By Zelenny Lozano / Pink B
The threat of rainstorms couldn’t hold back Zara Larsson fans from her sold out show at Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater on a muggy Friday night in Austin. “Summer is endless when it comes from within,” she assured fans towards the end of the night. Ultimately, the unpredictable weather didn’t matter because Larsson delivered a spectacular show full of impeccable vocals, energetic choreography, and dazzling costumes that brought the sunshine into our hearts.
Fans have celebrated the Swedish pop star’s music career for over a decade, but her recognition has gained momentum in recent months. Her album Midnight Sun–released in September of 2025–is full of euphoric, danceworthy, empowering, and at times vulnerable pop tracks. The release of the meme-inspired single “Midnight Sun”, the creation of a recognizable and replicable tropical aesthetic, and her outspoken and relatable social media presence proves she mastered the art of virality. Her momentum was further fueled by a strategic feature on “Stateside” by PinkPantheress–a song popularized from a performance by Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu at the Milan Winter Olympics. In 2026, Larsson looks like an emerging artist at the forefront of pop music, but she is a veteran.
I host the KOOP 91.7 FM radio show “Pink Beats”, every Wednesday at 9 p.m. As a curator of female artists, I have had my eye on Zara Larsson since the Midnight Sun era began with the release of its “Hollaback Girl”-inspired lead single, “Pretty Ugly”, in April of 2025. I enjoyed her previous singles (“Can’t Tame Her,” in particular, was one of my favorites in 2023). She debuted in 2014. At 15, the teenager struggled to break through, particularly in the American market. Despite releasing chart-topping, mainstream hits like “Never Forget You” (2015), “Lush Life” (2015), and “Ruin My Life” (2018), she was unable to carve out her identity in pop music and culture.Then, a viral dolphin TikTok meme to the track “Symphony” (2025) launched Larsson on a trajectory to pop stardom. Similar to the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and Chappell Roan in 2024, she has always had what it takes to be a perfect popstar – she simply needed the right project (with excellent branding) to elevate her to the next level.
Next, she released the Midnight Sun album. Her videos expanded on the aesthetic. They feature bright colors, clear blue waters, airbrush t-shirts, and the recurring motif of hibiscus flowers. She credits her resurgence to more creative control than ever for this album. She has infused her personality and sensibilities into the record, which references Swedish culture in tracks such as, “Midnight Sun”, “Puss Puss”, and “Stateside”. The imagery of Swedish summers’ neverending midnight suns, and the Swedish parting phrase for “kiss kiss” (“puss puss” in Swedish), is revealing. She has successfully fused her personal experience with the often heavily commercialized world of pop music.
The second leg of her ambitious U.S. tour here in Austin, Texas was the live manifestation of the colorful and euphoric world she created for her album. Fans have fully embraced the aesthetic, showing up in flowy skirts, airbrushed tees, and A LOT of bedazzles (I had to bust out my bedazzling kit from deep in my craft cabinet to embellish the hibiscus flower on my shirt). This tour is a full-bodied experience, rather than just a live music show. Audience immersion is key in today’s fandom-dominated pop music landscape.
I opted for a VIP ticket to her Austin stop, since it could be the last time fans are able to see her in such an intimate venue. The Midnight Sun Tour VIP experience included a swag bag, a soundcheck, a Q&A, and early entry into the venue (crucial for a short person like me). As part of the soundcheck experience, Zara opted for singing an acoustic cover of a pop song by another artist, meant to show off her vocals and surprise her superfans. Recent selections have included “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne and “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson. For Austin, she chose “It Must Have Been Love”, the 1987 classic by Roxette. She also sang acoustic versions of her originals “Midnight Sun” and “Rooftop”– the latter was completely spontaneous after a fan asked her to sing it during the Q&A portion.
