Lola Lennox was so nervous about singing her own songs that she wrote them in secret so her mum, Eurythmics star Annie, wouldn’t hear them.
She was only too aware of her mum’s success – described as “the greatest white soul singer alive” and winner of a record-breaking six best female gongs at the Brits, plus four Grammys, an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
So it made sense to keep things to herself until she was ready – and it is paying off with her own sound and some brilliant singles and videos.
London-born Lola, 32, Annie’s elder daughter, said: “Being compared to her has shifted. In the beginning there was a sense of insecurity where I thought I had to be at a certain level to feel confident enough to share the music I was making.
“I was quite secretive in the beginning. There was a piano in the basement of our house that no one could hear, and I had a secret notebook for my lyrics.
“I didn’t tell anyone how much I really loved it because I felt I had to get better and build a bit of a catalogue.”
Despite Annie’s vocal talent, Lola’s own voice has come through hard work.
She said: “I didn’t start out with natural talent. You see videos of Jessie J or Ariana Grande when they were children and they are mini divas.
“My voice came through working on it every day and gradually it got better. It was a long road. It’s taken years.”
Lola began playing piano at seven, had singing lessons at eight and began writing songs at 15, going to London’s Royal Academy of Music as a soprano.
Since she released her debut single In The Wild at the start of 2020, Lola’s confidence has grown, through the rush of pop heaven from the new wave Want More, the summery La La Love Me and the rootsy blues pop of Back at Wrong.
Her debut EP, Dreamer, out tomorrow, continues the upward trajectory. It has been executively produced by Annie but the music is Lola’s. There is a string line by Annie in the title track’s chorus but no backing vocals.
As a youngster Lola went on tour with her mum and watched her create albums. The pair performed on There Must Be An Angel for One World: Together At Home in 2020.
Lola, whose dad is Annie’s second husband Uri Fruchtmann, said: “We are very respectful of each other. She never tries to take over, just gives little gems saying, ‘What about this?’
“We aren’t a family that bickers. We are kind and respectful and clear how we interact together.
“In the studio we leave the family at the door. We really enjoy hearing each other’s perspective and it’s really nice to be able to share music with her.”
The balance is helped by Lola’s boyfriend and music producer, Braeden Wright, who plays the instruments.
Lola spent most of her life in London, but, feeling it wasn’t working for her there, she moved to LA to “earn her stripes” and make it as a musician.
Annie, 68, grew up in a tenement in Aberdeen, left at 17 when she won a place at London’s Royal Academy of Music. Finding success in The Tourists she became a global star in Eurythmics before finding more hits as a solo artist.
In November Eurythmics, with bandmate Dave Stewart, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
From her 80s androgynous look to her activism and campaigning for human rights and social justice, Annie always does things her way.
Lola shares many of those traits. She said: “If I have my mind set on something I will work hard and knuckle down and get on with it.
“Mum is strong-willed and very clear in her morals, what she believes to be right and wrong.
“That comes from a family that feels the same way.”
Lola is planning to trace her Scottish roots with a special holiday with her mum.
She said: “I really miss Scotland a lot. My boyfriend and I haven’t been there together so I want to show him Scotland.
“I’d love to go with my mum, to see the house she was brought up in and her old haunts. The last time I went to Aberdeen was in my early 20s with my mum.”
She and Braeden live 15 minutes from Annie and her third husband Dr Mitch Besser in Los Angeles. Her wee sister, artist and model Tali, 30, also lives in the city.
But, Lola said: “I love the history of Scotland, the people, the food, the environment. I love the old castles and the wildlife in the Highlands. It’s a special place. It gives me a sense of comfort.”
Lola, who performed at the Royal Albert Hall for Teenager Cancer Trust last month, is planning what happens next.
She said: “I’d love to come to Scotland so I can be inspired to write songs, then come up with a plan.” A canny lass right enough.
● Lola’s single, Dreamer, is out today. Her EP of the same name is out tomorrow.
