AceShowbiz - The past year has marked a pivotal moment for Zara Larsson, transforming her into a major force within the contemporary pop music landscape. At 28 years old, Zara Larsson is riding the wave of success from her 2025 album Midnight Sun, which has propelled her into widespread recognition and earned her first Grammy nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording with the album’s title track.

In a recent Zoom interview conducted from a hotel room in Denver, Zara Larsson appeared refreshed after an afternoon nap, joking about her late start to the day. Despite the casual setting, she spoke thoughtfully about the milestones that have defined her career this year and the ways this period stands apart from her previous successes.

The momentum for Zara Larsson intensified following her opening performances on Tate McRae’s 2025 Miss Possessive arena tour. This exposure, combined with the resurgence of her 2016 single “Lush Life” on the Billboard Hot 100—returning thanks to viral trends on TikTok—demonstrates her lasting appeal, with the track still charting in its 17th week at press time.

Yet, it was her feature on the October 2025 remix of PinkPantheress’ “Stateside” that truly accelerated her career to new heights. The remix’s vibrant music video, which blends Lisa Frank aesthetics with Burberry-inspired visuals, debuted in January 2026 and caught significant attention. The track’s cultural impact was further amplified when U.S. figure skating gold medalist Alysa Liu used it for her exhibition performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.

By late March 2026, the “Stateside” remix had climbed to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and secured the top spot on the Billboard Global 200 chart, marking Zara Larsson’s most prominent chart achievement to date. This breakthrough was recognized publicly when she received the Breakthrough award, a testament to her persistence over more than a decade in the industry.

Reflecting on her journey, Zara Larsson acknowledged that this year felt like a genuine breakthrough. “It actually has,” she said. “It is a fair recognition, because it’s not ‘best new.’ Now with PinkPantheress and ‘Stateside,’ I’m charting, and it’s going so well. For the first time in a long time, I’m on the Billboard charts. I’m reaching so many new heights 10 years into my career, which is exciting and a testament to never giving up.”

Despite her rising fame, Zara Larsson emphasized that the success has not drastically altered her everyday life. “It’s absolutely nothing,” she explained. “I like that I get more opportunities. [The success] has given me the opportunity to work with more of the women I really want to work with. There’s more eyeballs on me. But I’m the same. I do the same things. It feels the same internally.”

Currently on a club and theater tour booked a year prior, Zara Larsson described the experience as intimate and the beginning of a new chapter. She shared a conversation with her sister and close friend regarding safety concerns at high-profile events like Coachella. “They were like, ‘Do you want security for this year’s Coachella?’ I was like, ‘Hell no. What? That’s so weird.’ I don’t like the thought of needing security to do things I’ve been doing my whole adult life, but time will tell,” she said.

On the creative front, Zara Larsson revealed that the defining moment when all aspects of her artistry—music, performance, fashion, and makeup—came together was during the making of Midnight Sun. “Sometimes I think of my career like this car I’ve been sitting in. I’ve known where we’ve been heading, but I’ve been in the back seat. With this album, I was like, ‘Guys, I feel like I should drive.’ I’m finally writing all of my music. I’m part of the visuals, the outfits, my live shows. My confidence grew so much, and I started surrounding myself with peers, friends and people my age.”

This shift in her creative process coincided with a change in her support system. Having started young, Zara Larsson was often the youngest person in the room and found it challenging to assert her voice among more experienced adults. “Now, I’ve had that much experience. It was like I woke up one day and was surrounded by people who were my friends,” she explained.

The collaborators on Midnight Sun include close friends like Margo XS, Eliana (known professionally as Eli), and Uzo (the artist MNEK). “We’re all equal in where we are in life; our cultural references are so similar. That gave me confidence to voice my opinion louder,” she said.

The opportunity to feature on the “Stateside” remix came about after Zara Larsson reached out directly to PinkPantheress via direct message. “I had DM’d PinkPantheress, like, ‘Queeeeen.’ I was just feeling inspired by so many of the girls who were killing it in the dance and pop scenes. She was like, ‘Oh, my God, you’re a queen, and by the way, I’m doing this remix album. Would you like to hop on?’ She literally had [my finished part] in her inbox two days later, because I was serious about it.”

The remix was released a week later and exceeded Zara Larsson’s expectations. Despite having had hit songs earlier in her career, she noted that this year was unique in forging a deeper personal and cultural connection with audiences. “People knew about my songs, but they didn’t necessarily know about me. This year has been so fun with people getting to know me, and that feature was a big element of being part of culture and what people are talking about.”

The moment Alysa Liu skated to “Stateside” at the Olympics was particularly meaningful. “It felt like history. That’s what gets me going,” Zara Larsson reflected.

Overall, 2025 and early 2026 have been transformative years for Zara Larsson, solidifying her position not just as a hitmaker but as a significant figure in pop culture conversation. Her blend of musical talent, creative control, and cultural relevance continues to push her career forward as she embraces the next chapter with confidence and passion.