This past Friday, Swedish pop-star Zara Larsson dropped her fifth studio album, Midnight Sun. It is an early fall release filled with nostalgic summer dance anthems, and arguably, her best album yet. With a run time under just 32 minutes, Midnight Sun is inspired by her Swedish pop heritage, referencing the idea of “A Swedish summer where the sun never goes down,” acknowledging her “Swedish pop heritage,” according to an interview with Women in Pop.
“I wanted the whole album to feel like it’s a summer night and it never ends. And it doesn’t matter if it’s December: the summer night will be there for you. It’s waiting for you, it will come back for you, and you will come back for it,” she said.
The album has been promoted for the last few months with three different singles, “Pretty Ugly,” “Midnight Sun,” and “Crush.” “Pretty Ugly” is the album’s first single and contains a shouty, cheer chorus and 2000’s club beat. “Midnight Sun,” a softer, more romantic pop song, is gaining significant traction on TikTok through various viral dance videos. The majority of Midnight Sun contains fun pop songs—“Eurosummer,” “Blue Moon,” “Hot & Sexy” and “Puss Puss” (kiss kiss in Swedish)—that are reminiscent of the music Larsson is best known for, like the 2017 hit “Lush Life” and the 2018 Clean Bandit collaboration “Symphony.”
Reality TV icon Tiffany Pollard was even in the studio, recreating part of her iconic Celebrity Big Brother rant on the song “Hot & Sexy.” Larsson gets more vulnerable on the ballads at the end of the album. On “Saturn Return” Larsson joins the list of pop artists (Ariana Grande, SZA, Kacey Musgraves) who sing about the astrological event that first occurs ages 27-29, described as a transformative rite of passage into adulthood. On “The Ambition” Larsson sings about chasing big dreams and the comparison and competition that follow that aspiration.
In discussing Midnight Sun with Fader, Larsson spoke of world-building: “I’ve never created a world and a vibe, because I’ve never really been as involved as I’ve been now.” Larsson co-wrote all songs on the album, which was executive produced by Uzo Emenike. Larsson’s increased presence and collaboration is felt. The album possesses an increased confidence and embodiment that wasn’t present in previous work. The world of Midnight Sun is a Y2K digital fantasy, witnessed aesthetically through the album’s cover, fashion and music videos. Larsson even collaborated with Lisa Frank to create a special edition CD.
Midnight Sun is Larsson at her best personally and sonically, a pop star fully coming into her own. Larsson just finished opening for Tate McRae on the “Miss Possessive” tour, will support OneRepublic in Australia and New Zealand in February 2026, and is set to headline her own tour in Europe and North America next year.
Midnight Sun is out now.
Words by Caitlin Doherty for Staged Haze
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