Zara Larsson: Up Close (2025) Movie Script
BRAZIL, SEPTEMBER 2024
ROCK IN RIO
THE WORLD'S BIGGEST MUSIC FESTIVAL
[string music plays]
[Zara] I'm an artist, and I will always
strive for better and bigger.
[string music continues]
That's the blessing and the curse of
always wanting more and having ambition.
I always look for the next thing
and the next thing and the next thing.
[string music
and the sound of camera flashes]
I'd have to tell myself,
"Take it in. Be present."
And please don't be...
Like... Don't think negatively
about anything.
[audience whistling]
Take it in. Take it in.
"Be present."
I will never forget you
You will always be by my side
From the day that I met you
I knew that I would love you
Till the day I die
And I will never want much more
And in my heart I will always be sure
I will never forget you
You will always be by my side
- Till the day I die
- Die
Whoa oh oh
Till the day I die
Never forget you
You will always be by my side
Till the day I die
[public cheers]
[man] That's it! Let's fucking go!
Breathe! Breathe!
- Yeah!
- [woman] Yeah!
Dennis on the mic!
- Did you enjoy it?
- I did enjoy it.
- [Zara] Have you been struggling?
- Wow.
- What? Can you imagine?
- Great show.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- [Kalli] We partied all night.
- They were quite calm.
- [Kalli] No.
- But they were so responsive.
I was like, "Do you love me?"
When we were out front, it was deafening.
- Really?
- They sang the whole of "Venus."
Knew every word.
I thought it was very calm for Brazil.
They're usually fucking mental.
- [Kalli] They were into it.
- I like that.
- Yes.
- I had a good time.
[string music playing]
[club music playing]
- Hey.
- Hey.
Are you tired, honey?
[pop music from phone]
- I'm checking my tags.
- Nice.
[Zara Larsson's Ammunition
plays on the phone]
[soft intro music]
[audience cheering in the background]
MAY 2024
[Zara] Can you pull my foot?
[women laughing]
[Zara] Exactly, exactly. Exactly!
[Vendela] Ah!
[Zara laughs]
- [both laugh]
- Yeah!
- [Vendela] Shall I draw the curtains?
- Yeah.
[Zara] No!
- [Vendela] Morning!
- [Zara] Good morning.
- [Zara] Morning!
- [Vendela] What a lovely day.
[Zara laughs]
[Vendela] So lovely. I brought a sandwich.
Thank you.
[Zara] Kelly Clarkson did a cover
of "You Love Who You Love."
- [Vendela] What?
- What?
This feels like it's actually
a Kelly Clarkson song.
Good morning!
- [Lamin] Hello?
- Good morning!
- Hi, honey!
- Hi!
ZARA'S BOYFRIEND
- How are you?
- Good. How are you?
- I'm great.
- What are you eating?
Some breakfast I'm just chewing.
- Oh, that's good!
- [Vendela] Hi!
- [Zara] This bread is so healthy!
- So I thought this morning that...
Maybe it's not a really
delicious salami sandwich,
but that I just haven't had it
in a long time.
You're like, "It's the best
salami sandwich in the world!"
Vendela brought breakfast,
which is so sweet.
- That's nice.
- I know.
Talk to you later, baby!
- I love you.
- Kisses.
- Kisses.
- [Vendela] Kisses!
Are you going to wear makeup today?
- Yeah, maybe a little bit.
- Okay.
Fuck it! I don't need makeup.
Fuck it! Fuck this!
[both laugh]
[Zara] Bang-bang, bang-bang.
Let's go.
- [Vendela] She doesn't lock up.
- Who the fuck is going to rob me?
[Zara Larsson's
You Love Who You Love playing]
Oh, no!
[they laugh]
I don't know. I don't care.
'Cause you don't wanna listen
You just tell me,
"You love who you love"
Yes, yes.
What the hell.
I lost my floss behind my tooth.
So this has moved.
So now...
It's my curse to wear braces
for the rest of my life.
Now I have to put another bar in there,
if I'm gonna have an Invisalign
so that this... So it comes back.
I had like a little...
Like a little chip in my tooth.
I thought I could file it evenly,
file the chip off.
- [woman] What file?
- Just a nail file.
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah.
I got a nail file, and it worked.
But now they're a little too straight,
don't you think?
I have to round them up a bit.
[man] Okay, okay. Let's do this.
- Did you miss your long hair?
- Yes, I did.
I feel like the hair that I have now
is a little anonymous.
- Exactly.
- It's a bit like this...
Fun, cute... Not even a fun girl.
- Cute girl.
- Cute girl.
- Nothing wrong with that.
- No.
- But we want to be, like...
- Extra.
- [Zara] Mm.
- [Adam] Mm.
I also saw that little "Lush Life"
has two billion streams total
on all the platforms.
Oh! Damn!
What's so crazy about it
is that it just keeps going.
Exactly.
It's probably averaging
a million listens a day still.
That's crazy. When did you release it?
20...
- It's been nine years.
- 2015.
Yeah, I think it was.
- It's really unusual.
- Yeah, it's been a long time.
[piano music playing]
[Zara] I don't feel like I am close
to where I want to be in terms of
outside success.
I want to get my number one
on the album chart on Billboard.
I want to have a Grammy
or two, three, four, or five.
This is what I have seen for myself
for my whole life.
My last big hit...
Like, it's been too long.
- Hi.
- Hey.
That's why this album
is so important to me.
[man] What have you been listening to?
What are you inspired by?
- Is there something you haven't explored?
- [Zara] Like missing out?
It is tricky with this new album
starting out. Like, okay...
It's a feeling of wanting to do
something new and exciting.
But also, you know what?
Who am I?
What do I like? What do I do?
What's my voice?
[piano music playing]
[man] You've been writing a lot together.
We go way back.
I did my very first song ever,
- and we both released it together.
- Wow, okay. Cool.
[Zara]
I didn't start off writing any songs.
All of these amazing writers
would just write the songs for me,
but I wouldn't be in the room.
It was just like, "What?"
So why can't I just try to write the song?
In my first ever,
ever, ever session that I did,
I wrote "Never Forget You"
with Uzo Emenike.
He opened the door
for the songwriting world to me.
How do you usually like to work?
From scratch?
I like to work from scratch, usually.
If you have any words and images...
[Jazz] For me, it's me being
in the rap space heavily.
A lot of it is rooted in truth, you know.
Hardship, and then you come up
and get better,
but it all depends on where you see
your art in this next era for you.
[Zara] I feel like to be personal doesn't
always have to be things that are hard
or that pain you
or, "I went through this.
That was really..."
It could also be... Because I like fun.
I like fun, I like sexy,
I like a good time. I like to dance.
I feel like I want some more...
Like that little "psych," you know.
[laughs]
[Uzo] Oh, my God!
It's okay, but I was like,
"Wait! What are you...?"
[electronic music playing]
[Zara] I want to be personal,
but I also want people to dance.
[Uzo] I want to be personal,
but I also want to dance.
I want to be personal,
but I also just want to dance.
[Uzo and Zara laugh]
[Uzo] It's interesting as far as
what it takes to be a pop star.
You're selling a fantasy.
[Zara] Do you think it's like a shield?
- [Uzo] Yeah.
- I won't let anyone know the real me.
I guess it's a shield to protect
who you really are, to who it matters to.
I think that artists forget
that when I listen to your music,
I'm not thinking about you.
I'm thinking about me.
I'm thinking about how your experience
relates to my life.
So when you talk about
the things you talk about,
yes, I do care that it happened to you,
but I want to say, "I can identify
with her 'cause that happened to me too."
[pop music recording playing]
[woman] It would be nice to have
something summery.
- Now it's all...
- Totally.
[Zara hums]
"Sober"?
"Sunburned and never sober"
or "naked and never sober"?
[Kalli] I liked "naked and never sober,"
because that feels...
It's like a picture.
[Zara] I just want to feel like people
know me and my music
and think, "That's a cool girl."
More than just,
"Oh, I've heard her on the radio."
They know my songs,
but they don't know me as an artist.
Got the euros in my hand
Got the time to spend
It's more than just having a big hit.
It's about the world you create
and how you make sure
that the people listening to you
also want to step into your world.
This feels really small.
I want it to end right here.
Now it's kind of like,
"What is that world?"
I'm looking at my social media,
I'm looking at my videos,
I'm looking at my shows,
and I don't see a red thread.
Now I feel like I look like
an insane person.
[woman laughs]
I don't know if it's the shorts.
It's like...
[woman laughs]
[Zara] It has to start from something,
and it has to start off
by feeling real and me,
so I can invite people into it.
And whatever that is,
right now, I don't know.
[man] Yeah, okay.
We miss you, little darling.
You won't even come home
before we go away again.
[Zara] Where?
- [mom] Back to Sweden.
- No, I don't know if I'll come home.
ZARA'S PARENTS
- You don't know if you're coming home?
- No.
No. Okay.
- Rapunzel! Look at her.
- [dad] Rapunzel.
Does Mommy have complaints?
Have you worn weird clothes
that made your mom's stomach hurt?
"Look at this on Instagram.
What's this for?"
[Zara laughs]
Relax, damn it. She's 27.
"No, I'm going to call Kalli..."
[Zara laughs]
[Anders laughs]
I was more like that when I was 15,
that I wanted to be naked all the time,
than I am now.
- I think it's a shame...
- I like being naked.
It's part of who I am.
But you can wear some clothes.
- I do. What the fuck?
- Yes, exactly.
The first time I called Kalli
about something
was when you were crawling around
on the floor in your silver boots.
From the "Ain't My Fault" video?
Yeah.
[laughs]
- [Zara] Do you live around here?
- I'm from New York.
I fly back and forth.
You've been in LA for a while now?
Couple months.
When I do make the trip,
I like to stay for at least
one or two months. It's far.
- Exactly.
- I wake up at 6 a.m.
- Go to the gym.
- And it stays with me for five days.
Then I'm back.
Last night, I'm back
to my regular routine of 5 a.m.
- Yeah.
- 5 a.m.?
You know what? Get it working.
- You know...
- Like, going to sleep at 5 a.m.
- I thought you meant waking up.
- No, no, no.
No, going to sleep at 5 a.m.
I'm waking up 11.30, like, "Let's go."
- Going to sleep at 5 a.m. is crazy.
- I know.
It's just in my DNA or something.
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah.
[calm music playing]
Left.
Then down to the right.
And then... And then down.
You're flexible.
I did a lot of ballet growing up,
and somehow, a lot of it just stuck.
It stays. Your body...
Forward, go. Five, six, seven, eight.
And one, two, and three, four. And last...
[Zara] I don't know where it comes from,
when I first felt it,
but it's been there
for as long as I can remember.
Hey!
[giggling]
Some people love to sing,
but don't love attention.
Or vice versa.
And I love both.
[all] I don't believe
That didn't go well!
[all laugh]
- [teacher] What didn't go well?
- I'm sore. Can you have sore tongues?
Could it be that Zara Larsson talks a lot?
[Zara] Yes. Sorry.
- Shut up!
- [laughing] Sorry.
We didn't have a living room table, but...
in front of the couch
and where you would have a table
and between the TV,
that's where Zara performed.
Skuggorna ruva
Every day, every night.
Sometimes in the mornings.
On the weekends,
it could be 24 hours a day.
That's what it was like.
They were always putting on a show.
And then Zara would take over.
Strlande stjrna
[Agnetha] And we had to sit there
and applaud and so on.
Strlande stjrna
[all] Bravo.
[applause]
[woman] A big round of applause
for Zara Larsson.
[audience cheering]
[Zara] I remember my first,
first, first talent show
outside a shopping mall,
and it was in December.
It was fucking freezing.
The only people in the crowd
were the parents of the kids performing.
But I remember wanting to do it so bad.
Yeah!
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Growing up, I was reading
a bunch of these tabloids
that my grandma used to have.
[laughs]
So I felt like, "How can I speed this up?"
Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you
[Zara] I wanted to be on that show because
it wasn't in a mall, it was on TV.
That felt very big and amazing.
[presenter] The winner of Talang 2008 is:
Zara Larsson!
[audience cheering]
When I was a kid,
I said I'd be bigger than Elvis Presley,
and that's a pretty big goal,
but I want to be someone
that will last forever.
A real legend.
Stop laughing!
And you're here in my heart
[Zara] I think I had very, very high hopes
of what was going to happen afterwards.
It was TV, and you thought,
"Boom, now it's the paparazzi.
