Ginger and Nuts catch up with 90s Pop Icon Lolly – Back with a bang!

8 August 2025 52 5

Ginger and Nuts catch up with 90s Pop Icon Lolly – Back with a bang!

Dust off your glitter and crank up the boombox – 90s pop princess Lolly is back, and she’s bringing the party with her!

LISTEN TO OUR INTERVIEW!

Lolly interview Ginger and Nuts

Known for hits like Viva La Radio and Hey Mickey, Lolly – real name Anna Kumble – joined Ginger and Nuts for a catch-up that was equal parts nostalgic, heartwarming, and hilariously chaotic.

“It’s really weird to be honest,” Lolly admitted, reflecting on her unexpected return to music. “Last year I had the summer of fun, playing loads of gigs and festivals. I just thought – I need to get back in the studio.”

That burst of inspiration resulted in her new single Only For Love, which was literally born overnight. “I got asked to do a Pride gig in Cork, ended up on Irish TV, played the song, and everyone was like, ‘Why haven’t you released this?’” she recalled. “The next day – boom! It was out. And it landed on my birthday too.”

And just like that, the 90s star was reborn in 2025. “It’s not Lolly Y2K anymore – it’s Lolly Cerca 21!” she laughed.

DIY Diva: From Polydor to “Lolly-dore”

But this isn’t the same Lolly from your old Smash Hits magazine. Now an independent artist, she’s juggling all the roles. “I’m head of A&R, head of marketing, head of polishing… everything!” she joked. “Well, not really – I’ve had amazing support from my little team.”

Even the video for Only For Love caused a stir. “They censored it!” she exclaimed. “It’s not even rude – you’ve got to watch it. It’s so ridiculous!”

TikTok Fame and Fan Love

Lolly’s leap onto TikTok – despite being banned by her own kids – was another surprising success. “A fan basically told me off for not being on there,” she said. “So I joined, did one take, and it blew up. Next thing, The Sun’s calling me ‘unrecognisable’ – classic!”

She’s loving the nostalgia on the platform. “People want the gossip from back then, and I’m quite happy to spill the beans,” she smiled.

Looking Back with Pride

Despite once walking away from the spotlight, Lolly now reflects on her early career with pride.

“At the time, I didn’t think I was good enough,” she confessed. “I had low self-esteem. Now I look back and think – why? I was good enough.”

She also regrets dropping the name Lolly. “It was a bad business move,” she admitted. “That brand was worth so much. But now I embrace it – people love it, and I’m proud of it.”

Special Guest Fan: Callum’s Big Questions

One of Lolly’s biggest fans, Callum, who lives with cerebral palsy, joined the call to ask a few burning questions. Why the name Lolly?

“I used to make up stories because I got bored of the real answer,” she laughed. “Truth is – it was just the name of the project. But let’s go with the one where I found a bottle with a lolly in it on the beach!”

His next question: what would she tell her younger self?

“I’d say, ‘You’re enough.’ I didn’t believe that back then, but I should have.”

As for what’s next, she’s already back in the studio. “Only For Love was like knocking on the door. The next track is going to kick it down.”

The Music Lives On

Even now, Lolly’s old hits continue to resonate. “Since my music got re-released digitally in 2018, I can actually see the streams – millions!” she said. “It’s amazing to still be part of people’s lives.”

And with her new grown-up pop era in full swing, she’s balancing the energy of her 90s heyday with a more mature sound (and a slightly lower key to catch her breath on stage!).

Written by: Ginger and Nuts

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