SPOTLIGHT: LOLA WILD

Photo by Stef Martin

Meet Lola Wild and tune into her brand new single “Girls In Hollywood”

“Girls in Hollywood” captures both the allure and the disillusionment of fame. What first drew you to explore Hollywood’s mythology and its darker edges?
The golden era of Hollywood has always fascinated me. I use to be hooked on a podcast "You Must Remember This" that would touch base on all the actors from the bygone era. There’s this tragic undercurrent beneath all that glamour, the sad story of starlets who were adored on screen but completely broken by the system. When I was writing “Girls in Hollywood,” I kept thinking about how little has really changed, and the similarities in the music industry. The pressure to stay flawless, to sell a fantasy, to sacrifice parts of yourself for the spotlight

The song feels like a cinematic experience that is shimmering yet unsettling. What kind of imagery or atmosphere did you want to evoke when crafting it?

I kept picturing these surreal, vintage film reels..like fragments of memory playing in slow motion and this older version of this character looking back at a younger version of themself. I wanted the production to capture that cinematic, almost theatrical energy, but with an uneasy pulse running beneath it.

You’ve been compared to artists like Roy Orbison and David Bowie. How do those classic influences shape your sound while still keeping it distinctly modern?

Both Roy and Bowie were masters of emotion and drama, and I’ve always been drawn to that sense of grandeur in their music. They made melancholy feel beautiful. I think what I take from those influences is the willingness to blur the lines between reality and performance. I try to channel that same emotional honesty but translate it through modern production - cinematic synths, darker textures, a touch of surrealism

What are some of your artistic inspirations and what is it about their approach to storytelling or production that resonates with you most?

I’ve always been inspired by artists who create entire worlds through their music. For example - Nancy Sinatra and Connie Francis play a huge part in the theatrical yet dangerous crooning undertones, Goldfrapp’s cinematic sensuality, and PJ Harvey’s fearless storytelling. They each blur vulnerability and power in their own way, and that balance really shapes how I approach my own sound. I like to create something thats both nostalgic but subversive

“Girls in Hollywood” balances nostalgia and realism so elegantly. How do you find that line between honoring retro aesthetics and revealing something deeply personal?

With “Girls in Hollywood,” I wanted to honor the elegance and romance of retro aesthetics while peeling them back to reveal what’s underneath. In this case its the loneliness, the longing, the self-reflection. It’s about using that familiar, nostalgic world to tell a story that feels deeply personal and relevant.

You’ve performed everywhere from Crazy Coq’s to The Waiting Room. What does live performance unlock for you that recording in the studio doesn’t?

There’s something electric about performing live. It’s unpredictable, human, alive in a way that the studio can’t quite capture. On stage the songs breathe differently and will never mirror the recordings, they take on new shapes depending on the room, the audience, even my mood that night. In the studio, everything is sculpted and intentional, but live, it’s messy and real. 

The track’s production has such a lush, almost vintage warmth. Can you share a bit about how you achieved that sonic texture?

I always approach production with an intention to create something warm and timeless, blending vintage and modern elements. In this case, I brought in natural instruments like pedal steel, strings, cello, and we layered real drums with a synthetic snare to give the rhythm both depth and edge. In the chorus, I wrote a 4 piece harmonies to create a 60's mama's and papa's feel, while the synths add a subtle 80s vibe. 

There’s a sense of melancholy that runs through “Girls in Hollywood.” Was this written from observation, personal experience, or a mix of both?
A lot of the melancholy comes from my own experiences in the music industry and performing as a showgirl, seeing firsthand the pressures, the objectification, and the constant performance expected of women in the creative industry. At the same time, it’s drawn from observation, the stories of other women chasing fame, the way Hollywood can build you up and break you down

Your work blends glamour with introspection. Do you see yourself as reclaiming the idea of what a “Hollywood girl” represents in today’s world?
I don’t see myself as reclaiming that idea. It’s more about exploring it and reflecting on my own experiences within that world. I try to be honest and humble in my approach, showing the complexity behind the image rather than trying to redefine it.

With “Girls in Hollywood” marking another step in your artistic evolution, what can listeners expect next from Lola Wild’s world thematically or sonically?
Expect more surrealism and grit. Sonically, I'm forever shifting and currently playing around with a lot more raw, loud, and chaotic sounds as I work towards the album.

Listen to “Girl’s In Hollywood” here.