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Zara Larsson is no stranger to the public eye, starting as a bright-eyed child star in “Talang,” the Swedish version of “Got Talent.” A few years later, Larsson took over pop radio with hits like “Lush Life” and “Never Forget You.”

Larsson’s collaboration with English group Clean Bandit, “Symphony,” became a global smash hit in 2017 and resurged in 2024 on TikTok. This virality inspired the aesthetics of “Midnight Sun,” her fifth studio album released on Sept. 26.

Larsson starts strong with the standout, effervescent title track, “Midnight Sun.” Her main concept for the album was to celebrate and highlight her Swedish roots, with the midnight sun marking eternal brightness and never-ending pleasure. The track boasts a bouncy Jersey club beat, with Larsson’s vocals emphasizing the music’s fast pace.

It would be a shame not to mention her breathtaking long note throughout the chorus, which has spread on social media. All of this bright energy is fit into slightly more than three minutes of music, packing a punch with one of Larsson’s most innovative singles to date.

Next, the album dives into radio-friendly dance pop, keeping the momentum from the strong album opener. “Blue Moon” is a glossy, pristine track, acting as the perfect accompaniment to Larsson’s former radio hits like “I Would Like” and “Ain’t My Fault.”

The third single from the album, “Crush,” carries the same vibe in a more bittersweet approach, with lyrics mentioning the deluded feelings of being limerent with someone. The bumping production adds a “crying in the club” touch that makes the lyrics more real, even if you’re dancing along to the addicting beat.

“In the grey zone of morality / Feelin’ dangerous when you’re callin’ me / Something ’bout the secrecy of us / Then it hits me like reality / I can’t lose him to a fantasy / It ain’t heartbreak, but it still hurts enough,” Larsson sings.

The lead single on the album, “Pretty Ugly,” gets down and dirty with a chanted hook that gathers pretty girls all around the world to let loose. An empowering anthem, Larsson delivers lyrics with experimental house production that don’t regret getting too crazy. The unapologetic nature of the track is the vital essence of the pop genres in this project, refusing to leave without a fight.

Another upbeat cut off the album, “Eurosummer,” encapsulates the feeling of being on the coast of a southern European country, basking in the sun and truly feeling like your best self. Taking heavy influence from late 2000s Romanian dance music, the track floats through percussive grooves and an accordion instrumental that encapsulate the track’s nostalgic feel.

“Hot & Sexy” serves as the ultimate party girl song, reminiscent of the most iconic 2000s club hits. The catchy hook, “Beautiful, fly, hot and sexy,” samples reality star Tiffany “New York” Pollard’s viral moment on “Celebrity Big Brother.”

The track has a deeper meaning in the bridge, calling out toxic masculinity during club nights, like unconsented touch and disruptive dialogue from aggressive men. The song instead reclaims the dance floor. Larsson’s combination of clubbing energy and commentary around the lack of safe nightlife for women is a perfect addition to such a club-oriented album.

“I’m done feeling like a prey, watching my back every day / Must say, it’s getting insane, getting told I need to change / There’s boys that need to be raised / Can I be a girl?”

“The Ambition” highlights Larsson’s determination to continue working and finally achieve a larger breakthrough in the American market. The Brazilian funk-inspired dance track bounces with Larsson’s bright vocals, revisiting the strong work ethic she’s demonstrated since the beginning of her career. The emotionally driven song comes at a good time, as Larsson opened for Canadian singer and dancer Tate McRae during her “Miss Possessive Tour.”

Some fans criticized Larsson’s choice to open for McRae. In response, Larsson posted on Instagram, labelling the comparisons as “strange” and praising McRae’s character and performance during the tour. This sentiment, along with the message of songs like “The Ambition” and “Hot and Sexy,” fits right within Larsson’s artistic narrative: supportive and loving to other young female pop artists.

Toward the end of this 10-track album, “Saturn’s Return” provides an introspective view into Larsson’s experience in the industry, singing about her naïveté as a child star and growing into herself. Throughout the grandiose production, Larsson’s breathy vocals create a great buildup to a dramatic ending. Her lyrics about living in her music and not caring about the decisions ironically show her true care for her craft.

In the album’s closing track, “Puss Puss,” Larsson softens the blow by singing about not wanting to hang up on the person she loves and staying up late before her rehearsals to be with them. “Puss puss,” — meaning “kiss kiss” in Swedish — explores how Larsson feels comfortable during phone calls with her long-distance lover through tongue-in-cheek lyrics about romantic desires. Paired with Y2K-inspired production, Larsson’s soft tone shows her intimate nature with her lover and her fans.

Larsson’s conceptually intact, exemplary showcase of Scandinavian pop tells a story of love, growth and the craving for mass attention. Larsson and executive producer and longtime collaborator MNEK teach a masterclass in artist-producer relationships, packing “Midnight Sun” with dance pop mixed with R&B-influenced grooves.

This album covers listeners with a never-ending gleam of nostalgia while innovating production to fit a new landscape of artist reintroductions, like Charli xcx’s “Brat” or Lady Gaga’s “Mayhem.” Larsson delivers one of the most passionate and dedicated efforts of her career, showing that her peaks haven’t dimmed her artistic shine.

Published on October 12, 2025 at 2:13 pm