Now the paparazzi will be coming."
[laughs]
[woman] When you see her, do you think
that's something you'd like to do?
No, my dream is bigger
than the Eurovision Song Contest.
I think I'd rather aim for the US.
It sounds like I'm the worst, like...
"I'm going to be huge!"
But that's where I'm aiming, actually.
[Zara] I went to LA, and I thought,
"Okay, let me sign
with Disney and Nickelodeon.
I'm gonna get a record deal."
[Zara] I got to sing a little bit,
and he said it was great,
and it was special, he said, many times.
That's huge.
They've got Eminem, Lady Gaga,
U2... a lot of people, so...
- [woman] What about Zara Larsson?
- We'll see.
What else did he say? Tell me!
It's a secret.
[women laughing]
And everyone was like, "She's so great."
I was like, "How am I gonna deal
with the paparazzi?"
[laughs]
And that was that. Nothing happened.
Nobody wanted to sign me.
The thing is...
[relaxed guitar music and waves lapping]
from being a child to my first release
of my first song, "Uncover,"
for me, it was like, "Duh!
Of course I'm going to be an artist."
I think that's why
manifestation is a real thing.
I wasn't thinking,
"What if it doesn't happen?
What if I fail?"
It was not even a thought
in my small mind at that point.
[relaxed guitar music and waves lapping]
[music continues]
She was 14 years old and a little sassy.
I said, "What do you really want..."
I had heard that she wanted
to be an artist, and we met in the office.
"I want to be on the big stages
of the world," she said.
"Okay," I said.
"That sounds fine, but are you up to it?
It's incredibly difficult."
"Yes, absolutely," she says, totally sure.
She and her mom were up in the office,
and Zara had gone to a ballet class.
Suddenly, the Mom, Agnetha, says,
"Zara, why don't you sing something?"
She starts singing a cappella.
Really strongly.
There's no instruments, there's nothing,
and she just goes for it.
I was like, "Oh, my God!"
I mean... If you're brave enough
to do that, it's something special.
She had that extra something.
Nobody sees, nobody knows
We are a secret, can't be exposed
[Zara] For me, it was just like, "Finally,
I'm gonna release my first song.
Of course, it's gonna be a hit.
What else? Why wouldn't it be?"
[Uncover playing]
That's how it goes
Far from the others
Close to each other
That's when we uncover-cover
[Kalli] I've known Zara
since she was about 15 years old.
She was very ambitious
and excited to go to the label.
Excited to see what's going to happen.
Her big shot.
[man] I was completely blown away
by how confident and how great she was,
a 15-year-old, 16-year-old girl,
sitting with what she must
have regarded as three old men,
playing a record with no manager,
no agent.
Just her, and she just commanded the room.
I thought,
"She believes she's a star, and I agree."
I live my day as if it was the last
I live my day as if there was no past
Doin' it all night, all summer
[Ola] "Lush Life" became a big song
for Zara everywhere.
I'ma dance out my heart
Suddenly, it was number one
in the US on Spotify.
I live my day as if it was the last
I live my day as if there was no past
[Zara] Everything was just happening.
Then I did the Euro Cup 2016.
We're in this together
Hear our hearts beat together
Everything was just going
so well all the time.
Every song I released was like,
"Okay, boom, yay, it's top ten. Whatever.
It's top ten? Okay, whatever."
[Kalli] I've never been on holiday
without hearing a Zara song
in any part of the world.
of your symphony
Like a love song on
[Jimmy Fallon]
has the number one dance song.
[woman]
has over 200 million streams.
[man] Zara Larsson!
I used to be so happy
But without you here I feel so low...
[Zara] But I was still not really
taking in how well it was doing,
because that was how I'd pictured it to be
ever since I was seven or six...
my whole life.
I just took it so for granted...
because I had normalized it
so much in my head.
And I wasn't really excited about it.
But I also realized
that I have to keep this streak going.
And I felt so, so, so much pressure.
And I waited a good four years,
and then I released Poster Girl.
Um
I had no momentum, I had no hype.
I had no single doing well.
What a failure. This is so bad.
And that, like,
taking for granted the success of it all
had just completely disappeared.
So, in everything relating
to my musical achievements,
I rarely feel like, "Yay!"
I mostly feel like...
"What's this? This is terrible."
Yeah.
[Agnetha]
I don't think she's ever satisfied.
So, for a while, I had to tell her,
because she came off the stage saying,
"I'm not happy. This was bad."
"If you are going to do this, you can't
keep singing. Then we will stop."
Has "Symphony" really taken off?
- In streams and stuff?
- Yeah.
- No.
- We discussed that it's not showing.
- But it must have.
- I don't think so.
- Do you see it? What's it at now?
- 96,000,793.
I don't think it's
being updated every day.
It is, I swear. I check it every day.
[all laugh]
Really?
- You can see it.
- Yeah, I know.
Monthly listeners are updated every day
and the songs every day.
Every day at four o'clock.
Just... I don't know exactly. At 4:02...
Symphony
Will you hold me tight and not let go?
Hanna...
Venus
Venus
[both laugh]
[Zara] If rats had fuzzy tails,
do you think people would like them more?
- [Uzo] Fuck rats!
- [Zara gasps]
- [Zara] For real?
- I hate rats, insects, and nature.
[Uzo laughs]
- He's a city boy.
- I'm a city boy.
Hello! Period!
- [Zara] I love rats.
- You like rats?
- [Zara] I love them.
- Why?
I want one as a pet.
- You have to get two...
- Not a mouse?
They're not as smart.
Rats are really smart,
and they're so cute.
I think I like them
because so many people dislike them.
- [Uzo] That's hilarious.
- They don't get a good rap.
[Uzo] The rebellion.
[music playing]
[Zara hums along]
[music continues playing]
I feel like it's missing...
[Zara hums along]
You know what I'm saying?
Put it in, and let's hear it.
[Uzo] You know what it was
Right when we started
So why you broken-hearted
But I'm still trying to party
I am who I am
Ain't gonna change it
The love we share ain't changing
But
Boy, you can't control my life
[music playing and cuts out]
I was worried that I had invited myself
into someone's house.
Yeah.
[Kalli] Do you mind if we have
a Euro conversation quickly,
or do you want to have it on your own?
It's up to you.
Yeah.
- Yeah?
- I don't mind.
Zara has been asked to be
the Eurovision interval act
I mean, it's a good opportunity,
but it's really annoying in my body.
I don't feel excited about it.
I feel quite like...
[Zara] It's hard because
Eurovision has been criticized
for allowing Israel to participate,
and I've spoken out
about this conflict before.
When I say, "Free Palestine!"...
I've never been cancelled
like that before.
CRITIQUES AFTER PALESTINE POSI got pulled off of shows
or cancelled award-show performances
or had deals being taken from me.
It felt like, "Whoa!
Okay? That's the reality of it?
That's what it is?"
That shook me a bit, I think,
because I've never felt that before.
[instrumental background music playing]
[Kalli] She definitely in the past
has commented on things quickly,
and then it's picked up in the media,
and it's grown into something
she didn't expect when she delivered it.
Um
Growing up, I just had to find my voice.
What do I think is wrong?
What do I think is right?
What are my core values and beliefs?
[electronic music playing]
You're kind of shaping yourself a bit,
especially in the teenage years. Who...
Who I am and what I believe in.
I was teaching myself
why it's important
to stand up for yourself,
why you should be a feminist.
AFTER THE WAVE OF HATE,
I WANTED TO LEAVE SWEDEN
And...
And it happened simultaneously
with my music getting big.
I know in my heart what I think,
but if you just know it in your heart...
[Zara sighs]
That doesn't matter.
That doesn't mean anything. I don't know.
[man's voice on the phone]
I've always been...
a girl who thinks and believes
that I can make a difference.
At least a little bit,
I can make a difference.
That's just how I am as a person.
I've never been quiet
when I've seen something
that's been unfair
or when people are like...
And I feel like the older I get,
I might end up in one of these cynical...
"Who cares?"
That's so sad. It's sad to lose...
I feel like I'm taking a step away
from the feeling of being able
to make a difference. Maybe I can't.
Maybe I should just sing.
[waves lapping]
[birdsong]
[leaves rustling]
ZARA'S SUMMERHOUSE
[Zara] I've never stayed here
for more than three nights.
[pop music playing]
I come here as often
as I can when I'm home.
Three nights is the longest
I've been here.
Have I even been here for three nights?
[pop music playing in the background]
Melon tastes so good.
Hey, Mom!
Hi! I'm at the store we were at.
But...
ZARA'S MOM
It's... It's blue.
What? It didn't... Is that so wrong?
Well, it's just that I never wear blue.
- But this is kind of cute.
- Yeah, it's really cute.
A classic... Yeah. I think that's cute.
- Okay, we'll be in touch, my love.
- We will.
- Take care of yourself.
- Yes, I will.
That's good.
- Kisses.
- Kisses to you.
We had an argument yesterday.
Her way of bonding
is to start talking about furniture.
And start talking about interior design,
especially out here in the country.
BOYFRIEND
No one apologizes in my family, ever.
- No.
- You don't say sorry.
"Fuck, I'm sorry I acted like that."
"I'm sorry I said that
or spoke to you like that." It's just...
- "Next."
- "What do you think of this wallpaper?"
[Lamin laughs]
You just forget about it.
Yeah, it's kind of like that.
She thinks I should text her
every time I land somewhere,
which, unfortunately, I absolutely don't.
She has me on Find My Friends,
so she can see where I am.
[Lamin laughs]
My mom would always say,
"I'm not her manager, I'm just her mom."
But when you think back at it,
she kind of was my manager.
In a lot of ways.
[Agnetha] This is Zara's upcoming website
that we're working on.
It's not quite finished yet, but this is
the idea of what it'll look like.
- That's not what I said, Mom.
- What? Calm down!
- Oh, my God! You're not listening!
- What is it this time?
[Zara] She would take pictures of me
and call her friend
who had a printing company,
and they would print the posters.
Then she would call someone else she knew
who would print the records for me.
And then we could sell them.
She would make things happen for me.
She did so much for me
and never really got much in return.
[Agnetha] I've always been with her.
I was with her in the US every trip
until she was maybe 18 years old,
and I've been sitting in every studio,
outside the studio room, watching her.
It's the same as usual.
There'll be singing and singing,
so I guess it'll be late today too.
[Zara] My mom curled me and still does,
and it has helped me so much.
I wouldn't be the person I am
if my mom had not...
[Zara makes a swishing sound]
done this for me my whole life.
Yeah.
If I hadn't had her here,
I don't think we'd have
a single piece of furniture.
Nothing would have happened,
and my mom still makes things happen,
but that's because
I'm not making decisions.
I'm not making decisions because she...
I don't know.
I kind of need to be better
at making decisions for myself.
I've never been allowed to do that.
I paid my first bill five weeks ago.
- Which was a parking... Does that count?
- No.
[Zara laughs]
That's not even a bill.
- I paid something.
- Yes, you did.
I've never done that before,
and that was a big deal for me.
Then I felt like
I'm in control of my life.
- [Zara] Good girl.
- [Lamin] Nice. Good!
[all cheer]
Okay, okay! Okay!
[Zara] It's funny because
I don't know anything about my life.
If I think about what I'm doing
next week, I don't really know.
Maybe I look at my schedule,
and it will say what I'm doing,
but I don't really do my schedule.
I don't plan my trips,
I don't book my accommodation,
I don't book my cars, I don't...
I don't really know
what's happening in my life.
[Zara laughs]
[relaxed music]
[Lamin hums]
[Lamin] There.
[Zara] Come and lie down, honey.
- [Lamin] I'm unpacking my bag.
- Yes, good.
[Lamin] You're the one who's slacking off.
Get up!
- We can relax later.
- Can you pull my foot?
- If you get up after.
- Yes.
- Up you go.
- Nice!
You promised.
[Zara] There's so much to do all the time.
[Lamin] Yes, but we're almost done.
[Zara] As soon as you're done,
it just starts again.
[Lamin] Then you'll go on tour,
and everything will be...
[kiss sound]
fixed and sorted.
- [Zara] But in life.
- Yeah.
Absolutely. Don't fall.
No.
Should I get plates?
