Holly Lapsley Fletcher (born 7 August 1996), known by the stage name Låpsley, is an English singer, songwriter, musician and producer. Her debut album Long Way Home was released on 4 March 2016.
Early life Låpsley was born in York. Her middle name, Lapsley, is her mother's maiden name. She changed "Lapsley" to "Låpsley" by adding the Scandinavian character Å, partly due to her perceived ties with Scandinavia through her Scottish heritage, as well as how it looked when written. She grew up in Southport, Merseyside, where she attended Greenbank High School and Formby High School for sixth form.
Career 2013–present Having been a member of several bands in the Merseyside area, Låpsley won the "One to Watch" prize at Merseyside's GIT (Getintothis) Award in April 2014, following over half a million listens of her solo bedroom-recorded Monday EP on SoundCloud. She played the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury Festival in June 2014, having been championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ's Huw Stephens and Zane Lowe. Her track Painter (Valentine) was playlisted by BBC Radio 1 in September 2014 and received daytime airplay.
Låpsley signed with XL Recordings in October 2014. On 30 November 2014, Låpsley was revealed as one of acts on the BBC Sound of...2015 long list. Her Understudy EP was released on 5 January 2015. Her debut album, Long Way Home, was released on 4 March 2016. She performed at Lollapalooza in July 2016.
In April 2016, she was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and was featured on NBC's Today show hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, broadcast nationally, where she performed live her single "Love Is Blind". In 2016, the track "8896" by Låpsley was included in the sound track of American Honey, directed by Andrea Arnold. In the same year, track "Falling Short" was included in season one of Harlan Coben's The Five (TV series), during the final scene of episode 4, directed by Mark Tonderai.
Personal life Låpsley enjoys yachting and owns a boat called Theodore. On 28 June 2020, she came out as bisexual in an Instagram post. In exchanges on Instagram, Låpsley has stated that she is studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) at Goldsmiths University.
During the 2024 UK general election, the Labour Party used Better Times by Låpsley and KC Lights as a soft campaign song, and she sang it live to a Keir Starmer rally on 29 June.Singer Låpsley backs Labour using song 'Better Times' during election campaign: 'Things couldn't get worse', The IndependentSinger Lapsley performs 'Better Times' to wrap up pre-election rally.
Discography Albums Title Details Peak chart positions UK AUS BEL(FL) CAN GER NLIRL SWE SWI US Long Way Home Released: 4 March 2016 Label: XL Formats: CD, digital download, LP, streaming 32 75 20 70 83 59 92 54 76 196 Through Water Released: 20 March 2020 Label: XL Formats: CD, digital download, LP, streaming, 7-inch vinyl — — 193 — — — — — — — Cautionary Tales of Youth Released: 20 January 2023 Label: Believe, Young Formats: CD, digital download, LP, streaming, cassette — — — — — — — — — — I'm a Hurricane I'm a Woman in Love Released: 2 May 2025 Label: Her Own Recordings Formats: Digital download, LP, streaming — — — — — — — — — —
Extended plays Title Details Monday Released: 18 March 2014 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download Understudy Released: 5 January 2015 Label: XL Recordings Formats: 12", Digital download These Elements Released: 6 December 2019 Label: XL Recordings Formats: 12", Digital download A Guilty Heart Can Never Rest Released: 10 May 2024 Label: Believe UK Formats: Digital download
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album UKPeak chart positions for singles in the United Kingdom: "Falling Short": "Hurt Me": UKIndiePeak chart positions for singles on the UK Indie Singles Chart: "Falling Short": "Hurt Me": "Love is Blind": BEL(FL) BEL(WA) CANDL JPN "Station" 2014 — — — — — — Long Way Home "Painter (Valentine)" — — — — — — "Falling Short" 122 6 — — — — "Brownlow" 2015 — — — — — — Understudy EP "Hurt Me" 170 9 8 — 29 74 BEA: Gold Long Way Home "Love Is Blind" 2016 — 29 43 — — — "Operator (He Doesn't Call Me)" — — — — — — "My Love Was Like the Rain" 2019 — — — — — — These Elements and Through Water "Ligne 3" — — — — — — "Womxn" 2020 — — — — — — Through Water "Speaking of the End" — — — — — — "Make U Stay" — — — — — — "32 Floors" 2022 — — — — — — Cautionary Tales of Youth "Dial Two Seven" — — — — — — "Smoke and Fire" — — — — — — "Hotel Corridors" — — — — — — "Lifeline" 2023 — — — — — — "4am Ascension Day" 2024 — — — — — — A Guilty Heart Can Never Rest "Popstar" — — — — — — Do What Makes You Happy "Build a Man" — — — — — — A Guilty Heart Can Never Rest "Angeles" — — — — — — "Stolen Glances" (with Franky Wah) — — — — — — "Church" — — — — — — I'm a Hurricane I'm a Woman in Love "Better" 2025 — — — — — — "Hurricane" — — — — — —"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.
Music videos Title Year Director "Station" 2014 Mike Brits "Painter (Valentine)" Harvey Pearson "Falling Short" Noel Paul "Brownlow" 2015 Cherise Payne and Låpsley "Hurt Me" Cherise Payne "Love Is Blind" 2016 "Operator (DJ Koze Radio Edit)""My Love Was Like The Rain"2019Camille Summers-Valli"Womxn"2020Jane Stockdale"Hotel Corridors"2023"Dial Two Seven""4am Ascension Day"2024"Build a Man"
Awards and nominations Year Organisation Award Result 2014 GIT (Getintothis) One to Watch 2015 BBC Sound of...2015 2016 NME Best New Artist
Notes
References
External links Official website