Midnight Sun (Zara Larsson album)

Last updated

Midnight Sun
Zara Larsson - Midnight Sun.png
Studio album by
Released26 September 2025 (2025-09-26)
Length31:56 [1]
Label
Producer
  • MNEK
  • Margo XS
  • Zhone
  • Helena Gao
Zara Larsson chronology
Venus
(2024)
Midnight Sun
(2025)
Singles from Midnight Sun
  1. "Pretty Ugly"
    Released: 25 April 2025
  2. "Midnight Sun"
    Released: 13 June 2025
  3. "Crush"
    Released: 15 August 2025

Midnight Sun is the upcoming fifth studio album by Swedish singer Zara Larsson. It is set to be released on 26 September 2025, through Sommer House and Epic Records. The album is characterized by its focus on personal themes such as ambition, identity, and self-reflection.

Contents

Inspired by the atmosphere of the Swedish summer, the ten-track project blends polished pop production with introspective songwriting. Larsson worked closely with a range of collaborators on the album, including longtime partner MNEK, as well as Margo XS, Zhone, and Helena Gao. It is preceded by the singles "Pretty Ugly", "Midnight Sun" and "Crush", and will be supported by the Midnight Sun Tour, which is set to begin in Europe in October 2025.

Background

"In thinking about this album, I thought, 'What do I want to say? What do I want this to be?' I really am proud of my Swedish pop heritage, so I wanted to write about a Swedish summer where the sun never goes down. 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."

The 10-track project sees Larsson taking creative control, working closely with longtime collaborator MNEK, [2] as well as producers Margo XS, Zhone, and songwriter Helena Gao. [3] [4] According to Larsson, the album draws inspiration from the Swedish summer and aims to evoke the atmosphere of a night that never ends. [5] [6] In a message to fans, she expressed that Midnight Sun reflects her identity as an artist, describing it as her most personal work to date. [7]

Larsson has described it as being shaped by years of reflection and artistic development. [8] During the four-year period between So Good (2017) and Poster Girl (2021), she recorded and ultimately scrapped several album versions, citing the pressure to deliver a strong commercial follow-up. [8] [9] [10] "I must have had five albums in those four years that I was just like, 'No, no, no, not good enough. Let's start over,'" she said, reflecting on the creative process. The title Midnight Sun was chosen early on and revisited multiple times, with Larsson writing several songs under the same name before finalizing the concept. [9]

Composition

Midnight Sun blends polished pop production with introspective lyrics, drawing on Larsson's experiences with ambition, self-doubt, and personal growth. [9]

Songs

The title track "Midnight Sun" draws inspiration from the summer nights in Sweden, where the sun barely sets and the atmosphere feels timeless. [11] Larsson described the song as central to defining the album's tone, blending a sense of freedom with emotional depth. [12] The track captures themes of clarity, presence, and paradoxical carefreeness, which she summed up as: "I don't give a fuck, but I do care a lot, and I hope and I pray and I manifest". [13] The track "Ambition" reflects these themes, addressing internal pressure and comparison. Larsson has described ambition as "both a blessing and a curse", influencing the album's emotional tone. The concept of the "midnight sun" serves as a symbolic link to her Swedish roots and evolving identity. [9]

Promotion

Singles

The album's lead single, "Pretty Ugly", was released on April 25, 2025. [14] The electro-influenced track was accompanied by a music video directed by Charlotte Rutherford, featuring choreographed sequences in an open field that descend into chaos as rain begins to fall. [15] [16] The title track "Midnight Sun" was released on June 13, 2025. [17] [18] [19] On August 15, Larsson released her third single from the album, "Crush". [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]

Tour

To support the album, Larsson will embark on the Midnight Sun Tour, beginning in Europe October 2025 with arena dates across major cities including London, Amsterdam, and Stockholm. [7] [25] She will also join Tate McRae's Miss Possessive Tour in North America and support OneRepublic on their 2026 Australia and New Zealand dates. [3]

Track listing

Midnight Sun track listing [26]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Midnight Sun"
3:09
3."Pretty Ugly"
  • Wildman
  • Emenike
  • Gao
  • Larsson
  • XS
  • MNEK
2:38
5."Crush"
  • Larsson
  • Gao
  • Emenike
  • Wildman
  • Zhone
  • XS
2:57