[TV plays quietly]
[Zara chuckles]
[both laugh]
[gentle music playing]
[background chatter]
REHEARSALS FOR THE UPCOMING TOUR
Then it grew to be a siren
I'm a fire and I'm comin' undone
It's so beautiful, now I'm cryin'
Thought the love was made
For someone else
But you have changed me
My body and mind agree
That you have rearranged me
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
Venus
You got me fallin' in
Girl, give him up
I'm telling you as a friend
What he's putting you through
Is too much
I get a little lazy
when it comes to rehearsals.
I don't enjoy it that much.
If they had a mirror,
it would have been more fun, I think.
I've never enjoyed rehearsals.
I don't know how I'm able
to nail the choreography later.
Something just happens.
[Agnetha] This circle that I wanted
to put a deck on as well.
[Zara] Mm
That's where there's most sun.
You can put grass there
or a slab or whatever.
No.
What do you mean no?
- Why would we have...
- I'm talking about...
- That's where the sun is all day.
- Did you turn on the mosquito machine?
- What?
- The mosquito machine?
No, but we can ask them to.
Good. I have to go in now.
- Kisses.
- Kisses. Love you.
- Bye.
- Bye.
[loud music playing]
Everything that we do, yeah
I knew I had
Something special with you
But sometimes you gotta know
That these things fall through
But I
Will we have lights up front or just...
Feeling it, loving it
Everything we do
And all along I knew
I had something special with you
But sometimes you gotta know
That these things fall through
I can't hide my connection with you
You
You
I knew that I would love you
Till the day I die
Till the day I die
You
To the day I die
[audience cheering]
[Symphony playing]
Are you ready?
[audience cheering]
I've been hearing symphonies
[audience singing along]
[Zara] Hey!
Was solo singing on my own
Now I can't find the key without you
And now your song is on repeat
And I'm dancin' on to your heartbeat
And when you're gone I feel incomplete
Are you ready?
Oh
I just wanna be part of
Your symphony
Will you hold me tight and not let go?
Symphony
Like a love song on the radio
Hey, symphony
Hey, hey
- Hey, hey
- Hold me tight and not let go
Don't let go
Symphony
Like a love song on the radio
Will you hold me tight and not let go?
Can you see us?
- Where are you?
- I'm coming out.
You're going strong, girl.
I don't know if it's...
[Zara] I love to be on stage.
I love to be doing my show.
It's always a good time.
It really is always, always a good time.
But I also felt like
I've done those venues
and so many festivals.
Because...
I want to have a bigger production,
do a bigger show.
Have a show that you look at,
and you're like, "Wow! That's amazing!"
And I'm just ready...
to level up.
[gentle piano music playing]
[Zara] Do you want to see
what we have planned?
Dishwasher, drawer, end panel.
- And then all the fun stuff. Furniture...
- [Lamin] Yeah, the best.
- And fabrics, rugs, chairs, and tables.
- Will you be away a lot?
No, I'll be home a lot.
- I don't know about that.
- Yes, I will.
Good.
Can you pull my neck?
I'm not sure if...
I want to be someone
who has a sexy curated home.
[Lamin] Yeah, but are you that person now?
[Zara] I have to be that kind of person.
- [Lamin] No, honey!
- Yes!
When we have a family,
you'll just become an ugly...
I don't think you'll care that you have
to have a curated, nice villa.
- I want it to feel nice.
- I know, I know.
But if it's too nice, you'll forget
what's really nice, which is the kids.
That was my point. You know?
You can have both.
You can't do that and be a global artist
flying around the world.
Yes, I can. I can have a nice apartment
and be a good parent.
[Lamin] And a good girlfriend or wife,
hopefully.
Your Instagram has to look good,
and your house.
I know. I want it to look nice.
- I want it to be pretty.
- It's already nice and pretty.
- Yeah.
- I don't want you to lose sight of that.
Because you're already there.
[reggae music playing]
[gentle music playing]
Shine on me
Kiss me in the dark
Tell me I look beautiful
Underneath the stars
Head on your chest
That's my favorite part
Don't I look beautiful
Underneath the stars
Shine on me
Kiss me in the dark
Tell me I look beautiful
Underneath the stars
Must have seen you in a...
ARTIST / SONGWRITER
Must have seen you in a past life
"Feels like I've known you,
like, for ever and ever."
I want to make that clear,
because now it feels like...
Lovers in the past,
young lovers in the next life...
[music playing in the background]
There's something with "the past life"
that's like, "Whoa!"
"We have known each other."
It's like, "Maybe in the next life."
[Kalli] Oh
We've been laying in the grass like
Young lovers in a past life
Beauty mark on your forehead
Hand prints on my ass like
More smiles than the usual
A little sweeter than I'm...
- A little sweeter than I'm used to
- That's it.
Smiles than the usual
A little sweeter than I'm used to
You say they
How's it sound?
[Uzo hums the melody]
[Uzo hums the melody]
[instrumental music playing]
[Uzo hums the melody]
I like that.
[instrumental music playing]
[Uzo] How does it go?
We've been laying in the grass like
Young lovers in a past life
Beauty mark on your forehead
Hand prints on my ass like
More smiles than the usual
A little sweeter than I'm used to
[piano music playing]
ZARA IS MEETING THE CEO OF EPIC
RECORDS TO DISCUSS THE NEW RECORD
[door buzzer]
[indistinct chatter]
[instrumental background music]
[CEO] Do you feel pressure on this?
- This record?
- Yes.
I feel like...
I have a lot to prove.
And I feel like...
it's go time.
Like, I have to go,
and I have to be fucking amazing.
But I feel the pressure of it too.
It's go time for everybody,
'cause we've put a lot of years into this.
We've put our hearts
and souls into this, right?
- And it's about time.
- I know it is.
I want this to be amazing.
I always remember the references
that you gave me to Beyonc.
Of course. That's what I want.
I want the hit record
so I can have the full production.
We have no limits.
We can do whatever we want. Full band,
full dancers, whatever it is, and just...
But that's what you've been working for
all this time.
- We're very serious about that.
- Yeah.
And everybody's put in their work,
and now, it's time to cash in.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I take this shit seriously, and...
I just want it so bad.
[car horns]
This is so nice.
So cute!
So cute. Love. I'd die for her, actually.
[Zara] Die for her? Fun.
- Jamaica.
- Jamaica.
Jamaica.
[car horns]
[woman] The Sylvia meeting,
would you like to talk about it?
[Zara] I do feel pressure
making this album good.
Because it's like...
- What is this, my fifth album?
- Yeah.
Come on, now.
- Has she said anything?
- It has to pop off.
What will she do if she doesn't like it?
She would just tell you.
"Fuck this, I'm calling a new producer."
That's what happened with Poster Girl.
I was going back and forth.
I didn't know what I wanted.
Trying stuff
but not really committing to anything.
I was just confused...
And she told me about it.
She was like, "Girl, what the fuck
is this? What's going on?
What do you want to do? Who are you?
What kind of music do you want to do?"
I couldn't really answer that,
and it was basically like,
"We can't go in circles anymore.
Birth the fucking baby.
This is getting ridiculous."
And I was just bawling in the office.
Yeah.
I feel like what I fail to do
is also to connect my songs with me.
A lot of people know the songs.
But they don't know I sing them.
- Yeah.
- You know?
Yeah.
What the fuck?
What the fuck is up with that?
So, yeah, I've got the hits,
but no cultural relevance.
- I have a lot of tension in my jaw.
- Really?
You know what I do
when I don't have my nails?
- What?
- I scratch the insides of my cheeks.
I want them to be completely smooth.
Feel your cheeks.
They're not completely smooth.
- At least not mine. It's like a tiny bump.
- Right.
And I scratch that off. I scratch the...
Yeah. And I also scratch my scalp.
- [woman] You're kind of...
- Sometimes, I think I have OCD.
- [woman] Girl, for sure.
- You know?
[airplane engine]
[hairdryer blowing]
Why are you in such a rush? Chill down.
- Rush?
- Yeah.
[Lamin] Hey, Mom.
- How are you?
- I'm good.
- Is she performing down there?
- Yes, it's a festival.
- [Zara] Can I have a tassel?
- [Lamin] She's performing.
It's a big festival.
There are lots of celebrities.
Some fans.
I think they want a picture of you.
They're waiting for you.
Did you hear what I said, honey?
Some fans are waiting for you.
[relaxed lounge music playing]
[music gets samba vibes]
Here! One here!
Do you understand
that we're going to experience this?
[Lamin] Yes. No, it's...
[Lamin] Are you excited?
Have you been here?
[Kalli] No.
[expectant music playing]
- Right. Sit here.
- Here?
[background chatter]
Rock in Rio.
There's a huge audience waiting for you.
- How does it feel?
- Amazing.
[speaks Portuguese]
Can you please send a message
to your TikTok followers?
Hi, Tracklist people.
How are you feeling, Zara?
A little bit nervous maybe?
Yeah, I've been stressed.
I haven't slept
for three days or something.
I don't sleep very well.
But that's fine. Yeah.
[tense string music]
Baby, I'm not even in a gown
I'm just in my t-shirt on the couch
And the way you want me
Makes me want you now
But the only thing
Y ou have to say is "wow"
Wow
Wow, yeah
Hey!
Drop-drop
Make your jaw drop-drop
Say "Oh my" drop-drop-drop
Make you say "Oh my God"
My, drop-drop
Make your jaw drop
Make you say "Oh my God"
And you never felt
This type of emotion
Make your jaw drop-drop
Say "Oh my" drop-drop-drop
Make you say
[Kalli] Every single time Zara performs
on a large stage at a festival...
You know...
In that moment
when she's channeling whatever
and performing in an amazing way...
Then I see what she wants,
what she lusts after.
[string music playing]
[audience cheering]
[Zara] I love a good festival,
but would these people go look for me
to go to my shows?
I don't know.
[dramatic string music playing]
[Roger] I think any pressure Zara feels
she creates herself.
And it's a pressure
of wanting to be great.
[rainfall]
[Lush Life playing]
Yeah, I'ma dance my heart out
Till the dawn
But I won't be done when morning comes
Doin' it all night, all summer
Gonna spend it like no other
It was a crush
But I couldn't, couldn't get enough
It was a rush, but I gave it up
Yeah
It was a crush
Now I might've went and said too much
I think it's nicer
if it's a little to the side.
- Just a little...
- Okay.
One more time.
- Yes.
- Let's try it.
[Ammunition playing in the background]
PREPARATIONS FOR AN AMERICAN TOUR AS THE
OPENING ACT FOR THE NORWEGIAN DJ KYGO
Girls like me know what we need
Fix yourself or watch me leave
They dream 'bout controllin' me
Yes.
What we did today is too long.
It can only be 45 minutes.
So what should we get rid of?
"Can't Tame Her" is definitely staying.
"Lush Life" is definitely staying.
"On My Love" is staying.
I wonder like, who's the crowd?
Who's the person who goes,
"Let's go and see Kygo"?
Because it's not really like...
untz untz untz.
It's kind of like,
"Let's go to the beach."
All righty!
[Zara humming]
I don't have a big live audience here.
I haven't toured that much in the US.
But I think Kygo and I have
pretty much the same audience.
That's what you want to do
when you're opening for someone,
to steal that person's audience.
I hope they'll just be like,
"Oh, what a nice show."
You have to kind of just do it.
Er
I think.
I'm just telling it like it is
I'm just telling it, telling it
[Kalli] That particular song, I said
it has to be in the first 30 minutes.
They came back with 38 minutes.
It's hard to argue with eight minutes.
It sounds so petty.
- Okay.
- So that's where that is.
And you're also sound checking that first.
Okay, let me listen to it,
actually, a couple of times.
Because I haven't...
You know I'm bad with lyrics.
[Kalli] I wonder if we should put
the lyrics up with your set list in front.
I've noticed when you mess up lyrics,
you just go confidently.
You just go for it.
[Zara sings nonsense lyrics]
Then I grew to be a fire
I'm a fire and I'm comin' fire
[audience cheering]
It ain't my fault
You came in lookin' like that
You just made me trip, fall
And land on your lap
Certain bad boy smooth
Body hotter than the sun
I don't wanna be rude
But I'd look so good on ya
Go
[Zara] I mean, opening for Kygo,
his stage was not meant
to have any sort of dancers on it.
[It Ain't My Fault playing]
It was just like, "Hey..."
I don't know.
Like...
Being an opener... An opener's an opener.
Yeah.
[woman]
I didn't count on sound check tomorrow.
You don't want sound check
on the other days either?
Hello?
Girl, you just got to give me
some more energy.
- Can you feel it?
- Yeah, I think so.
