LOLA SCOTT: SHE’S JUST GETTING STARTED

Photos by Elise Abotomey

Meet Lola Scott, the latest Australian artist Pleaser has had the pleasure of chatting to. Lola released her pop-punk, 90s grunge infused track ‘High School Drama’ earlier in the year and she’s back, this time with ‘Last One Standing’, showcasing Lola’s beautiful ability to mix genres. 

I spoke to Lola on the evolution of her artistry, being vulnerable and even had a delightful discovery that we grew up in the same small town. 

Pleaser: How would you describe 2023 so far?

Lola: A lot of touring, a lot of travelling, a really great busy year. 

P: If you could sum it up in one word?

L: Whirlwind.

P: How do you think your sound has changed since Breakfast for Dinner moving into the new singles?

L: I think the next bunch of singles are a full circle moment- I started out as a classical guitarist so I'm bringing in finger picking so it's going more towards guitar and I think the biggest change was the way that we made the music. We brought in all the instruments and tried to write it as a band rather than thinking about production first. We were all writing on live instrumentations so there's less production elements. 

P: ‘Last One Standing’- I love it, it's so heart wrenching. You said you were questioning who were and trying to find your feet. Do you think you find clarity when you write about it and write songs like that?

L: There was so much built up emotion that the song came out as complete word vomit. I think the way that I write is that I find clarity as I write things. A lot of the time I have known where I'm at in relationships because I'll write about how I'm feeling before I actually feel it. My singing processes the emotions before I think the thoughts. 

P: Do you find it easy to be that open and earnest in your songwriting?

L: Yeah, I'm really lucky that I work mostly with my closest friends. For ‘Last One Standing’ we went out to a church in outback Australia, there was a population of 30 people in the town, it was in the middle of nowhere, it was me and two of my best friends. I remember with this one we were having a morning where I wasn't getting the lyrics exactly how I wanted it so I went and sat in a corner of the church and there were bibles everywhere. I think that's where the line “some people need to believe in somebody like Jesus”, I was sitting in the corner noodling in this church and then everything came out from there. I feel like I can be very open, especially because I'm processing the emotions with my best friends and one of them also had a breakup in the same week. 

P: Is there one song that is your favourite to play live?

L: I think it changes. There's an unreleased one that I’ve been playing where everyone sits on the ground, it's just a special moment in the set. There's another of my songs called ‘20’, I love just pulling it back to me and acoustic guitar; it just feels like I can fully connect with the audience. 

P: What has been your favourite part of the headline tour this year?

L: Always after shows, sticking around and meeting people. When people are singing the lyrics back to you it’s really sweet, there were a few people in the front of the crowd in Melbourne singing every word. I love when people start singing along to the unreleased songs. That's a crazy moment for me.

P: You’re having such a busy year, what are you most excited about in the new era? 

L: I don't even know where to start. I’m just excited for the new version of the band I'm playing with, we're doing it more live than ever, so super excited for all those shows and to share all this music I've been making. It feels like I’m going back to my roots, it's a lot more guitar based and it feels so full circle. It's a truer version of me as a songwriter and performer. 

P: Do you think growing up in a small town gives you a certain perspective in your songwriting?

L: I think that a lot of people that grew up in small towns have this part of them that is very introverted. I think there's a part of my personality that loves being out of a city for a bit. I love going and doing my songwriting outside of big cities. 

P: I have to ask a fan favourite question, if you could write the soundtrack to any film, which would it be?

L: Probably 10 Things I Hate About You 

P: Alternatively, if you could exist in any high school drama, which would it be?

L: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 

P: Do you have any fashion influences? 

L: Yeah I have so many, Gwen Stefani, Blondie, Ellie Roswell from Wolf Alice, Hannah Brewer, Amy Nelson, Sky Ferraria. 

Last One Standing is out now! Go go go!