles, she added: “My fans inspire me in the same way I hope to inspire them. I feel like I’ve never tried to be especially honest… it just comes very naturally to me.
“I don’t really have any other choice but to be honest, so if people connect to that, and that’s amazing.”
Numerous artists also praised the ‘Messy’ singer for speaking so candidly about the intense demand faced by touring artists. Lily Allen, for example, said she was “in awe” of the BRIT and Grammy winner, and Victoria Canal praised her for raising more awareness to the detrimental effect that touring schedules can have on a musician’s mental health.
As for if she can feel the tide turning when it comes to artists setting stronger boundaries to protect their wellbeing, Young told NME: “I never intended it to start a movement, but I hope that it does in some way.”
“I hope that this [encourages] any other artist who’s struggling, or who needs to take a break, to do that,” she continued. “Our wellbeing, our mental health and the private aspect of what we go through as people should be protected and should be respected. I’m so thankful for my manager too, because he got a lot of ridiculous hate over what happened [to me]. But he supported me and he is half the reason that I’m still here today.”
Since making her return to the live stage at the 2026 Grammys, Young has won Breakthrough Artist at the BRITs, performed at the Palladium in London – her first headline performance of the year – and announced live shows including four UK shows in June and a slot at this weekend’s BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend.
She has also been teasing new music, and told us about the brand new single, ‘From Down Here’, which is out today (Friday May 22).
“This is a song that I worked on with James Blake, who is someone who’s heavily inspired me throughout my whole life,” she said. “Working with him and calling him a friend is just so beautiful to me.”
“The track is about knowing that you’re missing a high, but also knowing that being grounded is a much safer place to be and so much more rewarding,” Young added. “It totally is a bright new chapter.”
Other winners at the 2026 Ivor Novellos included Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, who was handed the Academy Fellowship award by surprise guest Harry Styles, as well as George Michael who posthumously received the Academy Fellowship. His longtime friend and former Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley collected the award on his behalf.
Rosalía was crowned International Songwriter Of The Year, Sam Fender was given the trophy for Songwriter Of The Year, CMAT took home the Best Album statue for ‘Euro-Country’, and Fraser T Smith and Kae Tempest picked up the Best Contemporary Song prize for ‘I Stand On The Line’.
BRITs Critics’ Choice winner Jacob Alon won both Best Song Musically And Lyrically category with ‘Don’t Fall Asleep’ and the Rising Star Award, and other winners included Lily Allen, Calvin Harris, Kano and more.