[music from the concert
playing from her phone]
[background chatter]
[gentle background music playing]
[car traffic]
[Zara] How are you?
I have a bit of a headache.
You're just going for it
and just cooking your food.
- Yes, unfortunately.
- Me too. I cooked my own food too.
You cooked your own food today, too?
You're joking? You were joking.
- Yeah.
- You were joking.
- I'm joking.
- No.
- Yeah, I was.
- Oh, Zara!
Yuck! God, I look tired.
I fell asleep at 5:00 last night
because I was looking at dresses
that I'm never going to buy.
Really?
Yeah, I was lying there, thinking,
"Oh, this 88,000 one is nice."
Yeah.
I was lying there scrolling
for like two and a half hours.
I'm fucking crazy.
Try and stop me. You know what I'm saying?
[Zara] When I'm not working,
it has definitely happened that I just
don't step outside my apartment at all.
Barely my bedroom.
If I lay in the bed
and I don't do anything,
and I don't get up
and I don't start my day,
I get anxious.
I start scrolling. I start...
thinking about myself.
Because I'm like, "What am I doing?
Why do I feel like this?"
And then I'm like... ugh.
And then I do the same thing next day,
and then I feel even worse.
When I don't feel like
I have somewhere to go,
that's just not good for me.
[calm guitar music playing]
Growing up, I was dancing,
I was moving all the time.
It made me a lot calmer.
And these days when I'm not on tour,
where I don't dance every day,
I get more still,
and the more still I get,
the more anxious I become.
It's so, so easy to be hard on yourself
and compare yourself to others,
and to feel like
I wasn't good enough,
or I could have done that better.
I used to be a lot more like that.
Then my mom would tell me,
"If you don't feel like this is fun,"
I won't allow you to do it.
"You can't do it anymore."
But then I love to sing.
I love to use my voice,
and I love to make music.
And that's where it all ends up.
[calm guitar music playing]
[Zara rapping]
- They call us in the next two weeks
- Hey, hey, hey, hey
Let's send the address
Go, please
SUV, the outside white
Inside brown
[Zara] I love being with my crew
and my band and my dancers.
[people cheering and laughing]
It's joy, it's happiness.
[pop music playing loudly]
IN THE FALL OF 2024, ZARA GOES
ON A HEADLINER TOUR IN THE US
It's the most confident I ever feel.
I know what I'm doing when I sing.
And I know what I'm doing
when I'm performing.
And I feel like
it's the way it's supposed to be.
["Ooii" by Amy Caddies McKnight
and others playing]
[man on radio] It's unfortunate that the
only people that will succeed in politics
are the most outrageous.
And I do think, obviously, there is
a massive amount of misogyny in America.
Look at the fucking abortion situation.
And I think for the margin vote
that won Trump the election,
they don't think that the women's issues
that Kamala was betting on
were as important as the other issues
that are plaguing our country.
Which is why
they probably reluctantly voted for Trump.
[Elon Musk] This is the kind of positive
energy that America is all about.
USA.
- USA.
- USA.
USA. USA.
USA?
[both laugh]
So bad.
- Shout out.
- Shout out.
Yeah, man, I...
I guess somehow it's like...
everyone has the ability
to influence people
or be an educator of some sort.
You're considering speaking on it?
[Zara sighs]
I don't know.
I can't lose... I have too many shows.
And not enough sleep.
I'm dead-ass serious.
I just can't be up all night
replying to angry people
and getting anxious about the world
and the state the world is in.
[audience applauding and cheering]
[Can't Tame Her playing]
You can't tame her
Put your hands up one more time!
So if she wanna party all night
All night
No, you can't tame her, no
And you can't tie her down
When the night comes around
Said she gonna party
All night, all night
And you can't change her
Can't blame her, can't tame her
[audience cheering]
Thank you so much!
Of course,
I got my ladies with me on stage.
I love to be up here and just feel
female power. You know what I mean?
A woman should be running the country
right now, but it is what the fuck it is.
Speaking on that,
I wanna say one thing really quick.
We have this little jar going on.
It's a small thing.
It's by the merch stand, and if
you have an extra dollar in your pocket
that you could give to support
making sure that abortions
are safe and legal in every state
that's not as beautiful
and open-minded as New York.
Whoever is running the country,
you can still show up for your community,
your neighbors, and your people.
Thank you for being here.
It really means a lot, and we're gonna
continue to have the best time!
[audience cheering]
I feel so happy
Happy that I'm free
And I can see things
Things I couldn't see
But I can't fall in love without you
Mmm Hey, yeah
So please, don't fall in love
Don't you fall in love
Don't fall in love
Oh, don't fall in love
Please, don't fall in love
Don't fall in love
So please, don't fall in love
Without me
Yeah
Don't fall in love
Don't fall in love
Don't fall in love
Oh, oh
Yeah, yeah
[audience cheering]
Thank you so much.
[audience continues to cheer]
[gentle background music playing]
[Hanna] So this is your house.
Okay! Exciting!
Whoo!
SISTER
- I like the color.
- Yes, really.
- [Zara] It's bright, but it's not white.
- No.
- This is the sunbathing area.
- This is for sunbathing.
[Zara] Mm.
- [Zara] We'll be cooking here.
- [Hanna] God.
[Zara] This is where
I'll be sitting on my bar stool.
- And watch you cook.
- [Hanna] Exactly.
[Lamin] This turned out great.
- It looks great, honey!
- [Zara] Wow.
Imagine what it looked like a few months
ago. It looks great. This is awesome.
Look at the light.
The armchair here.
[quiet background chat]
[gentle background music playing]
[Zara] Don't you think
I'm a better person now?
Yes, absolutely.
I think you...
Do you think I'm the best person
in the world now?
- Almost.
- Who's the best?
Who's better?
You're a great person.
I love you more than anything.
- But you said "almost."
- I don't think you can be the best person.
- You can.
- Maybe you can be for me, but...
[Zara] Am I the best person
in the world for you?
[Hanna] I think you've matured.
[Zara] Yeah, and I haven't
really felt that until now.
I think it's just that your brain has...
Like you said.
- The moon and the years.
- The moon and the years.
And another planet.
- Saturn.
- That's been buzzing.
- Saturn.
- Is that right? [Laughs]
Yes.
That's the way it is.
At 27. That's what they say.
- Now, Saturn has gone all the way.
- That's right.
And now, I'm an adult.
[Hanna] Mm.
That's so fucked up.
Mm.
How does it feel?
[gentle piano music playing]
It comes back
to where it was when you were born.
Your Saturn's returned. At 27, you've...
You've felt it. It changes you.
- You feel old.
- It's like, "I'm a grown-up."
Exactly.
Yeah.
And when you've been
doing one thing forever...
- Yes.
- Like I've been doing music.
It does makes me wonder, like, okay...
Is there anything more to me?
- You know what I mean?
- There probably is.
Yeah.
The more you learn,
the more that enters my head,
- the more mysterious it gets.
- Yeah.
Or like, the more I experience...
The more I experience
The more mysterious it gets, mm
[Kalli] Hydrate.
[Zara sings notes]
- I love that.
- Yeah, so beautiful.
What if we all come in?
And it feels so good
Yeah. Just a bit.
And it
Maybe. That's nice.
And it feels so good
Oh, I don't know what I'm doing
[music continues to play]
Could be wrong, could be right
But this song
Is mine
- Zara, lead voice.
- I...
I tried to control
All that is unknown
[Zara] I've put a lot of energy and effort
into finding this.
And maybe...
Maybe people
who are listening to this album...
I'm wondering
if they will hear a difference,
or if it just feels so different for me.
I like your playlist, boy
Turn it up a little louder
Road's empty
So you drive a little faster
Ain't taken nothing tonight
But I'm feeling so high
It's the midnight sun
Kissed skin under the red sky
Laying on your chest like this
Hold me like the pebbles in your hand
Initials in the sand
Yeah, summer isn't over yet
Skinny-dipping with your heart out
It's my favorite part
Now we ain't gotta tell no one
A never ending midnight sun
That's why he loves you.
A never ending midnight sun
Wow!
I feel like we're on a journey.
Like, where will
the magical tour bus go next?
That's like a sensation.
- It's like an experience.
- I've never heard a song like that.
- It's so crazy.
- In my whole life.
It's so beautiful.
It's like being in a whirlpool
or something. It's so crazy.
- [Zara] It's so fucking crazy.
- [Kalli] Wow!
[Zara] I almost feel like a single tear
is going to roll down my face.
- Wow. That is so incredible.
- Yeah.
Do you think if I leave at 6:00
to catch a flight that leaves at 9:00...
Tomorrow?
- Isn't there a car booked?
- Yeah, for 6:00.
I'm saying crazy stuff now.
I'm saying, "Will I make it?"
[laughs]
You guys recorded that, right?
'Cause we're going to need to...
If there's one argument that me
and Zara have consistently forever,
it's how long it takes
to get to the airport.
What time you should be there
before a flight to not miss your flight.
Yeah.
- So this...
- Look at me!
She's growing up.
[Zara] But what do I say, then?
[Lamin] Say, like...
"I feel like this album shows
how multifaceted I am, but also life."
Go in with confidence.
You know what?
You do you, baby.
[Kalli] No one has a crystal ball.
And every time an artist
puts themselves out there into the world,
there is a risk that the dream they have
or the heights they wish to reach
won't happen.
- [man] Hi, everybody.
- Hi!
Okay.
[Zara] Shall we just, boom, get into it?
[woman laughing]
[Zara] Erm
- I'm excited for you guys to hear it.
- [man] We are too.
Let's get it.
Live the American dream
With billboards picturing me
My name on Hollywood Boulevard
But that's the thing
with the ambition
I want it so much
Everything's a competition
So out of touch
Yeah, it got me a lot
But that's not good enough
I wanna be lo-lo-loved
I live and learn the hard way
Have you ever seen a pretty girl
Get ugly like this
Messy like this
Losing her shit
Everybody's telling me
To sit there and look pretty
But I'm feeling like I wanna
Cause some trouble in the city tonight
Fuck the ladylike
More like crazy like
Flippin' tables at the bar
Turn the beat up, make it hard
Wanna take it too far
Ain't afraid tonight
Fuck the ladylike
More like crazy-like
Yeah, summer isn't over yet
Skinny-dipping with your heart out
Is my favorite part
Now, we ain't gotta tell no one
A never ending midnight sun
A never ending midnight sun
A never ending midnight sun
[applause and cheering]
[Sylvia]
Thank you for delivering your album.
We've been waiting on this
a long time, lady.
- And it's... Huh?
- It's only a year.
- A year?
- [Zara] But this one's special.
- I know.
- It feels incredible.
I'm so proud and happy
and excited about everything.
- [woman] It sounds incredible.
- [Sylvia] It sounds amazing.
- Thank you, Sylvia.
- [man] Zara...
- You killed it.
- Yeah.
[Zara] I've been struggling a bit to put
my personality into the songs I'm singing.
But I feel like on this project...
- It came together.
- It came together.
[woman] It sounds like it's
having a conversation with you.
The songs sound like... The first one,
I was like, "She's said this shit before."
It's upbeat, and it's promising.
It's so you.
- Yeah.
- I absolutely love it.
[Zara] Thank you.
I remember a few years ago...
when I was just a bit lost,
and I was looking so much out, out, out.
"What do I want? Who am I?"
I just didn't know
what I wanted it to sound like.
- Yeah.
- But... It just took a little...
You know.
[man] It's always refreshing
to hear your stuff.
You somehow reinvent yourself.
I felt like we found something
very special and amazing.
- You did. You're bringing it, for real.
- Yes.
- Yeah.
- [Zara] I hope so.
I feel like this year's gonna be good.
I'm ready.
All right, I'll leave you. Get to work.
[laughter]
Get to work.
- Love you guys.
- Love you too.
Love you.
- I'll talk to you later.
- [all] Bye!
[Zara] I'll see you soon. Let's do dinner.
Wait a minute.
- Fantastic.
- So exciting.
[Zara] This album, hopefully, will be a
success. And then I'll make another one.
And it'll be a success.
If it isn't a success, then I will make
a fucking album until it's a success.
[gentle piano music]
I'm getting spiritual.
I also get more and more sensitive
as I get older.
And now, I feel like I can be...
I don't need to have a hard shell.
So maybe I just...
It moves me.
Oh
I'm thinking about..
I'm thinking about how lucky I am in life.
That I get to be here,
that I get to do what I do.
