Lola Young's Parents: The Professional Bass Player And The Author Who Shaped Her 'Messy' Success

As of December 2025, the conversation around British singer-songwriter Lola Young is not just about her chart-topping hits like "Messy," but also the creative forces that shaped her raw, R&B-infused soul sound: her parents. Her upbringing in South London was steeped in a rich, multicultural, and intensely musical environment, a crucial foundation laid by her mother, a supportive artistic figure, and her stepfather, a professional bass player, whose constant influence set her on an unstoppable path to becoming one of the UK's most compelling new voices. The recent surge in Lola Young’s popularity, particularly following the success of her 2024 album *This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway*, has brought intense scrutiny to her background, including her family's artistic connections. While the singer is known for her fiercely independent spirit and candid lyrics, a deep dive into her family life reveals a fascinating lineage that directly explains her early exposure to music, her discipline, and even the recent, highly-publicized "nepo baby" claims she has had to address.

Lola Young: A Full Biography and Profile

Lola Young, the dynamic singer-songwriter known for her powerful vocals and brutally honest lyrics, has rapidly become a fixture in the contemporary music scene. Her career trajectory is a testament to both innate talent and a dedicated, musically-focused upbringing.

• Full Name: Lola Emily Mary Young
• Date of Birth: January 4, 2001
• Age (as of late 2025): 24 years old
• Place of Birth: South London, specifically Croydon, England
• Nationality: British
• Ethnicity: Mixed race—her biological father is reportedly Jamaican-Chinese, and her mother is English.
• Upbringing: Raised in South London by her mother and stepfather.
• Musical Genre: R&B, Soul, Pop, and Indie influences.
• Education: Attended the prestigious Brit School (The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology), an institution that has also nurtured artists like Adele and Amy Winehouse.
• Career Highlights: Won a national open mic contest at the age of 15 (in 2016); released the viral hit single "Messy" (2024); released the critically acclaimed album *This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway* (2024).
• Notable Family Connection: Great-Aunt is famous children's author Julia Donaldson (creator of *The Gruffalo*).

The Musical Household: A Professional Bass Player and a Creative Mother

The deepest and most direct influence on Lola Young's career comes from the musical environment cultivated by her mother and stepfather. This was not a passive exposure; it was a deliberate, immersive education in the arts that began in her childhood.

Her mother, Imogen Moore De Pulido, has been identified as a key figure in Young's early development, even appearing alongside her daughter on the CBBC talent show *Got What It Takes?* in 2016.

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Imogen's role was one of constant encouragement and discipline. According to Young, her mother "constantly" played music around the house, ensuring the soundtrack to her childhood was rich and diverse.

This dedication went beyond passive listening. From the young age of six, Lola's mother insisted on formal training, enrolling her in a rigorous schedule of piano, guitar, and singing lessons. This early discipline is what the singer credits for her technical ability, stating she "had to train massively" and didn't just "pop out the womb" with her talent.

The Professional Musician Stepfather

While the names of her biological father and stepfather are kept largely private, the stepfather's profession is a well-documented entity in her story. He was a professional bass player who was heavily involved in the music scene.

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His background not only provided a working example of a career in music but also introduced a vibrant cultural element to the family home. He reportedly ran popular salsa nights, further diversifying the musical genres Young was exposed to beyond the classic artists like Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac, and Prince, whom she also cites as influences.

This blend of her mother's English background and her biological father's Jamaican-Chinese heritage, combined with the professional musical environment of her stepfather, created a unique, multicultural, and creatively fertile ground for a future artist.

Addressing the "Nepo Baby" Controversy and Julia Donaldson

As Lola Young’s profile exploded in 2024, particularly with the viral success of "Messy," a new, modern form of scrutiny emerged: the "nepo baby" conversation. This term, short for nepotism baby, is used to describe children of successful or famous people who are perceived to have an unfair advantage in their careers.

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The claims against Young stem not from her immediate parents, but from a more distant, yet famous, family member: her great-aunt, the beloved children's author Julia Donaldson.

Julia Donaldson is a literary icon, best known for creating the globally successful character *The Gruffalo*. This connection became a significant talking point online, leading to accusations that Young’s success was due to family connections rather than merit.

Lola Young's Candid Response

Lola Young has been quick and candid in her response to these accusations, using her platform to dismiss the claims and reaffirm her dedication to her craft. She has pointed out the absurdity of the "nepo baby" label being applied because of a great-aunt, a connection she views as distant from her musical career.

She has consistently emphasized the years of hard work, the forced lessons from her mother, and the difficult reality of breaking into the music industry without a pre-existing network of industry executives. Young’s rebuttal has focused on her talent, her education at the competitive Brit School, and the genuine, grassroots nature of her early career, which included winning a national open mic competition.

This public conversation has only served to highlight the artist’s authenticity, an entity she values highly. Her response reinforces the idea that while she came from a creative, supportive, and musical family, her success is a direct result of her own immense talent and the foundational training instilled by her mother and stepfather.

The Legacy of Her Upbringing in Her Music

The influence of Lola Young's parents is not just a biographical footnote; it is woven into the very fabric of her music, from her eclectic taste to her lyrical honesty.

• Musical Versatility: The exposure to her stepfather's bass playing, salsa music, her mother's constant rotation of classic artists, and her own formal training on piano and guitar has resulted in her unique sound—a blend of modern R&B, classic soul, and indie sensibilities.
• Lyrical Honesty: The candid, unfiltered nature of her lyrics, which tackle mental health, relationships, and self-acceptance, reflects a home environment that, despite its structure, encouraged artistic expression and emotional truth. Songs like "Messy" and her album *My Mind Wanders and I Get Lost* are deeply personal entities.
• Creative Discipline: The "forced" lessons from her mother instilled a work ethic that allowed her to thrive at the competitive Brit School and navigate the demanding schedule of a rising star. This discipline is the true legacy of her parents' influence.

Lola Young’s story is a compelling example of how parental support, even when strict, can lay the groundwork for exceptional talent. While her great-aunt is a literary giant and her stepfather a professional musician, Lola Young has forged her own powerful identity, turning her family’s creative background into a launching pad for a career that is entirely her own.