“Girls in Hollywood” - Lola Wild
Photo Credit: Mars Washington
If Hollywood’s golden glow ever had a soundtrack to its darker underbelly, Lola Wild just wrote it. Her new single “Girls in Hollywood” is a cinematic, slow-burning indie-pop elegy that feels both dazzling and devastating, a mirrorball cracking under its own light. Co-produced with multi-instrumentalist Jim Wallis at London’s iconic Strong Room Studios, the track balances shimmering retro textures with raw emotional grit. Think ABBA’s nostalgia-fueled pop sheen colliding with the atmospheric melancholy of Weyes Blood or Suki Waterhouse.
The opening sets the tone: a brooding, arpeggiated synth line glides over a steady, hypnotic beat. It’s dreamy, yes, but there’s a tension humming beneath it—as if the lights of Sunset Boulevard are just a little too harsh, a little too artificial. Into that atmosphere steps Lola Wild, her vocals rich with a classic croon-like vibrato (somewhere between Roy Orbison’s ache and David Bowie’s theatricality). She doesn’t just sing the story, she inhabits it—her exhausted showgirl protagonist still clutching the last scraps of a fading dream, lost in a maze of exploitation, loneliness, and illusions.
The production mirrors this narrative beautifully. Lush layers of synths and cinematic soundscapes shimmer with a glamour that’s already slipping away at the edges. It’s both seductive and suffocating, a sonic reflection of a city that promises the world but often takes more than it gives. That duality—glitter and decay, allure and despair—is where the song hits hardest.
Adding to its impact is the short-form visualiser directed by Jack Satchell and Mars Washington (whose résumés include CMAT, Lynks, and Opus Kink). With the captivating Roxy Van Plume embodying the showgirl archetype alongside Lola herself, the video amplifies the track’s atmosphere. Styled, performed, and delivered with flair, it looks like an old Hollywood fever dream.
But what really makes “Girls in Hollywood” resonate is how deeply personal it feels. Lola isn’t just an observer; she’s lived in the world of dance and performance. Her own background as a showgirl feeds directly into her songwriting, lending authenticity to the story she’s telling. It’s less critique and more elegy: for innocence lost, ambition fractured, and the people who got swallowed whole by the mythology of fame.
Photo Credit: Stef Martin
Musically, Lola Wild is carving a lane that feels fresh but also deeply rooted in classic eras. Her ability to blend the smoky allure of ’60s pop with the moody, cinematic atmospheres of the ’80s makes her songs instantly evocative. You don’t just hear “Girls in Hollywood”—you see it. Neon lights flicker, curtains fall, mascara smudges.
Emerging from Hackney’s vibrant scene, Lola Wild has already started making waves with her immersive live performances (two sold-out London shows at SJQ and Crazy Coq’s), not to mention coverage from Radio X, BBC Introducing, and Amazing Radio. But this track feels like a new statement of intent. “Girls in Hollywood” isn’t just another indie-pop single—it’s a story, a mood, a cinematic world unto itself.
Hollywood myths always promise that dreams can come true. Lola Wild reminds us that sometimes, those dreams come with a price. And she’s turned that price into a hauntingly beautiful pop anthem.
“Girls in Hollywood” is available now on all major streaming platforms