That I was born in Sweden.
That I have my family.
["Saturn Returns" playing]
ROCK IN RIO
THE WORLD'S BIGGEST MUSIC FESTIVAL
[string music plays]
[Zara] I'm an artist, and I will always
strive for better and bigger.
[string music continues]
That's the blessing and the curse of
always wanting more and having ambition.
I always look for the next thing
and the next thing and the next thing.
[string music
and the sound of camera flashes]
I'd have to tell myself,
"Take it in. Be present."
And please don't be...
Like... Don't think negatively
about anything.
[audience whistling]
Take it in. Take it in.
"Be present."
I will never forget you
You will always be by my side
From the day that I met you
I knew that I would love you
Till the day I die
And I will never want much more
And in my heart I will always be sure
I will never forget you
You will always be by my side
- Till the day I die
- Die
Whoa oh oh
Till the day I die
Never forget you
You will always be by my side
Till the day I die
[public cheers]
[man] That's it! Let's fucking go!
Breathe! Breathe!
- Yeah!
- [woman] Yeah!
Dennis on the mic!
- Did you enjoy it?
- I did enjoy it.
- [Zara] Have you been struggling?
- Wow.
- What? Can you imagine?
- Great show.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- [Kalli] We partied all night.
- They were quite calm.
- [Kalli] No.
- But they were so responsive.
I was like, "Do you love me?"
When we were out front, it was deafening.
- Really?
- They sang the whole of "Venus."
Knew every word.
I thought it was very calm for Brazil.
They're usually fucking mental.
- [Kalli] They were into it.
- I like that.
- Yes.
- I had a good time.
[string music playing]
[club music playing]
- Hey.
- Hey.
Are you tired, honey?
[pop music from phone]
- I'm checking my tags.
- Nice.
[Zara Larsson's Ammunition
plays on the phone]
[soft intro music]
[audience cheering in the background]
MAY 2024
[Zara] Can you pull my foot?
[women laughing]
[Zara] Exactly, exactly. Exactly!
[Vendela] Ah!
[Zara laughs]
- [both laugh]
- Yeah!
- [Vendela] Shall I draw the curtains?
- Yeah.
[Zara] No!
- [Vendela] Morning!
- [Zara] Good morning.
- [Zara] Morning!
- [Vendela] What a lovely day.
[Zara laughs]
[Vendela] So lovely. I brought a sandwich.
Thank you.
[Zara] Kelly Clarkson did a cover
of "You Love Who You Love."
- [Vendela] What?
- What?
This feels like it's actually
a Kelly Clarkson song.
Good morning!
- [Lamin] Hello?
- Good morning!
- Hi, honey!
- Hi!
ZARA'S BOYFRIEND
- How are you?
- Good. How are you?
- I'm great.
- What are you eating?
Some breakfast I'm just chewing.
- Oh, that's good!
- [Vendela] Hi!
- [Zara] This bread is so healthy!
- So I thought this morning that...
Maybe it's not a really
delicious salami sandwich,
but that I just haven't had it
in a long time.
You're like, "It's the best
salami sandwich in the world!"
Vendela brought breakfast,
which is so sweet.
- That's nice.
- I know.
Talk to you later, baby!
- I love you.
- Kisses.
- Kisses.
- [Vendela] Kisses!
Are you going to wear makeup today?
- Yeah, maybe a little bit.
- Okay.
Fuck it! I don't need makeup.
Fuck it! Fuck this!
[both laugh]
[Zara] Bang-bang, bang-bang.
Let's go.
- [Vendela] She doesn't lock up.
- Who the fuck is going to rob me?
[Zara Larsson's
You Love Who You Love playing]
Oh, no!
[they laugh]
I don't know. I don't care.
'Cause you don't wanna listen
You just tell me,
"You love who you love"
Yes, yes.
What the hell.
I lost my floss behind my tooth.
So this has moved.
So now...
It's my curse to wear braces
for the rest of my life.
Now I have to put another bar in there,
if I'm gonna have an Invisalign
so that this... So it comes back.
I had like a little...
Like a little chip in my tooth.
I thought I could file it evenly,
file the chip off.
- [woman] What file?
- Just a nail file.
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah.
I got a nail file, and it worked.
But now they're a little too straight,
don't you think?
I have to round them up a bit.
[man] Okay, okay. Let's do this.
- Did you miss your long hair?
- Yes, I did.
I feel like the hair that I have now
is a little anonymous.
- Exactly.
- It's a bit like this...
Fun, cute... Not even a fun girl.
- Cute girl.
- Cute girl.
- Nothing wrong with that.
- No.
- But we want to be, like...
- Extra.
- [Zara] Mm.
- [Adam] Mm.
I also saw that little "Lush Life"
has two billion streams total
on all the platforms.
Oh! Damn!
What's so crazy about it
is that it just keeps going.
Exactly.
It's probably averaging
a million listens a day still.
That's crazy. When did you release it?
20...
- It's been nine years.
- 2015.
Yeah, I think it was.
- It's really unusual.
- Yeah, it's been a long time.
[piano music playing]
[Zara] I don't feel like I am close
to where I want to be in terms of
outside success.
I want to get my number one
on the album chart on Billboard.
I want to have a Grammy
or two, three, four, or five.
This is what I have seen for myself
for my whole life.
My last big hit...
Like, it's been too long.
- Hi.
- Hey.
That's why this album
is so important to me.
[man] What have you been listening to?
What are you inspired by?
- Is there something you haven't explored?
- [Zara] Like missing out?
It is tricky with this new album
starting out. Like, okay...
It's a feeling of wanting to do
something new and exciting.
But also, you know what?
Who am I?
What do I like? What do I do?
What's my voice?
[piano music playing]
[man] You've been writing a lot together.
We go way back.
I did my very first song ever,
- and we both released it together.
- Wow, okay. Cool.
[Zara]
I didn't start off writing any songs.
All of these amazing writers
would just write the songs for me,
but I wouldn't be in the room.
It was just like, "What?"
So why can't I just try to write the song?
In my first ever,
ever, ever session that I did,
I wrote "Never Forget You"
with Uzo Emenike.
He opened the door
for the songwriting world to me.
How do you usually like to work?
From scratch?
I like to work from scratch, usually.
If you have any words and images...
[Jazz] For me, it's me being
in the rap space heavily.
A lot of it is rooted in truth, you know.
Hardship, and then you come up
and get better,
but it all depends on where you see
your art in this next era for you.
[Zara] I feel like to be personal doesn't
always have to be things that are hard
or that pain you
or, "I went through this.
That was really..."
It could also be... Because I like fun.
I like fun, I like sexy,
I like a good time. I like to dance.
I feel like I want some more...
Like that little "psych," you know.
[laughs]
[Uzo] Oh, my God!
It's okay, but I was like,
"Wait! What are you...?"
[electronic music playing]
[Zara] I want to be personal,
but I also want people to dance.
[Uzo] I want to be personal,
but I also want to dance.
I want to be personal,
but I also just want to dance.
[Uzo and Zara laugh]
[Uzo] It's interesting as far as
what it takes to be a pop star.
You're selling a fantasy.
[Zara] Do you think it's like a shield?
- [Uzo] Yeah.
- I won't let anyone know the real me.
I guess it's a shield to protect
who you really are, to who it matters to.
I think that artists forget
that when I listen to your music,
I'm not thinking about you.
I'm thinking about me.
I'm thinking about how your experience
relates to my life.
So when you talk about
the things you talk about,
yes, I do care that it happened to you,
but I want to say, "I can identify
with her 'cause that happened to me too."
[pop music recording playing]
[woman] It would be nice to have
something summery.
- Now it's all...
- Totally.
[Zara hums]
"Sober"?
"Sunburned and never sober"
or "naked and never sober"?
[Kalli] I liked "naked and never sober,"
because that feels...
It's like a picture.
[Zara] I just want to feel like people
know me and my music
and think, "That's a cool girl."
More than just,
"Oh, I've heard her on the radio."
They know my songs,
but they don't know me as an artist.
Got the euros in my hand
Got the time to spend
It's more than just having a big hit.
It's about the world you create
and how you make sure
that the people listening to you
also want to step into your world.
This feels really small.
I want it to end right here.
Now it's kind of like,
"What is that world?"
I'm looking at my social media,
I'm looking at my videos,
I'm looking at my shows,
and I don't see a red thread.
Now I feel like I look like
an insane person.
[woman laughs]
I don't know if it's the shorts.
It's like...
[woman laughs]
[Zara] It has to start from something,
and it has to start off
by feeling real and me,
so I can invite people into it.
And whatever that is,
right now, I don't know.
[man] Yeah, okay.
We miss you, little darling.
You won't even come home
before we go away again.
[Zara] Where?
- [mom] Back to Sweden.
- No, I don't know if I'll come home.
ZARA'S PARENTS
- You don't know if you're coming home?
- No.
No. Okay.
- Rapunzel! Look at her.
- [dad] Rapunzel.
Does Mommy have complaints?
Have you worn weird clothes
that made your mom's stomach hurt?
"Look at this on Instagram.
What's this for?"
[Zara laughs]
Relax, damn it. She's 27.
"No, I'm going to call Kalli..."
[Zara laughs]
[Anders laughs]
I was more like that when I was 15,
that I wanted to be naked all the time,
than I am now.
- I think it's a shame...
- I like being naked.
It's part of who I am.
But you can wear some clothes.
- I do. What the fuck?
- Yes, exactly.
The first time I called Kalli
about something
was when you were crawling around
on the floor in your silver boots.
From the "Ain't My Fault" video?
Yeah.
[laughs]
- [Zara] Do you live around here?
- I'm from New York.
I fly back and forth.
You've been in LA for a while now?
Couple months.
When I do make the trip,
I like to stay for at least
one or two months. It's far.
- Exactly.
- I wake up at 6 a.m.
- Go to the gym.
- And it stays with me for five days.
Then I'm back.
Last night, I'm back
to my regular routine of 5 a.m.
- Yeah.
- 5 a.m.?
You know what? Get it working.
- You know...
- Like, going to sleep at 5 a.m.
- I thought you meant waking up.
- No, no, no.
No, going to sleep at 5 a.m.
I'm waking up 11.30, like, "Let's go."
- Going to sleep at 5 a.m. is crazy.
- I know.
It's just in my DNA or something.
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah.
[calm music playing]
Left.
Then down to the right.
And then... And then down.
You're flexible.
I did a lot of ballet growing up,
and somehow, a lot of it just stuck.
It stays. Your body...
Forward, go. Five, six, seven, eight.
And one, two, and three, four. And last...
[Zara] I don't know where it comes from,
when I first felt it,
but it's been there
for as long as I can remember.
Hey!
[giggling]
Some people love to sing,
but don't love attention.
Or vice versa.
And I love both.
[all] I don't believe
That didn't go well!
[all laugh]
- [teacher] What didn't go well?
- I'm sore. Can you have sore tongues?
Could it be that Zara Larsson talks a lot?
[Zara] Yes. Sorry.
- Shut up!
- [laughing] Sorry.
We didn't have a living room table, but...
in front of the couch
and where you would have a table
and between the TV,
that's where Zara performed.
Skuggorna ruva
Every day, every night.
Sometimes in the mornings.
On the weekends,
it could be 24 hours a day.
That's what it was like.
They were always putting on a show.
And then Zara would take over.
Strlande stjrna
[Agnetha] And we had to sit there
and applaud and so on.
Strlande stjrna
[all] Bravo.
[applause]
[woman] A big round of applause
for Zara Larsson.
[audience cheering]
[Zara] I remember my first,
first, first talent show
outside a shopping mall,
and it was in December.
It was fucking freezing.
The only people in the crowd
were the parents of the kids performing.
But I remember wanting to do it so bad.
Yeah!
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Growing up, I was reading
a bunch of these tabloids
that my grandma used to have.
[laughs]
So I felt like, "How can I speed this up?"
Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you
[Zara] I wanted to be on that show because
it wasn't in a mall, it was on TV.
That felt very big and amazing.
[presenter] The winner of Talang 2008 is:
Zara Larsson!
[audience cheering]
When I was a kid,
I said I'd be bigger than Elvis Presley,
and that's a pretty big goal,
but I want to be someone
that will last forever.
A real legend.
Stop laughing!
And you're here in my heart
[Zara] I think I had very, very high hopes
of what was going to happen afterwards.
It was TV, and you thought,
"Boom, now it's the paparazzi.
