Zara Larsson is Back: Glitter, Turquoise, and Summer Sun in the Depth of Winter

By: Sophie LeBlanc Edited by: Catie Taylor

In the middle of winter, when the sun sets at 5 p.m. and every day feels like a Monday morning, Zara Larsson is bringing back the warmth of summer with her energetic sound and dreamy aesthetic. In her hit album and title track Midnight Sun, Larsson blends electric Eurodance beats with a flamboyant Barbie aesthetic, creating a unique persona that is captivating audiences. A Rolling Stone review of the album gave it four stars, lauding it for “refusing to ever slow down, instead trafficking in high-energy dance-pop joy.” In a music landscape that has a tendency to appeal to the male gaze, Larsson is carving her own space: One that is unapologetically for the girls. 

Larsson isn’t new to the pop scene; she has been making music for over a decade. She is most famous for her 2017 pop staple, Lush Life, which currently has over 2 million streams on Spotify. Despite being known predominantly as a one-hit wonder, Midnight Sun has brought newfound fame to the veteran singer-songwriter. 

In recent decades, the idea of a rebrand has been a common trend among many pop artists. Taylor Swift, arguably one of the most influential pop icons of the 21st century, pioneered this approach by redefining her genre, style, and persona with every new album release. Other artists have undergone major transformations. For example, Charli XCX, who in 2024 shifted from a mainstream 2010s vibe to her messy, hedonistic, electronic BRAT album, or Sabrina Carpenter, whose image changed from a sweet teenager to a sexually confident adult with her album Short n’ Sweet. Larsson followed a similar trajectory, and with it, a massive spike in relevance.

In addition to her new era, Larsson has had her fair share of viral moments. During her world tour last year, Larsson began a tradition of inviting a fan on stage to do a signature dance with her during Lush Life. One fan in Amsterdam was invited on stage, and the audience was impressed, causing the video to circulate throughout social media and gain millions of likes and views. 

Another viral moment involved Larsson writing a new narrative when it comes to addressing social issues. In today’s political climate, where certain human rights issues often challenge the idea of neutral discourse, many fans increasingly feel that silence from influential figures is not acceptable. In an Instagram story, Larsson posted a picture with the caption: “I love immigrants, I love criminals, I love trans people, I love abortions, I love queers, I love sl*tty women, I love contraception, I love welfare, I love socialism, I f*cking hate ICE.” This post gained a lot of positive traction and was shared widely across social media. The White House even released their own video inspired by it, with the statement: “We love America first, we love deportations, we love cheap gas prices…WE LOVE ICE.” These viral moments propelled Larsson to even higher popularity and proved how powerful social media is in the current music scene.

Larsson has developed a persona that celebrates unapologetic confidence. By utilizing social media and her new era, she is cultivating more lifelong fans and album listeners. It’s safe to say that Larsson has cemented herself as a rising pop powerhouse. She is quickly gaining popularity by turning heads and creating viral and memorable moments for fans to see. In an industry where most pop stars are highly PR-trained and encouraged to “stay in their lane,” Larsson wants people to see her as a person, not an industry machine.

© 2026 by FETCH COLLECTIVE