Lola Scott's ‘The Eviction Song’ Is A Cautionary Renting Tale
Lola Scott. Photo by Mia Rankin.
Australian pop artist Lola Scott knows all too well what happens when you get a landlord that’s not a fan of you. Her latest single, The Eviction Song, sees her continue to transition from a life as a session musician to a solo project, and it’s an absolute delight. Her lyrics are witty, and it balances sarcasm and wit with a sense of genuine appreciation for the situations she finds herself in while renting. Her friends might get on her nerves, but there’s a love shared that goes far beyond an eviction notice.
There’s something incredibly relatable about The Eviction Song (mainly because pretty much everyone has had to deal with the rental market). She invites you into her world, and by the end of it, you’ll find yourself worrying if your own shenanigans are set to get you evicted. Hopefully this track serves as a lesson to not too anything TOO crazy.
Lola’s been playing the guitar ever since she was 8, even graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in guitar. It lends a musicality to the track that you might not always find in a typical track about being turfed from your sharehouse. There’s a balance on the track between her laidback delivery, and guitar playing that is consistently melodic and beautiful. There’s a certain anthemic feel to this track, and it sneaks up on you. You’ll be belting this out at the top of your lungs at your next house party.
Speaking about the track, Lola says, “Earlier this year my housemates and I were evicted from our house. We’re not sure what for but can only assume the many house parties (leading to many noise complaints) didn’t help. When I wrote this song it was my 6th move in the last 4 years; and this house was by far one of most chaotic share-houses I’ve ever lived in. The song developed from the idea that when you live with a bunch of wild cards and have the type of landlord who hoards things under the floorboards, you can never please everyone.
“Despite this, the good times always outweighed the petty arguments. I found some of my most treasured friendships & made life-long memories. The more emotional breakdowns we faced together as housemates, the closer we got. Luckily, the eviction didn’t kill our friendships, and a couple of us have found a new place to continue the benders that probably got us kicked out in the first place.”
I also asked her about her tips for building a sharehouse family, and she was more than happy to share. She says the most important things for your sharehouse are:
1. Always have an emergency goon bag hidden somewhere in case you run out of alcohol mid-party.
2. Cook family dinners for your housemates, even if you can’t cook. I make a mean cabbage salad/brinner.
3. Have an open wardrobe policy (as long as you respect each other’s shit). This is a game changer for not feeling the need to buy new clothes.
Personally, I only lived in a sharehouse for a few months, and that was with my girlfriend, so I’ve never really had to build a sharehouse from the ground up. Having said that, that time there was enough of an experience for one lifetime. Lola captures the feelings I felt living in a sharehouse (the bedroom was often a welcome sanctuary), and captures the essence of what can make a sharehouse great. You can’t please everyone in a sharehouse, much like in life. It’s a great life lesson, and one we could all stand to remember a bit more often.
READ MORE: JamarzOnMarz's ‘Tomorrow’ Is A Saxophone-Filled Look To The Future
Check out The Eviction Song below. While the rental market might be fraught with danger, this song’ll make you feel like you’ve just successfully gotten your full bond back. That' is one of the world’s best feelings. Lola’s lyrics don’t attempt to gatekeep. Instead, they invite you into her universe. It’s a great place to be.