Now the paparazzi will be coming."
[laughs]
[woman] When you see her, do you think
that's something you'd like to do?
No, my dream is bigger
than the Eurovision Song Contest.
I think I'd rather aim for the US.
It sounds like I'm the worst, like...
"I'm going to be huge!"
But that's where I'm aiming, actually.
[Zara] I went to LA, and I thought,
"Okay, let me sign
with Disney and Nickelodeon.
I'm gonna get a record deal."
[Zara] I got to sing a little bit,
and he said it was great,
and it was special, he said, many times.
That's huge.
They've got Eminem, Lady Gaga,
U2... a lot of people, so...
- [woman] What about Zara Larsson?
- We'll see.
What else did he say? Tell me!
It's a secret.
[women laughing]
And everyone was like, "She's so great."
I was like, "How am I gonna deal
with the paparazzi?"
[laughs]
And that was that. Nothing happened.
Nobody wanted to sign me.
The thing is...
[relaxed guitar music and waves lapping]
from being a child to my first release
of my first song, "Uncover,"
for me, it was like, "Duh!
Of course I'm going to be an artist."
I think that's why
manifestation is a real thing.
I wasn't thinking,
"What if it doesn't happen?
What if I fail?"
It was not even a thought
in my small mind at that point.
[relaxed guitar music and waves lapping]
[music continues]
She was 14 years old and a little sassy.
I said, "What do you really want..."
I had heard that she wanted
to be an artist, and we met in the office.
"I want to be on the big stages
of the world," she said.
"Okay," I said.
"That sounds fine, but are you up to it?
It's incredibly difficult."
"Yes, absolutely," she says, totally sure.
She and her mom were up in the office,
and Zara had gone to a ballet class.
Suddenly, the Mom, Agnetha, says,
"Zara, why don't you sing something?"
She starts singing a cappella.
Really strongly.
There's no instruments, there's nothing,
and she just goes for it.
I was like, "Oh, my God!"
I mean... If you're brave enough
to do that, it's something special.
She had that extra something.
Nobody sees, nobody knows
We are a secret, can't be exposed
[Zara] For me, it was just like, "Finally,
I'm gonna release my first song.
Of course, it's gonna be a hit.
What else? Why wouldn't it be?"
[Uncover playing]
That's how it goes
Far from the others
Close to each other
That's when we uncover-cover
[Kalli] I've known Zara
since she was about 15 years old.
She was very ambitious
and excited to go to the label.
Excited to see what's going to happen.
Her big shot.
[man] I was completely blown away
by how confident and how great she was,
a 15-year-old, 16-year-old girl,
sitting with what she must
have regarded as three old men,
playing a record with no manager,
no agent.
Just her, and she just commanded the room.
I thought,
"She believes she's a star, and I agree."
I live my day as if it was the last
I live my day as if there was no past
Doin' it all night, all summer
[Ola] "Lush Life" became a big song
for Zara everywhere.
I'ma dance out my heart
Suddenly, it was number one
in the US on Spotify.
I live my day as if it was the last
I live my day as if there was no past
[Zara] Everything was just happening.
Then I did the Euro Cup 2016.
We're in this together
Hear our hearts beat together
Everything was just going
so well all the time.
Every song I released was like,
"Okay, boom, yay, it's top ten. Whatever.
It's top ten? Okay, whatever."
[Kalli] I've never been on holiday
without hearing a Zara song
in any part of the world.
of your symphony
Like a love song on
[Jimmy Fallon]
has the number one dance song.
[woman]
has over 200 million streams.
[man] Zara Larsson!
I used to be so happy
But without you here I feel so low...
[Zara] But I was still not really
taking in how well it was doing,
because that was how I'd pictured it to be
ever since I was seven or six...
my whole life.
I just took it so for granted...
because I had normalized it
so much in my head.
And I wasn't really excited about it.
But I also realized
that I have to keep this streak going.
And I felt so, so, so much pressure.
And I waited a good four years,
and then I released Poster Girl.
Um
I had no momentum, I had no hype.
I had no single doing well.
What a failure. This is so bad.
And that, like,
taking for granted the success of it all
had just completely disappeared.
So, in everything relating
to my musical achievements,
I rarely feel like, "Yay!"
I mostly feel like...
"What's this? This is terrible."
Yeah.
[Agnetha]
I don't think she's ever satisfied.
So, for a while, I had to tell her,
because she came off the stage saying,
"I'm not happy. This was bad."
"If you are going to do this, you can't
keep singing. Then we will stop."
Has "Symphony" really taken off?
- In streams and stuff?
- Yeah.
- No.
- We discussed that it's not showing.
- But it must have.
- I don't think so.
- Do you see it? What's it at now?
- 96,000,793.
I don't think it's
being updated every day.
It is, I swear. I check it every day.
[all laugh]
Really?
- You can see it.
- Yeah, I know.
Monthly listeners are updated every day
and the songs every day.
Every day at four o'clock.
Just... I don't know exactly. At 4:02...
Symphony
Will you hold me tight and not let go?
Hanna...
Venus
Venus
[both laugh]
[Zara] If rats had fuzzy tails,
do you think people would like them more?
- [Uzo] Fuck rats!
- [Zara gasps]
- [Zara] For real?
- I hate rats, insects, and nature.
[Uzo laughs]
- He's a city boy.
- I'm a city boy.
Hello! Period!
- [Zara] I love rats.
- You like rats?
- [Zara] I love them.
- Why?
I want one as a pet.
- You have to get two...
- Not a mouse?
They're not as smart.
Rats are really smart,
and they're so cute.
I think I like them
because so many people dislike them.
- [Uzo] That's hilarious.
- They don't get a good rap.
[Uzo] The rebellion.
[music playing]
[Zara hums along]
[music continues playing]
I feel like it's missing...
[Zara hums along]
You know what I'm saying?
Put it in, and let's hear it.
[Uzo] You know what it was
Right when we started
So why you broken-hearted
But I'm still trying to party
I am who I am
Ain't gonna change it
The love we share ain't changing
But
Boy, you can't control my life
[music playing and cuts out]
I was worried that I had invited myself
into someone's house.
Yeah.
[Kalli] Do you mind if we have
a Euro conversation quickly,
or do you want to have it on your own?
It's up to you.
Yeah.
- Yeah?
- I don't mind.
Zara has been asked to be
the Eurovision interval act
I mean, it's a good opportunity,
but it's really annoying in my body.
I don't feel excited about it.
I feel quite like...
[Zara] It's hard because
Eurovision has been criticized
for allowing Israel to participate,
and I've spoken out
about this conflict before.
When I say, "Free Palestine!"...
I've never been cancelled
like that before.
CRITIQUES AFTER PALESTINE POSI got pulled off of shows
or cancelled award-show performances
or had deals being taken from me.
It felt like, "Whoa!
Okay? That's the reality of it?
That's what it is?"
That shook me a bit, I think,
because I've never felt that before.
[instrumental background music playing]
[Kalli] She definitely in the past
has commented on things quickly,
and then it's picked up in the media,
and it's grown into something
she didn't expect when she delivered it.
Um
Growing up, I just had to find my voice.
What do I think is wrong?
What do I think is right?
What are my core values and beliefs?
[electronic music playing]
You're kind of shaping yourself a bit,
especially in the teenage years. Who...
Who I am and what I believe in.
I was teaching myself
why it's important
to stand up for yourself,
why you should be a feminist.
AFTER THE WAVE OF HATE,
I WANTED TO LEAVE SWEDEN
And...
And it happened simultaneously
with my music getting big.
I know in my heart what I think,
but if you just know it in your heart...
[Zara sighs]
That doesn't matter.
That doesn't mean anything. I don't know.
[man's voice on the phone]
I've always been...
a girl who thinks and believes
that I can make a difference.
At least a little bit,
I can make a difference.
That's just how I am as a person.
I've never been quiet
when I've seen something
that's been unfair
or when people are like...
And I feel like the older I get,
I might end up in one of these cynical...
"Who cares?"
That's so sad. It's sad to lose...
I feel like I'm taking a step away
from the feeling of being able
to make a difference. Maybe I can't.
Maybe I should just sing.
[waves lapping]
[birdsong]
[leaves rustling]
ZARA'S SUMMERHOUSE
[Zara] I've never stayed here
for more than three nights.
[pop music playing]
I come here as often
as I can when I'm home.
Three nights is the longest
I've been here.
Have I even been here for three nights?
[pop music playing in the background]
Melon tastes so good.
Hey, Mom!
Hi! I'm at the store we were at.
But...
ZARA'S MOM
It's... It's blue.
What? It didn't... Is that so wrong?
Well, it's just that I never wear blue.
- But this is kind of cute.
- Yeah, it's really cute.
A classic... Yeah. I think that's cute.
- Okay, we'll be in touch, my love.
- We will.
- Take care of yourself.
- Yes, I will.
That's good.
- Kisses.
- Kisses to you.
We had an argument yesterday.
Her way of bonding
is to start talking about furniture.
And start talking about interior design,
especially out here in the country.
BOYFRIEND
No one apologizes in my family, ever.
- No.
- You don't say sorry.
"Fuck, I'm sorry I acted like that."
"I'm sorry I said that
or spoke to you like that." It's just...
- "Next."
- "What do you think of this wallpaper?"
[Lamin laughs]
You just forget about it.
Yeah, it's kind of like that.
She thinks I should text her
every time I land somewhere,
which, unfortunately, I absolutely don't.
She has me on Find My Friends,
so she can see where I am.
[Lamin laughs]
My mom would always say,
"I'm not her manager, I'm just her mom."
But when you think back at it,
she kind of was my manager.
In a lot of ways.
[Agnetha] This is Zara's upcoming website
that we're working on.
It's not quite finished yet, but this is
the idea of what it'll look like.
- That's not what I said, Mom.
- What? Calm down!
- Oh, my God! You're not listening!
- What is it this time?
[Zara] She would take pictures of me
and call her friend
who had a printing company,
and they would print the posters.
Then she would call someone else she knew
who would print the records for me.
And then we could sell them.
She would make things happen for me.
She did so much for me
and never really got much in return.
[Agnetha] I've always been with her.
I was with her in the US every trip
until she was maybe 18 years old,
and I've been sitting in every studio,
outside the studio room, watching her.
It's the same as usual.
There'll be singing and singing,
so I guess it'll be late today too.
[Zara] My mom curled me and still does,
and it has helped me so much.
I wouldn't be the person I am
if my mom had not...
[Zara makes a swishing sound]
done this for me my whole life.
Yeah.
If I hadn't had her here,
I don't think we'd have
a single piece of furniture.
Nothing would have happened,
and my mom still makes things happen,
but that's because
I'm not making decisions.
I'm not making decisions because she...
I don't know.
I kind of need to be better
at making decisions for myself.
I've never been allowed to do that.
I paid my first bill five weeks ago.
- Which was a parking... Does that count?
- No.
[Zara laughs]
That's not even a bill.
- I paid something.
- Yes, you did.
I've never done that before,
and that was a big deal for me.
Then I felt like
I'm in control of my life.
- [Zara] Good girl.
- [Lamin] Nice. Good!
[all cheer]
Okay, okay! Okay!
[Zara] It's funny because
I don't know anything about my life.
If I think about what I'm doing
next week, I don't really know.
Maybe I look at my schedule,
and it will say what I'm doing,
but I don't really do my schedule.
I don't plan my trips,
I don't book my accommodation,
I don't book my cars, I don't...
I don't really know
what's happening in my life.
[Zara laughs]
[relaxed music]
[Lamin hums]
[Lamin] There.
[Zara] Come and lie down, honey.
- [Lamin] I'm unpacking my bag.
- Yes, good.
[Lamin] You're the one who's slacking off.
Get up!
- We can relax later.
- Can you pull my foot?
- If you get up after.
- Yes.
- Up you go.
- Nice!
You promised.
[Zara] There's so much to do all the time.
[Lamin] Yes, but we're almost done.
[Zara] As soon as you're done,
it just starts again.
[Lamin] Then you'll go on tour,
and everything will be...
[kiss sound]
fixed and sorted.
- [Zara] But in life.
- Yeah.
Absolutely. Don't fall.
No.
Should I get plates?