References

  1. "Midnight Sun, Zara Larsson". Qobuz. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  2. DeNicola, Tiana (25 April 2025). "Zara Larsson Talks Viral Dolphin Memes, New Music, and Being 'Obsessed' with Tate McRae and Sabrina Carpenter". Variety. United States: Penske Media Corporation. ISSN   0042-2738. OCLC   60626328. Archived from the original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 Johnson, Laura (5 June 2025). "Zara Larsson Announces Fifth Album 'Midnight Sun'". Stereoboard. United Kingdom: Eyedigit Limited. Archived from the original on 5 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  4. Bergamini, Isabella (14 June 2025). "Zara Larsson Shares New Song "Midnight Sun"". MXDWN. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  5. Taylor, Sam (5 June 2025). "Zara Larsson has confirmed her new album 'Midnight Sun', and world tour dates for 2025-2026". Dork. United Kingdom: The Bunker Publishing Ltd. OCLC   1065354071. Archived from the original on 5 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  6. Gehlich, Clare (8 June 2025). "Zara Larsson announces fifth album 'Midnight Sun' and fall tour dates". Melodic Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  7. 1 2 Murray, Robbin (5 June 2025). "Zara Larsson Announces New Album 'Midnight Sun'". Clash. United Kingdom. ISSN   1743-0801. Archived from the original on 6 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  8. 1 2 Lauder, Edward (15 June 2025). "Exclusive: Zara Larsson reveals emotional childhood story behind her 'most personal album yet'". Hello!. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Hiatt, Brian (14 June 2025). "Zara Larsson: 'I Want to Be the Number One'" . Rolling Stone. United States: Penske Media Corporation. ISSN   0035-791X. OCLC   969027590. Archived from the original on 15 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  10. "Zara Larsson wants to be 'the number one'". Music-News. 15 June 2025. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  11. Murray, Robbin (16 June 2025). "Zara Larsson's 'Midnight Sun' Channels Swedish Summer". Clash. United Kingdom. ISSN   1743-0801. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  12. Tyler Damara Kelly (13 June 2025). "Zara Larsson presents album title track, "Midnight Sun"". The Line of Best Fit. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  13. Meredith, Kyle (16 June 2025). "Zara Larsson on Midnight Sun, Embracing Pop Chaos, and Channeling a Nymph in the City: Podcast". Consequence. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  14. Pilley, Max (25 April 2025). "Zara Larsson cuts loose in brash new single 'Pretty Ugly'". NME. United Kingdom. ISSN   0028-6362. Archived from the original on 25 July 2025. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  15. Taylor, Sam (25 April 2025). "Zara Larsson has released her electro-pop single 'Pretty Ugly', ahead of a new album coming later this year". Dork. United Kingdom: The Bunker Publishing Ltd. OCLC   1065354071. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
  16. Boyle, Emily (5 June 2025). "Zara Larsson announces upcoming album, Midnight Sun". Hot Press. Ireland. ISSN   0332-0847. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  17. Blistein, Jon (13 June 2025). "Zara Larsson Doesn't Want Summer to End on New Song 'Midnight Sun'" . Rolling Stone. United States: Penske Media Corporation. ISSN   0035-791X. OCLC   969027590. Archived from the original on 25 July 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  18. Taylor, Sam (13 June 2025). "Zara Larsson has released 'Midnight Sun' ahead of her new album this September". Dork. United Kingdom: The Bunker Publishing Ltd. OCLC   1065354071. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  19. Johnson, Laura (13 June 2025). "Zara Larsson Shares Title Track of New Album 'Midnight Sun'". Stereoboard. United Kingdom: Eyedigit Limited. Archived from the original on 26 July 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  20. Tate, Sarah (15 August 2025). "Zara Larsson Details How New 'Crush' May 'Ruin' Her Life". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  21. Taylor, Sam (15 August 2025). "Zara Larsson has dropped her new single 'Crush', from upcoming album 'Midnight Sun'". Dork. United Kingdom: The Bunker Publishing Ltd. OCLC   1065354071. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  22. Stickler, Jon (15 August 2025). "Zara Larsson Teases 'Midnight Sun' With New Single Crush". Stereoboard. United Kingdom: Eyedigit Limited. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  23. Tyler Damarah Kelly (15 August 2025). "Zara Larsson presents new Midnight Sun release, "Crush"". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  24. "Zara Larsson Previews 'Midnight Sun' with 'Crush'". DIY. 15 August 2025. Archived from the original on 16 August 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  25. Tyler Damara Kelly (6 June 2025). "Zara Larsson announces fourth album, Midnight Sun". The Line of Best Fit. United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 17 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  26. "Midnight Sun - Album by Zara Larsson". Apple Music. 26 September 2025. Archived from the original on 28 July 2025. Retrieved 11 June 2025.