In 1997, Zara Larsson was born in Stockholm. She gained fame in 2008 as the winner of Talang, also known as Sweden’s Got Talent. At 14 years old, she signed with Ten Records in Sweden and had success in her home country before becoming internationally recognized in 2014. In addition to her own albums, including the popular So Good, which is one of the most-streamed debut albums by a female artist on Spotify, she has also been featured on hit singles such as Clean Bandit’s Symphony and Tinie Tempah’s Girls Like. Larsson recently released her new album, Venus.
This photo is me celebrating winning Sweden’s Got Talent. What was going through my mind? Probably just,“Weeeee!” – I was excited but not surprised. Throughout the whole competition, I knew I had a good chance.
I created the dress on my own. During the finale, I sang Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” and I desired to wear something blue and reminiscent of the ocean, something that could flutter in the wind – an ensemble that would make me feel more mature, despite being only 10 years old. It appeared lovely from afar, but in reality, it was simply a collection of scraps held together with pins.
In the past, I never had concerns or uncertainties about achieving success because I had a strong feeling that I was meant to be an entertainer, leading me to participate in Talang. The only thing that caused me worry was how quickly I would achieve that success. After the show, I expected it to be an immediate breakthrough and for everything to fall into place, but for four years, nothing happened. This was a source of stress and caused me to fear that my career may never take off. Eventually, I returned to my normal life.
My early exposure to the public did not significantly alter my life or how I was treated by others. Attending the Royal Swedish Ballet School meant that my peers were all involved in music and dance, so being in the spotlight was not a novelty. Additionally, this was before the rise of social media, so any negative comments would not have reached me and had an impact. However, this may also be because Sweden does not have a strong celebrity culture. Our society values equality, where no one is deemed superior or inferior.
At the age of 14, I was finally signed and since then, it has been a continuous cycle of releases. My mother, who is pictured in the back with short hair, accompanied me everywhere. Until I turned 20, she was always by my side, whether I was traveling or meeting producers in studios. I am extremely grateful for this because the music industry can be tough without someone advocating for you and truly caring about your well-being. If I had only relied on a representative from my label, I may have found myself in uncomfortable situations. For example, if someone had suggested doing drugs when I was only 15, I may have agreed without thinking twice.
During my teenage years, I was quite rebellious. I enjoyed going to parties, but my attitude was mainly characterized by stubbornness and rudeness towards everyone, particularly my parents. I was not very focused on academics, but I was outspoken and enjoyed engaging in debates, often with strong convictions. However, as I reached the age of 25, experts in neuroscience state that the prefrontal cortex is fully developed, and I personally experienced a noticeable change in my behavior. I felt a sense of tranquility and maturity. Although I still hold strong opinions, I have undergone significant personal growth for the better.
One of the major changes that occurred was the decision to distance myself from certain social circles, specifically my ex-boyfriend. We first met when I was 14 and our relationship continued on and off for an extended period of time. In the beginning of 2016, I experienced a successful period in my career with the release of my track Lush Life and being featured on David Guetta’s Euros song, This One’s for You. However, despite my accomplishments, I never felt like the main character in my own life – I always felt like a supporting character in his. I became immersed in his world and spent most of my time with his friends. He was also an artist and it appeared that his only goal after our break-up was to surpass me. It seemed as though he couldn’t be happy for any of my achievements and would often make comments like, “I want to make more money than you and be more successful.” Since then, I have learned the importance of surrounding myself with people who genuinely support and celebrate my success.
At 17, I was signed to Sony and as my success grew, I began to question myself. I was worried about maintaining the momentum and meetings were focused on creating a marketable product for me. Everyone was working hard to make my career happen and I had a team of stylists, choreographers, and songwriters. Although I was writing my own songs, I lacked confidence in sharing them with others. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that being involved in the creative process is what truly fulfills me. When I was 10, I never dreamed of getting a billion streams. To truly feel content, I need to create something.
I really admire this picture because it holds a certain beauty in my enthusiasm. It captures the excitement of my first time performing on stage and truly feeling like a professional. It’s been a while since I’ve experienced that “Weeeee!” feeling. As I’ve grown older, I’ve been in this industry for quite some time and things that used to amaze me now seem mundane. Meeting other famous individuals, for example, doesn’t hold the same level of excitement as it once did. Now, I realize that they are just regular people, not as thrilling as I once thought. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to do what we love as our profession.
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I am not implying that I am not experiencing happiness. Just yesterday, I was discussing with my friend about my gratitude for being alive. Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial. In my youth, I owned a shirt that I adored and found in a second-hand store, which I would wear daily. It was red and had the phrase “I am the best” printed on it. It wasn’t meant to be arrogant, I simply believed in myself. Wearing it made me feel capable of achieving anything.
At times, I find myself longing for the beginning of my career, when everything felt so genuine. I never worried about how my music was being received or how many streams it was getting. It can be difficult not to measure success solely by numbers. Even now, I am grappling with my identity. I am confident in who I am as a person and never doubted my talent as an artist, but because I enjoy various genres, it can be challenging to define my niche and convey my true self through my music.
I feel a distinct contrast from the young girl in the picture – to the extent that I almost view her as my own daughter, someone whom I adore and take pride in. Although I may not experience the same level of enthusiasm, I am still immensely grateful and capable of handling any challenges that come my way. If something attempts to diminish my spirits, I simply think, “That was unpleasant, but let’s keep moving forward!”
Source: theguardian.com