[TV plays quietly]
[Zara chuckles]
[both laugh]
[gentle music playing]
[background chatter]
REHEARSALS FOR THE UPCOMING TOUR
Then it grew to be a siren
I'm a fire and I'm comin' undone
It's so beautiful, now I'm cryin'
Thought the love was made
For someone else
But you have changed me
My body and mind agree
That you have rearranged me
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER
Venus
You got me fallin' in
Girl, give him up
I'm telling you as a friend
What he's putting you through
Is too much
I get a little lazy
when it comes to rehearsals.
I don't enjoy it that much.
If they had a mirror,
it would have been more fun, I think.
I've never enjoyed rehearsals.
I don't know how I'm able
to nail the choreography later.
Something just happens.
[Agnetha] This circle that I wanted
to put a deck on as well.
[Zara] Mm
That's where there's most sun.
You can put grass there
or a slab or whatever.
No.
What do you mean no?
- Why would we have...
- I'm talking about...
- That's where the sun is all day.
- Did you turn on the mosquito machine?
- What?
- The mosquito machine?
No, but we can ask them to.
Good. I have to go in now.
- Kisses.
- Kisses. Love you.
- Bye.
- Bye.
[loud music playing]
Everything that we do, yeah
I knew I had
Something special with you
But sometimes you gotta know
That these things fall through
But I
Will we have lights up front or just...
Feeling it, loving it
Everything we do
And all along I knew
I had something special with you
But sometimes you gotta know
That these things fall through
I can't hide my connection with you
You
You
I knew that I would love you
Till the day I die
Till the day I die
You
To the day I die
[audience cheering]
[Symphony playing]
Are you ready?
[audience cheering]
I've been hearing symphonies
[audience singing along]
[Zara] Hey!
Was solo singing on my own
Now I can't find the key without you
And now your song is on repeat
And I'm dancin' on to your heartbeat
And when you're gone I feel incomplete
Are you ready?
Oh
I just wanna be part of
Your symphony
Will you hold me tight and not let go?
Symphony
Like a love song on the radio
Hey, symphony
Hey, hey
- Hey, hey
- Hold me tight and not let go
Don't let go
Symphony
Like a love song on the radio
Will you hold me tight and not let go?
Can you see us?
- Where are you?
- I'm coming out.
You're going strong, girl.
I don't know if it's...
[Zara] I love to be on stage.
I love to be doing my show.
It's always a good time.
It really is always, always a good time.
But I also felt like
I've done those venues
and so many festivals.
Because...
I want to have a bigger production,
do a bigger show.
Have a show that you look at,
and you're like, "Wow! That's amazing!"
And I'm just ready...
to level up.
[gentle piano music playing]
[Zara] Do you want to see
what we have planned?
Dishwasher, drawer, end panel.
- And then all the fun stuff. Furniture...
- [Lamin] Yeah, the best.
- And fabrics, rugs, chairs, and tables.
- Will you be away a lot?
No, I'll be home a lot.
- I don't know about that.
- Yes, I will.
Good.
Can you pull my neck?
I'm not sure if...
I want to be someone
who has a sexy curated home.
[Lamin] Yeah, but are you that person now?
[Zara] I have to be that kind of person.
- [Lamin] No, honey!
- Yes!
When we have a family,
you'll just become an ugly...
I don't think you'll care that you have
to have a curated, nice villa.
- I want it to feel nice.
- I know, I know.
But if it's too nice, you'll forget
what's really nice, which is the kids.
That was my point. You know?
You can have both.
You can't do that and be a global artist
flying around the world.
Yes, I can. I can have a nice apartment
and be a good parent.
[Lamin] And a good girlfriend or wife,
hopefully.
Your Instagram has to look good,
and your house.
I know. I want it to look nice.
- I want it to be pretty.
- It's already nice and pretty.
- Yeah.
- I don't want you to lose sight of that.
Because you're already there.
[reggae music playing]
[gentle music playing]
Shine on me
Kiss me in the dark
Tell me I look beautiful
Underneath the stars
Head on your chest
That's my favorite part
Don't I look beautiful
Underneath the stars
Shine on me
Kiss me in the dark
Tell me I look beautiful
Underneath the stars
Must have seen you in a...
ARTIST / SONGWRITER
Must have seen you in a past life
"Feels like I've known you,
like, for ever and ever."
I want to make that clear,
because now it feels like...
Lovers in the past,
young lovers in the next life...
[music playing in the background]
There's something with "the past life"
that's like, "Whoa!"
"We have known each other."
It's like, "Maybe in the next life."
[Kalli] Oh
We've been laying in the grass like
Young lovers in a past life
Beauty mark on your forehead
Hand prints on my ass like
More smiles than the usual
A little sweeter than I'm...
- A little sweeter than I'm used to
- That's it.
Smiles than the usual
A little sweeter than I'm used to
You say they
How's it sound?
[Uzo hums the melody]
[Uzo hums the melody]
[instrumental music playing]
[Uzo hums the melody]
I like that.
[instrumental music playing]
[Uzo] How does it go?
We've been laying in the grass like
Young lovers in a past life
Beauty mark on your forehead
Hand prints on my ass like
More smiles than the usual
A little sweeter than I'm used to
[piano music playing]
ZARA IS MEETING THE CEO OF EPIC
RECORDS TO DISCUSS THE NEW RECORD
[door buzzer]
[indistinct chatter]
[instrumental background music]
[CEO] Do you feel pressure on this?
- This record?
- Yes.
I feel like...
I have a lot to prove.
And I feel like...
it's go time.
Like, I have to go,
and I have to be fucking amazing.
But I feel the pressure of it too.
It's go time for everybody,
'cause we've put a lot of years into this.
We've put our hearts
and souls into this, right?
- And it's about time.
- I know it is.
I want this to be amazing.
I always remember the references
that you gave me to Beyonc.
Of course. That's what I want.
I want the hit record
so I can have the full production.
We have no limits.
We can do whatever we want. Full band,
full dancers, whatever it is, and just...
But that's what you've been working for
all this time.
- We're very serious about that.
- Yeah.
And everybody's put in their work,
and now, it's time to cash in.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I take this shit seriously, and...
I just want it so bad.
[car horns]
This is so nice.
So cute!
So cute. Love. I'd die for her, actually.
[Zara] Die for her? Fun.
- Jamaica.
- Jamaica.
Jamaica.
[car horns]
[woman] The Sylvia meeting,
would you like to talk about it?
[Zara] I do feel pressure
making this album good.
Because it's like...
- What is this, my fifth album?
- Yeah.
Come on, now.
- Has she said anything?
- It has to pop off.
What will she do if she doesn't like it?
She would just tell you.
"Fuck this, I'm calling a new producer."
That's what happened with Poster Girl.
I was going back and forth.
I didn't know what I wanted.
Trying stuff
but not really committing to anything.
I was just confused...
And she told me about it.
She was like, "Girl, what the fuck
is this? What's going on?
What do you want to do? Who are you?
What kind of music do you want to do?"
I couldn't really answer that,
and it was basically like,
"We can't go in circles anymore.
Birth the fucking baby.
This is getting ridiculous."
And I was just bawling in the office.
Yeah.
I feel like what I fail to do
is also to connect my songs with me.
A lot of people know the songs.
But they don't know I sing them.
- Yeah.
- You know?
Yeah.
What the fuck?
What the fuck is up with that?
So, yeah, I've got the hits,
but no cultural relevance.
- I have a lot of tension in my jaw.
- Really?
You know what I do
when I don't have my nails?
- What?
- I scratch the insides of my cheeks.
I want them to be completely smooth.
Feel your cheeks.
They're not completely smooth.
- At least not mine. It's like a tiny bump.
- Right.
And I scratch that off. I scratch the...
Yeah. And I also scratch my scalp.
- [woman] You're kind of...
- Sometimes, I think I have OCD.
- [woman] Girl, for sure.
- You know?
[airplane engine]
[hairdryer blowing]
Why are you in such a rush? Chill down.
- Rush?
- Yeah.
[Lamin] Hey, Mom.
- How are you?
- I'm good.
- Is she performing down there?
- Yes, it's a festival.
- [Zara] Can I have a tassel?
- [Lamin] She's performing.
It's a big festival.
There are lots of celebrities.
Some fans.
I think they want a picture of you.
They're waiting for you.
Did you hear what I said, honey?
Some fans are waiting for you.
[relaxed lounge music playing]
[music gets samba vibes]
Here! One here!
Do you understand
that we're going to experience this?
[Lamin] Yes. No, it's...
[Lamin] Are you excited?
Have you been here?
[Kalli] No.
[expectant music playing]
- Right. Sit here.
- Here?
[background chatter]
Rock in Rio.
There's a huge audience waiting for you.
- How does it feel?
- Amazing.
[speaks Portuguese]
Can you please send a message
to your TikTok followers?
Hi, Tracklist people.
How are you feeling, Zara?
A little bit nervous maybe?
Yeah, I've been stressed.
I haven't slept
for three days or something.
I don't sleep very well.
But that's fine. Yeah.
[tense string music]
Baby, I'm not even in a gown
I'm just in my t-shirt on the couch
And the way you want me
Makes me want you now
But the only thing
Y ou have to say is "wow"
Wow
Wow, yeah
Hey!
Drop-drop
Make your jaw drop-drop
Say "Oh my" drop-drop-drop
Make you say "Oh my God"
My, drop-drop
Make your jaw drop
Make you say "Oh my God"
And you never felt
This type of emotion
Make your jaw drop-drop
Say "Oh my" drop-drop-drop
Make you say
[Kalli] Every single time Zara performs
on a large stage at a festival...
You know...
In that moment
when she's channeling whatever
and performing in an amazing way...
Then I see what she wants,
what she lusts after.
[string music playing]
[audience cheering]
[Zara] I love a good festival,
but would these people go look for me
to go to my shows?
I don't know.
[dramatic string music playing]
[Roger] I think any pressure Zara feels
she creates herself.
And it's a pressure
of wanting to be great.
[rainfall]
[Lush Life playing]
Yeah, I'ma dance my heart out
Till the dawn
But I won't be done when morning comes
Doin' it all night, all summer
Gonna spend it like no other
It was a crush
But I couldn't, couldn't get enough
It was a rush, but I gave it up
Yeah
It was a crush
Now I might've went and said too much
I think it's nicer
if it's a little to the side.
- Just a little...
- Okay.
One more time.
- Yes.
- Let's try it.
[Ammunition playing in the background]
PREPARATIONS FOR AN AMERICAN TOUR AS THE
OPENING ACT FOR THE NORWEGIAN DJ KYGO
Girls like me know what we need
Fix yourself or watch me leave
They dream 'bout controllin' me
Yes.
What we did today is too long.
It can only be 45 minutes.
So what should we get rid of?
"Can't Tame Her" is definitely staying.
"Lush Life" is definitely staying.
"On My Love" is staying.
I wonder like, who's the crowd?
Who's the person who goes,
"Let's go and see Kygo"?
Because it's not really like...
untz untz untz.
It's kind of like,
"Let's go to the beach."
All righty!
[Zara humming]
I don't have a big live audience here.
I haven't toured that much in the US.
But I think Kygo and I have
pretty much the same audience.
That's what you want to do
when you're opening for someone,
to steal that person's audience.
I hope they'll just be like,
"Oh, what a nice show."
You have to kind of just do it.
Er
I think.
I'm just telling it like it is
I'm just telling it, telling it
[Kalli] That particular song, I said
it has to be in the first 30 minutes.
They came back with 38 minutes.
It's hard to argue with eight minutes.
It sounds so petty.
- Okay.
- So that's where that is.
And you're also sound checking that first.
Okay, let me listen to it,
actually, a couple of times.
Because I haven't...
You know I'm bad with lyrics.
[Kalli] I wonder if we should put
the lyrics up with your set list in front.
I've noticed when you mess up lyrics,
you just go confidently.
You just go for it.
[Zara sings nonsense lyrics]
Then I grew to be a fire
I'm a fire and I'm comin' fire
[audience cheering]
It ain't my fault
You came in lookin' like that
You just made me trip, fall
And land on your lap
Certain bad boy smooth
Body hotter than the sun
I don't wanna be rude
But I'd look so good on ya
Go
[Zara] I mean, opening for Kygo,
his stage was not meant
to have any sort of dancers on it.
[It Ain't My Fault playing]
It was just like, "Hey..."
I don't know.
Like...
Being an opener... An opener's an opener.
Yeah.
[woman]
I didn't count on sound check tomorrow.
You don't want sound check
on the other days either?
Hello?
Girl, you just got to give me
some more energy.
- Can you feel it?
- Yeah, I think so.
