The singer recently revealed that her former label discussed the possibility of submitting her for Best New Artist, prompting an immediate objection from Larsson. In an interview with The Perfect Magazine, she made clear that she sees the category as a poor fit for an artist who has been releasing music professionally since she was a teenager.
Zara Larsson Wants Her Career to Count
Larsson’s music career began long before her recent surge in popularity. She first became known in Sweden after winning Talang in 2008 at age 10, and she signed with TEN Music Group in 2012. Her debut EP, Introducing, followed in 2013, establishing her as a recording artist well before her international breakthrough.
That early start eventually led to a major international career. Her 2017 album So Good produced global hits including “Lush Life,” “Never Forget You” and “Symphony,” while her subsequent releases continued to keep her among pop’s established names. The scale of that career is part of why Larsson takes issue with the idea of being classified as a new artist.
The conversation came up when Larsson’s former label discussed a possible Grammy campaign in the Best New Artist category. Her response was unequivocal: “I don’t even want that.” She added, “That would downplay the 13 years of me being an artist. I’m not a new artist.”
Larsson’s recent success has nevertheless brought a fresh wave of attention to her music. Her 2025 album Midnight Sun received critical acclaim, with its title track becoming her highest-charting solo song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and earning her first Grammy nomination, for Best Dance Pop Recording.
The renewed momentum has also reached beyond her solo work. Her collaboration with PinkPantheress on “Stateside” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, while “Lush Life” experienced another surge after a viral moment during Larsson’s Midnight Sun Tour.