Lola Young isn’t looking for approval in Not Like That Anymore released on 20 June 2025 via Island Records, follows the irreverent honesty that has defined her path since breakout moments like Messy.
Where earlier songs were half-lament, half-snarling defiance, this one arrives like a sealed door: no peeking, no rewinding, no re-entry.
The track lands ahead of her third studio album, I’m Only F**king Myself, due 19 September.
It’s a gutsy follow-up to One Thing, a funkier number that flirted with vulnerability.
This time, however, she’s not flirting with anything. She’s slamming the emotional brakes, and you can practically hear the screech marks.
The Sound of Moving On
The production, crafted by frequent collaborators Manuka, Carter Lang, and SOLOMONOPHONIC (known for their work with Doja Cat and SZA), strips away unnecessary layers to let Young’s distinctive raspy voice take centre stage.
The track opens with a simple count-in that feels like a deep breath before confession, immediately establishing an intimate atmosphere that persists throughout.
What makes this song particularly compelling is how the minimalist production mirrors the emotional clarity Young has found.
There’s no overproduction to hide behind—just raw emotion set against a backdrop that knows when to swell and when to pull back.
Breaking Down the Barriers
The opening verse hits like with a large dose of self-awareness. Young doesn’t mince words when addressing her past struggles with addiction and toxic relationships.
The casual delivery of such heavy subject matter creates a fascinating contrast—she’s discussing life-altering realisations with the nonchalance of someone who’s finally processed their pain.
One of the most tense moments comes from the repeated lines, mimicking the cycles she’s trying to escape—patterns of addiction and toxic relationships.
It’s a clever production choice that makes the listener feel trapped before the liberation of the chorus hits.
When Young declares she’s “locked out, got nowhere to go,” it initially sounds like despair.
But as the chorus unfolds, we realise this isn’t a lament—it’s a celebration.
Being locked out means she can’t go back to her old ways. Her stolen phone and low balance become symbols of freedom rather than loss.
The second verse reveals growth through brutal honesty. Young admits she hasn’t changed much on the surface but acknowledges a crucial shift in perspective.
The line about getting “a little bit closer to death’s gates” could easily be morbid, but Young flips it into dark humour—a coping mechanism that feels authentic rather than forced.
The Bridge That Burns
There is a powerful moment in the bridge, where Young’s repetition of “And I’m fucking myself but not like that” becomes almost mantra-like.
The dual meaning is intentional—she’s still self-destructive in some ways, but not in the specific, harmful patterns of her past.
It’s an acknowledgment that healing isn’t linear, but progress is still progress.
The visualiser that accompanies the track perfectly captures this duality.
Young appears both larger-than-life and comically small, representing how we can simultaneously feel overwhelmed by our problems and recognise their ultimate insignificance.
The Story Behind Not Like That Anymore by Lola Young
Lola Young’s reputation as one of the UK’s most no-nonsense voices continues to sharpen. She isn’t trying to be digestible, algorithm-friendly, or particularly sweet.
The response to Not Like That Anymore has been overwhelmingly positive, with listeners particularly connecting to Young’s unflinching honesty.
Many have noted how her facial expressions in the visualiser add another layer of storytelling—her ability to be simultaneously serious and playful mirrors the song’s balance of heavy topics with dark humour.
What sets Young apart is her refusal to romanticise recovery or present herself as completely healed.
She’s “fucking herself, but not like that anymore”—a line that captures the messy reality of growth better than any inspirational platitude could.
After gaining traction from the viral hit Messy, she’s chosen not to coast on the same formula.
Instead, each single from her upcoming album feels like it’s pushing back against her own early success, chiselling toward something messier and truer.
If One Thing teased funk-pop revivalism, Not Like That Anymore throws that energy into a brick wall and watches it crack.
There’s catharsis, but not for the audience. For Lola.
Not Like That Anymore is a declaration. A refusal. A reclamation of narrative and sanity.
Lola is not bitter. She’s clean-cut cruel. And it’s glorious.
Looking Forward
Following her Ivor Novello Rising Star Award win and BRIT nomination for Best Pop Act, Young is positioning herself as one of Britain’s most compelling new voices.
Her upcoming Glastonbury debut on June 27th feels particularly well-timed, as Not Like That Anymore is exactly the kind of anthem that will resonate with festival crowds.
The track also serves as a perfect preview for I’m Only F**king Myself, suggesting an album that will dive deep into themes of self-sabotage and recovery without losing Young’s characteristic wit and authenticity.
The Bottom Line
Not Like That Anymore succeeds because it doesn’t try to be more than it is—a raw, honest account of someone choosing to break their own patterns.
Young doesn’t promise that change is easy or that she’s completely transformed.
Instead, she offers something more valuable: proof that small shifts in perspective can be revolutionary.
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Lola Young Not Like That Anymore Lyrics
Intro
One, two, one, two, three, four
Verse 1
I’m a dumb little addict so I’ve been tryna quit the snowflake
I guess life sucks dick but especially if you sniff it all away
I did some damage to my ex but, god dammit, I should have broke that prick’s face
My next man, yeah, he’s gotta be magic, abracadabra and I’m in space
Pre-Chorus
And it goes on and on and on and on
Chorus
And now I’m locked out, got nowhere to go
And my phone got stolen and my balance is low
But if I look on the brightside
At least I’m not fucking myself anymore, not anymore
And I got a little kick out of declining your call
I guess that means I don’t need your dick at all
And so I’m fucking myself, but not like that anymore
Verse 2
I was a sad little bitch but if I’m honest, shit, I’ve barely damn changed
I’ve just got a little bit older and a little bit closer to death’s gates, yeah
I like a dopamine hit more than a fat kid loves cake
And I can’t say that I’m happy, yeah, but least now I’m heading the right way, not the highway
Pre-Chorus
And it goes on and on and on and on
Chorus
And now I’m locked out, got nowhere to go
And my phone got stolen and my balance is low
But it I look on the bright side, at least I’m not fucking myself anymore, not anymore
And I got a little kick out of declining your call
I guess that means I don’t need your dick at all
And so I’m fucking myself, but not like that anymore
Bridge
And so I’m fucking myself but not like that
And then I’m fucking myself but not like that
And I’m fucking myself but not like that
And I’m fucking myself but not like that
And I’m fucking myself but not like that
And I’m fucking myself but not like that
And I’m fucking myself but not like that anymore
Chorus
And I got a little kick out of declining your call
I guess that means I don’t need your dick at all
And so I’m fucking myself, but not like that anymore
