“Who knew? Opening up would make me a headline,” Zara Larsson said. From winning her first Grammy to touring stateside, Larsson has established herself as a pop music icon with her latest “Midnight Sun Tour.”
Larsson toured in Seattle, Washington, at Showbox SoDo, on Mar. 1 with approximately 1,800 fans attending her “Midnight Sun Tour.” She has spent years perfecting her career, and has drastically changed her concept, social media presence, target audience and her music.
Larsson is a Swedish singer and songwriter who has had a musical career spanning over 13 years to the present. From a young age, she gained fame for her appearance on “Talang,” a Swedish talent show, in 2008. Her career officially began in 2012 when she signed with TEN Music Group, and in 2013, Larsson debuted with her EP “Introducing” and her hit single “Uncover.”
In her music career, Larsson has released five studio albums, six EPs and 37 singles. Some famous songs include “Lush Life,” “Midnight Sun” and “Ain’t My Fault.” She has also been featured in numerous songs, such as “Stateside” by PinkPantheress and “Symphony” by Clean Bandit. Larsson’s latest album, “Midnight Sun,” has taken the internet by storm with her summer rebrand and outstanding vocals.
Larsson has gone viral on social media for numerous reasons, such as her “Stateside” feature, her “Lush Life” song and opening act for Tate McRae’s “Miss Possessive Tour.” She initially gained fame for her song “Symphony” with Clean Bandit in September 2024, where the iconic “Symphony” meme blew up on TikTok. This meme featured Lisa Frank’s art, with dolphins, colorful sunset gradients and the “Symphony” song.
Fearing for her career downfall after the release of her album “Venus” in February 2024, Larsson decided to embrace the “Symphony” meme and completely rebrand her music as a way to promote her new “Midnight Sun Tour,” which quickly became popularized because of her talent showcased in Tate McRae’s “Miss Possessive Tour.” Larsson’s tour headlined in Europe and in North America, with Amelia Moore as her opening act.
The “Midnight Sun Tour” setlist features Larsson’s most famous songs, as well as all of her songs from the “Midnight Sun” album. She performed around 26 songs, including “Midnight Sun,” from her Grammy performance and collaboration with Muni Long, as well as an iconic cover of Britney Spears’ “Gimme More.” Her setlist was split into four acts, all featuring separate outfit changes and different songs. All transitions were cohesive.
Showbox SoDo featured a stage and a big open area for the audience to stand. There were also 21-and-over sections for people who wanted to get a drink before the concert. Along with the bars, there were tables selling merchandise, food and drinks. Common complaints were the cramped audience areas and lack of stage visibility; however, check-in and check-out were quick and easy through this venue.
The Seattle concert was very hype and exciting. To go along with Larsson’s astounding vocals, her backup dancers and band provided support and emotion throughout her songs. At times, the drums did feel a bit excessive and loud, but Larsson’s strong voice and energy accompanied it flawlessly. Her devotion radiated throughout the entire concert, with back-to-back songs showcasing her abilities in singing, dance, rap and stage presence.
The highlight of the show is when Larsson brings a fan up on stage to dance to “Lush Life,” which went viral on TikTok for its nostalgic feeling. “It’s my favorite part of the show, and I never know what’s going to happen and that’s…the beauty of it,” Larsson said in an interview on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” Although she’s famous, she always makes sure to highlight her fans.
Regarding the concert audience, most of Larsson’s fans had exuberant energy and sang together for all of her songs. Kevin Doyle, a professional concert reviewer on TikTok, said, “The crowd gave all the energy they could.” Most of her fans arrived early for either the VIP soundcheck or the concert itself, showing their love and support for Larsson. However, the TikTok fans knew none of her songs.
Overall, the “Midnight Sun Tour” in Seattle was definitely a night to remember. Although visibility was unclear and the concert was short, the prices were very affordable, and Larsson conducted an everlasting symphony for all of her fans. Larsson’s “Midnight Sun Tour” is her last stop before she starts taking over arenas, as well as the whole pop music industry.