Overall, the VIP experience felt worthwhile for the view alone. This was my very first experience at “barricade” in a general admission crowd and the intimacy with the artist is unmatched. Larsson went out of her way to look us in the eyes, wave, and interact with us in the front rows. However, this experience comes at a price. Cost aside, the energy and patience required is demanding. I got sunburnt, rained on, pushed around, and stood for hours for this experience. Frequent concertgoers are certainly not surprised by this information, and it’s up to each fan what lengths they’re willing to go for their favorite artist.
She continued by making casual conversation with the crowd of around 200 VIP fans. She expressed confusion over the weather since she had been warned about heavy rain but the sun had been blazing all day up to that point (Texas weather at its finest). A fan also screamed at Larsson encouraging her to try a barbeque sandwich from Buc-ee’s during her Texas weekend, a suggestion she appreciated despite being confused about why they weren’t suggesting Stubb’s instead. “I’ve never played a show at a barbeque place,” she said later that night between songs. We learned her team also had a run-in with a raccoon at the venue earlier in the day. It was shared in a recap of the show on an Instagram video. Larsson truly had the quintessential Austin experience in just one night, courtesy of playing at such a classic venue in the heart of downtown Austin.
After her soundcheck and some waiting, opening act Amelia Moore took the stage. A pop artist with more sultry R&B leanings, Moore opted for an alternative office siren-inspired aesthetic as an homage to her social media handle “icryatwork”. She impressed with stellar vocals that were on par with the show’s headliner. She belted out songs that called out men for their wrongdoings in dating. The recurring theme of female rage through a pop lens was aligned with Larsson’s lyrics and themes. Moore also wasn’t shy about promoting herself as an artist, explaining very candidly that her goal is to be a pop star and find success in the music industry. She held up a QR code for the fans to scan and find her online. It was an inspiring reminder to ask for what you want and find pride in one’s own artistry.
The forecasted heavy rain finally arrived between acts as we waited for Larsson to take the stage, cosmically stopping soon after she proclaimed herself as “the sunshine” that was going to save our weary spirits. She opened with the title track “Midnight Sun”, effortlessly belting the long note in the chorus multiple times. She shared the stage with four dancers and a live band comprised entirely of female musicians. Larsson is a vocal supporter of women’s rights, and the way she carved out space on her tour to showcase the dance abilities and musical talents of women is representative of her values. There was an interlude where each dancer introduced herself while dancing to a personalized cheerleader-style verse. Towards the end of the show, she introduced the band members while they played a solo on their instrument. The synergy on stage was evident through the entire show and reflective of the Midnight Sun era.
I was excited to hear live versions of my favorite Midnight Sun tracks. The choreography for the title track was iconic and featured Larsson being lifted in the air while she belted out the chorus. “Pretty Ugly” had complex cheerleading-inspired choreography and chanting that was electric in a live format. Performances of the ballad-like tracks “Saturn’s Return” and “The Ambition” were more stripped down and vulnerable, while “Eurosummer” brought back the party vibe. Larsson featured three separate outfits that sparkled and flowed on stage while she danced. She sported a unique pastel yellow makeup look by Sophia Sinot, who does her glam for every show on tour.
Larsson also incorporated her catalog of hits into the setlist, including “Never Forget You”, “Ain’t My Fault”, “Ruin My Life”, “Can’t Tame Her”, and “Lush Life. ” The latter was a key moment of fan engagement where she brought a fan on the stage to perform the song and choreography with her. Larsson also performed a cover of “Gimme More” by Britney Spears. It incorporated a fan-favorite moment where she jumped into a split. She bookended the show with a different rendition of “Midnight Sun”, followed by the explosive closer “Symphony”, which involved inflatable dolphins that bounced into the crowd while bubbles blew over the crowd. Larsson opted for no encore. As she took her final bow, I wished the concert could have been as neverending as the Swedish summer sun.
My love for Zara Larsson and the Midnight Sun album made the experience worthwhile and unforgettable. I’d be lying if I said my feet didn’t hurt, but if Larsson can perform complex choreography and hit every note flawlessly for an entire show in stiletto heels, I think I can manage to stand in my Hokas for a few hours. Puss puss y’all!