COVER
Zara Larsson
Modern-Age Aphrodite
By Sophie Cino
Publishing date: Mar 08, 2024
F
For our March cover story, we have the privilege of shining a light on the illustrious Zara Larsson, delving deep into the heart and soul of her latest album, Venus. Spotlighting her divine feminine energy in all her endeavors as Women’s History Month kicks off, we’re excited to celebrate Zara From her humble beginnings, where she clinched victory in the second season of ‘Talang’, to her soaring journey to international stardom, Zara generously imparts invaluable insights into her creative process, her myriad of influences, and the empowering odyssey of self-discovery that serves as the cornerstone of Venus.
Much like the rest of us, Zara candidly admits to the ongoing journey of self-exploration. “One of the most exhilarating aspects of crafting this album is the opportunity it affords me to delve deeper into my identity as a songwriter and to explore the dynamics of collaboration, discovering what ignites the purest form of creativity within me,” she elaborates. Zara eloquently narrates the evolutionary trajectory of her sound and style, likening it to ‘peeling the onion,’ each layer an exploration of her identity as an artist. “It’s akin to unraveling the intricacies of my desires and aspirations, understanding the nuances of how I wish to express myself,” she muses. With profound sincerity, Zara reflects, “It’s a genuine reflection of my aspirations and identity. Yet, I concede, I’m still in the process of unearthing the entirety of myself. It’s an ongoing journey of evolution and self-discovery.”
Join us as we embark on an expedition through the melodic realms of Zara Larsson’s soul, where every note resonates with the echoes of introspection and growth.
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For our March cover story, we have the privilege of shining a light on the illustrious Zara Larsson, delving deep into the heart and soul of her latest album, Venus. Spotlighting her divine feminine energy in all her endeavors as Women’s History Month kicks off, we’re excited to celebrate Zara From her humble beginnings, where she clinched victory in the second season of ‘Talang’, to her soaring journey to international stardom, Zara generously imparts invaluable insights into her creative process, her myriad of influences, and the empowering odyssey of self-discovery that serves as the cornerstone of Venus.
Much like the rest of us, Zara candidly admits to the ongoing journey of self-exploration. “One of the most exhilarating aspects of crafting this album is the opportunity it affords me to delve deeper into my identity as a songwriter and to explore the dynamics of collaboration, discovering what ignites the purest form of creativity within me,” she elaborates. Zara eloquently narrates the evolutionary trajectory of her sound and style, likening it to ‘peeling the onion,’ each layer an exploration of her identity as an artist. “It’s akin to unraveling the intricacies of my desires and aspirations, understanding the nuances of how I wish to express myself,” she muses. With profound sincerity, Zara reflects, “It’s a genuine reflection of my aspirations and identity. Yet, I concede, I’m still in the process of unearthing the entirety of myself. It’s an ongoing journey of evolution and self-discovery.”
Join us as we embark on an expedition through the melodic realms of Zara Larsson’s soul, where every note resonates with the echoes of introspection and growth.
—
Don't be scared, and don't be hard on yourself that everything has to be perfect from the start. You'll find your way there... No one keeps track of the failures.
Don't be scared, and don't be hard on yourself that everything has to be perfect from the start. You'll find your way there... No one keeps track of the failures.
In explaining the backstory of the album’s title, Zara wove together themes of empowerment, love and femininity. “Venus as the planet of women, the goddess of love; all of the things that I felt I wanted to embody for this year and for this album,” she explained. “Love could be a little painful, love could also be beautiful and fun. It could be sassy, it could be about your friends.” She clearly wanted to create an album that transcends beyond ordinary themes of love. From personal anecdotes to the stories of her loved ones, Zara revealed how human experiences shaped the essence of Venus. “Honestly, I talked a lot to my friends and they truly influenced this… their stories, their feelings, their love lives. My sister and people that I have close to me really made this album.” she confessed.
Comparing Venus to her previous works, Zara revealed a newfound sense of liberation. “I just had fun doing it. I honestly didn’t feel any pressure,” she shared. “My main focus has not been how people are going to respond. I just do it for myself and I just do the songs that I like”. In a completely open and honest moment, Zara reveals that “[she] felt a lot of pressure because it was [her] album after ‘So Good’, which did really well streaming-wise and reach. It was really, really hard for me to find any type of joy in creating because [she] just felt so pressured into living up to the expectations of what that would be.” Throughout the making of Venus, she just had fun doing it and didn’t feel any pressure. Even while on tour, Zara shares that, “with an all-female band and my dancers, my girls, and the people I have around me. I really try to surround myself with a lot of really amazing women.”
As of late, Zara has recently gained full control of her esteemed recording catalog in partnership with Epic Music, a move that echoes the footsteps of many other artists in recent history. “It just feels incredibly satisfying to have that ownership,” she reflects. “Even for the songs that I didn’t personally write, it just feels nice to know that they’re mine, my cherished creations. All my songs are my babies.:”.
In contrast to her captivating talent, Zara shared she was not raised in a musically inclined family whatsoever. Though she explained she grew up loving to perform and entertain those close to her, “It’s my destiny in a way,” she shared. “I can’t see myself doing anything else and I’ve never seen myself do anything else. [For] as long as I can remember, it’s been 100%. No questions.” While her parents have been nothing but supportive of her dreams, she reiterated that singing “chose her.”
Zara’s collaborations with esteemed artists like David Guetta, Tiny Tempah, and Clean Bandit have been not just fun musical endeavors but experiences that have shaped her artistic journey. With a career marked by authenticity and organic connections, Zara highlights the joy of blending genres and exploring new musical territories. From EDM to R&B, and even dabbling in Afrobeats, Zara finds excitement in diversifying her sound and pushing creative boundaries. Each collaboration becomes an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone and embrace fresh perspectives.
Reflecting on her partnership with David Guetta, Zara admires his unwavering passion for music and genuine interest in collaboration. “I think he just loves what he does. He just loves what he’s doing and that’s why he’s still doing it and also why he’s still good at it. He’s still interested in the people he works with.” She recognizes his ability to remain inspired and relevant, a quality she finds truly inspiring and reflective of her own ethos in the industry. In the realm of music, Zara Larsson not only creates but also learns, grows, and finds inspiration in every collaborative endeavor that has pushed her outside of her comfort zone.
Alas, the dreaded question that most artists have trouble answering; What is your favorite moment or experience you’ve had in your career thus far? When I asked Zara this question, she was stumped. She explained it’s impossible to narrow it down to one moment, but eventually came to the conclusion that performing at the opening ceremonies for the Euro Cup has been her favorite thus far.
Her number one piece of advice for artists looking to make their big break? “I would say to just release stuff,” she shared. “Don’t be scared, and don’t be hard on yourself that everything has to be perfect from the start. You’ll find your way there. Don’t be scared of failure because you can’t get people to listen to a song that you don’t release. No one keeps track of the failures. Everyone just keeps track of the wins,” she explains. “It’s just lessons and wins honestly,[there’s] no such thing as failure.”
Photographer: Paul Edwards
