As sweeping visuals of sunkissed skies and crashing waves flashed behind her, Swedish popstress Zara Larsson stepped onto the T-Mobile stage and wasted no time before kicking into “Midnight Sun,” to the delight of the swelling crowd, conjuring images of sand, tan-lines, swimming and golden hours.
The tropical energy was needed, considering a day’s worth of rain delayed her set by two hours and, according to festival organizers, resulted in the cancelation of Lil Uzi Vert’s set entirely.
The song’s frenetic beat rattled off from her four-piece band, her backup dancers expertly hit their choreo — stepping in heels, dropping, shaking and even hoisting the singer into the air. Larsson’s voice looped up and down as she and the crowd belted the word “sun,” as if casting a spell to will some light on a gray, chilly evening in Grant Park.
It has been nearly 10 years since Larsson first graced Lollapalooza. Though she has been releasing music since then, last year marked a turning point for the 28-year-old musician, when her “Midnight Sun” album plus a hit remix of “Stateside” by British singer/producer PinkPantheress brought worldwide popularity.
Those songs, along with cuts like “Pretty Ugly” from last year’s “Midnight Sun” album sent the crowd into a frenzy, as they shouted the chorus and danced together.
“It’s been nine years since I was here for the first time and a lot of things have changed … it’s so crazy what is happening to my life just this past couple of months,” she said, calling it “a testament to never giving up — just keep going. I believe in you.”
Dubbing the crowd the biggest she’d ever performed for, you could see Larsson luxuriating in the moment on songs like “Hot and Sexy,” which featured a pause to snap a selfie with the crowd and an extended dance break. It all felt like a victory lap of sorts, not just because she started the song behind the wheel of a hot pink sports car set piece.
While many were decked in Charli xcx-themed fits, it was clear the love for Larsson ran deep, as fans belted early-career hits like 2017’s “I Would Like” and “Lush Life.” On the latter, she brought up a fan from the crowd to perform the song’s dedicated choreography alongside her, the pair moving in sync along with the crowd.
Leading the crowd in one last take on “Midnight Sun,” she told the crowd: “Summer is endless when it comes from within … I want you to go out into the world and already that joy!”
