ALBUM REVIEW: Zara Larsson – Midnight Sun

With Midnight Sun, Zara Larsson steps fully into her power, offering a record that radiates vulnerability, confidence, and the contradictions of being human. At 27, she balances reflection with playfulness, ambition with uncertainty, wrapping it all into a pop landscape that feels both intimate and euphoric. The album leans into the feeling of an endless summer night — dazzling, emotional, and a little bit bittersweet. It carries the warmth and fleeting beauty of a Swedish summer, but it’s also universal, tapping into the kind of moments that are so breathtaking they leave you on the edge of tears.

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Sound and Vision

While Larsson’s past projects (So Good, Poster Girl, and VENUS) cemented her as a global hitmaker, Midnight Sun feels like a full-circle moment. It nods back to the carefree honesty of her earliest work while pushing pop into bold new directions. Teaming up with collaborators like MNEK, Margo XS, Zhone, and Helena Gao, she delivers a record that thrives on contrast, high-energy anthems designed for dance floors paired with quieter moments of introspection.

Standouts include “Blue Moon,” which surges forward with drum ‘n’ bass rhythms and a devotion to eternal love, and “Hot & Sexy,” a bold collision of electro, house, Y2K pop, and hyperpop. On the other end, tracks like “Saturn’s Return” and “The Ambition” cut deeper, exploring self-discovery, drive, and the pressure to constantly succeed. Adding to the album’s world-building, Larsson has also partnered with Lisa Frank, Inc. for a special Midnight Sun (Lisa Frank Edition) CD — a neon, aquatic reimagining of the artwork that nods to fan culture and internet creativity.

You can buy the Lisa Frank vinyl here

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A Global Pop Force: Zara Larsson

Currently wrapping her run as special guest on Tate McRae’s Miss Possessive tour, Larsson will bring Midnight Sun to life across Europe this fall before embarking on her first full North American headlining run in 2026. From Munich to Stockholm and eventually Portland to New York, the live shows promise to mirror the album’s range — euphoric highs, intimate lows, and everything in between.

After nearly two decades in the spotlight, Larsson has transformed from teen sensation to commanding global force. Midnight Sun isn’t just another step in her career. It’s her most authentic work yet, showing an artist who knows herself deeply and refuses to compromise on vision. Pop music is brighter, bolder, and more alive with her at the helm.