British singer-songwriter Lola Young says she’s the “happiest [she’s] ever been ever” after years of mental health struggles that nearly derailed her promising career.<\/p>\n
At 24 years old, Young may appear to be an overnight sensation after her breakout hit “Messy” went viral online and topped charts around the world, but she has been writing songs since age 11. Her recent debut at Coachella<\/a> left her stunned by the massive audience response.<\/p>\n “I felt a bit confused to be honest,” Young told “CBS Mornings” about her April performance. “It was absolutely bonkers. Just the amount of people that were standing there screaming. It was like, ‘For me, like, what?’ Do you know what I mean?”<\/p>\n Building a path to success<\/p>\n Young’s path to success began with a difficult childhood that pushed her musical dreams forward.<\/p>\n “I went through a lot. I had a difficult, in some ways, a difficult upbringing,” she said. “I had this kind of urge, this like burning desire to escape in any way, shape or form I could.”<\/p>\n Music became her outlet and source of achievement. Her career took a pivotal turn at 16 when she performed at the Bedford Pub in 2017, where manager Nick Shymansky, who had previously managed Amy Winehouse<\/a>, was in attendance. The encounter changed both their lives.<\/p>\n “I walked into the room just when you went on stage, and I was like, ‘Who is this?'” Shymansky said. “I was completely seduced by Lola’s talent and character.”<\/p>\n For Young, the connection with Shymansky was immediate and profound. “I just didn’t want anyone else. I met with so many managers and I was like, ‘Nah,'” she said. “He understood me in a way I’ve never been understood by any person.”<\/p>\n