[music from the concert
playing from her phone]
[background chatter]
[gentle background music playing]
[car traffic]
[Zara] How are you?
I have a bit of a headache.
You're just going for it
and just cooking your food.
- Yes, unfortunately.
- Me too. I cooked my own food too.
You cooked your own food today, too?
You're joking? You were joking.
- Yeah.
- You were joking.
- I'm joking.
- No.
- Yeah, I was.
- Oh, Zara!
Yuck! God, I look tired.
I fell asleep at 5:00 last night
because I was looking at dresses
that I'm never going to buy.
Really?
Yeah, I was lying there, thinking,
"Oh, this 88,000 one is nice."
Yeah.
I was lying there scrolling
for like two and a half hours.
I'm fucking crazy.
Try and stop me. You know what I'm saying?
[Zara] When I'm not working,
it has definitely happened that I just
don't step outside my apartment at all.
Barely my bedroom.
If I lay in the bed
and I don't do anything,
and I don't get up
and I don't start my day,
I get anxious.
I start scrolling. I start...
thinking about myself.
Because I'm like, "What am I doing?
Why do I feel like this?"
And then I'm like... ugh.
And then I do the same thing next day,
and then I feel even worse.
When I don't feel like
I have somewhere to go,
that's just not good for me.
[calm guitar music playing]
Growing up, I was dancing,
I was moving all the time.
It made me a lot calmer.
And these days when I'm not on tour,
where I don't dance every day,
I get more still,
and the more still I get,
the more anxious I become.
It's so, so easy to be hard on yourself
and compare yourself to others,
and to feel like
I wasn't good enough,
or I could have done that better.
I used to be a lot more like that.
Then my mom would tell me,
"If you don't feel like this is fun,"
I won't allow you to do it.
"You can't do it anymore."
But then I love to sing.
I love to use my voice,
and I love to make music.
And that's where it all ends up.
[calm guitar music playing]
[Zara rapping]
- They call us in the next two weeks
- Hey, hey, hey, hey
Let's send the address
Go, please
SUV, the outside white
Inside brown
[Zara] I love being with my crew
and my band and my dancers.
[people cheering and laughing]
It's joy, it's happiness.
[pop music playing loudly]
IN THE FALL OF 2024, ZARA GOES
ON A HEADLINER TOUR IN THE US
It's the most confident I ever feel.
I know what I'm doing when I sing.
And I know what I'm doing
when I'm performing.
And I feel like
it's the way it's supposed to be.
["Ooii" by Amy Caddies McKnight
and others playing]
[man on radio] It's unfortunate that the
only people that will succeed in politics
are the most outrageous.
And I do think, obviously, there is
a massive amount of misogyny in America.
Look at the fucking abortion situation.
And I think for the margin vote
that won Trump the election,
they don't think that the women's issues
that Kamala was betting on
were as important as the other issues
that are plaguing our country.
Which is why
they probably reluctantly voted for Trump.
[Elon Musk] This is the kind of positive
energy that America is all about.
USA.
- USA.
- USA.
USA. USA.
USA?
[both laugh]
So bad.
- Shout out.
- Shout out.
Yeah, man, I...
I guess somehow it's like...
everyone has the ability
to influence people
or be an educator of some sort.
You're considering speaking on it?
[Zara sighs]
I don't know.
I can't lose... I have too many shows.
And not enough sleep.
I'm dead-ass serious.
I just can't be up all night
replying to angry people
and getting anxious about the world
and the state the world is in.
[audience applauding and cheering]
[Can't Tame Her playing]
You can't tame her
Put your hands up one more time!
So if she wanna party all night
All night
No, you can't tame her, no
And you can't tie her down
When the night comes around
Said she gonna party
All night, all night
And you can't change her
Can't blame her, can't tame her
[audience cheering]
Thank you so much!
Of course,
I got my ladies with me on stage.
I love to be up here and just feel
female power. You know what I mean?
A woman should be running the country
right now, but it is what the fuck it is.
Speaking on that,
I wanna say one thing really quick.
We have this little jar going on.
It's a small thing.
It's by the merch stand, and if
you have an extra dollar in your pocket
that you could give to support
making sure that abortions
are safe and legal in every state
that's not as beautiful
and open-minded as New York.
Whoever is running the country,
you can still show up for your community,
your neighbors, and your people.
Thank you for being here.
It really means a lot, and we're gonna
continue to have the best time!
[audience cheering]
I feel so happy
Happy that I'm free
And I can see things
Things I couldn't see
But I can't fall in love without you
Mmm Hey, yeah
So please, don't fall in love
Don't you fall in love
Don't fall in love
Oh, don't fall in love
Please, don't fall in love
Don't fall in love
So please, don't fall in love
Without me
Yeah
Don't fall in love
Don't fall in love
Don't fall in love
Oh, oh
Yeah, yeah
[audience cheering]
Thank you so much.
[audience continues to cheer]
[gentle background music playing]
[Hanna] So this is your house.
Okay! Exciting!
Whoo!
SISTER
- I like the color.
- Yes, really.
- [Zara] It's bright, but it's not white.
- No.
- This is the sunbathing area.
- This is for sunbathing.
[Zara] Mm.
- [Zara] We'll be cooking here.
- [Hanna] God.
[Zara] This is where
I'll be sitting on my bar stool.
- And watch you cook.
- [Hanna] Exactly.
[Lamin] This turned out great.
- It looks great, honey!
- [Zara] Wow.
Imagine what it looked like a few months
ago. It looks great. This is awesome.
Look at the light.
The armchair here.
[quiet background chat]
[gentle background music playing]
[Zara] Don't you think
I'm a better person now?
Yes, absolutely.
I think you...
Do you think I'm the best person
in the world now?
- Almost.
- Who's the best?
Who's better?
You're a great person.
I love you more than anything.
- But you said "almost."
- I don't think you can be the best person.
- You can.
- Maybe you can be for me, but...
[Zara] Am I the best person
in the world for you?
[Hanna] I think you've matured.
[Zara] Yeah, and I haven't
really felt that until now.
I think it's just that your brain has...
Like you said.
- The moon and the years.
- The moon and the years.
And another planet.
- Saturn.
- That's been buzzing.
- Saturn.
- Is that right? [Laughs]
Yes.
That's the way it is.
At 27. That's what they say.
- Now, Saturn has gone all the way.
- That's right.
And now, I'm an adult.
[Hanna] Mm.
That's so fucked up.
Mm.
How does it feel?
[gentle piano music playing]
It comes back
to where it was when you were born.
Your Saturn's returned. At 27, you've...
You've felt it. It changes you.
- You feel old.
- It's like, "I'm a grown-up."
Exactly.
Yeah.
And when you've been
doing one thing forever...
- Yes.
- Like I've been doing music.
It does makes me wonder, like, okay...
Is there anything more to me?
- You know what I mean?
- There probably is.
Yeah.
The more you learn,
the more that enters my head,
- the more mysterious it gets.
- Yeah.
Or like, the more I experience...
The more I experience
The more mysterious it gets, mm
[Kalli] Hydrate.
[Zara sings notes]
- I love that.
- Yeah, so beautiful.
What if we all come in?
And it feels so good
Yeah. Just a bit.
And it
Maybe. That's nice.
And it feels so good
Oh, I don't know what I'm doing
[music continues to play]
Could be wrong, could be right
But this song
Is mine
- Zara, lead voice.
- I...
I tried to control
All that is unknown
[Zara] I've put a lot of energy and effort
into finding this.
And maybe...
Maybe people
who are listening to this album...
I'm wondering
if they will hear a difference,
or if it just feels so different for me.
I like your playlist, boy
Turn it up a little louder
Road's empty
So you drive a little faster
Ain't taken nothing tonight
But I'm feeling so high
It's the midnight sun
Kissed skin under the red sky
Laying on your chest like this
Hold me like the pebbles in your hand
Initials in the sand
Yeah, summer isn't over yet
Skinny-dipping with your heart out
It's my favorite part
Now we ain't gotta tell no one
A never ending midnight sun
That's why he loves you.
A never ending midnight sun
Wow!
I feel like we're on a journey.
Like, where will
the magical tour bus go next?
That's like a sensation.
- It's like an experience.
- I've never heard a song like that.
- It's so crazy.
- In my whole life.
It's so beautiful.
It's like being in a whirlpool
or something. It's so crazy.
- [Zara] It's so fucking crazy.
- [Kalli] Wow!
[Zara] I almost feel like a single tear
is going to roll down my face.
- Wow. That is so incredible.
- Yeah.
Do you think if I leave at 6:00
to catch a flight that leaves at 9:00...
Tomorrow?
- Isn't there a car booked?
- Yeah, for 6:00.
I'm saying crazy stuff now.
I'm saying, "Will I make it?"
[laughs]
You guys recorded that, right?
'Cause we're going to need to...
If there's one argument that me
and Zara have consistently forever,
it's how long it takes
to get to the airport.
What time you should be there
before a flight to not miss your flight.
Yeah.
- So this...
- Look at me!
She's growing up.
[Zara] But what do I say, then?
[Lamin] Say, like...
"I feel like this album shows
how multifaceted I am, but also life."
Go in with confidence.
You know what?
You do you, baby.
[Kalli] No one has a crystal ball.
And every time an artist
puts themselves out there into the world,
there is a risk that the dream they have
or the heights they wish to reach
won't happen.
- [man] Hi, everybody.
- Hi!
Okay.
[Zara] Shall we just, boom, get into it?
[woman laughing]
[Zara] Erm
- I'm excited for you guys to hear it.
- [man] We are too.
Let's get it.
Live the American dream
With billboards picturing me
My name on Hollywood Boulevard
But that's the thing
with the ambition
I want it so much
Everything's a competition
So out of touch
Yeah, it got me a lot
But that's not good enough
I wanna be lo-lo-loved
I live and learn the hard way
Have you ever seen a pretty girl
Get ugly like this
Messy like this
Losing her shit
Everybody's telling me
To sit there and look pretty
But I'm feeling like I wanna
Cause some trouble in the city tonight
Fuck the ladylike
More like crazy like
Flippin' tables at the bar
Turn the beat up, make it hard
Wanna take it too far
Ain't afraid tonight
Fuck the ladylike
More like crazy-like
Yeah, summer isn't over yet
Skinny-dipping with your heart out
Is my favorite part
Now, we ain't gotta tell no one
A never ending midnight sun
A never ending midnight sun
A never ending midnight sun
[applause and cheering]
[Sylvia]
Thank you for delivering your album.
We've been waiting on this
a long time, lady.
- And it's... Huh?
- It's only a year.
- A year?
- [Zara] But this one's special.
- I know.
- It feels incredible.
I'm so proud and happy
and excited about everything.
- [woman] It sounds incredible.
- [Sylvia] It sounds amazing.
- Thank you, Sylvia.
- [man] Zara...
- You killed it.
- Yeah.
[Zara] I've been struggling a bit to put
my personality into the songs I'm singing.
But I feel like on this project...
- It came together.
- It came together.
[woman] It sounds like it's
having a conversation with you.
The songs sound like... The first one,
I was like, "She's said this shit before."
It's upbeat, and it's promising.
It's so you.
- Yeah.
- I absolutely love it.
[Zara] Thank you.
I remember a few years ago...
when I was just a bit lost,
and I was looking so much out, out, out.
"What do I want? Who am I?"
I just didn't know
what I wanted it to sound like.
- Yeah.
- But... It just took a little...
You know.
[man] It's always refreshing
to hear your stuff.
You somehow reinvent yourself.
I felt like we found something
very special and amazing.
- You did. You're bringing it, for real.
- Yes.
- Yeah.
- [Zara] I hope so.
I feel like this year's gonna be good.
I'm ready.
All right, I'll leave you. Get to work.
[laughter]
Get to work.
- Love you guys.
- Love you too.
Love you.
- I'll talk to you later.
- [all] Bye!
[Zara] I'll see you soon. Let's do dinner.
Wait a minute.
- Fantastic.
- So exciting.
[Zara] This album, hopefully, will be a
success. And then I'll make another one.
And it'll be a success.
If it isn't a success, then I will make
a fucking album until it's a success.
[gentle piano music]
I'm getting spiritual.
I also get more and more sensitive
as I get older.
And now, I feel like I can be...
I don't need to have a hard shell.
So maybe I just...
It moves me.
Oh
I'm thinking about..
I'm thinking about how lucky I am in life.
That I get to be here,
that I get to do what I do.
That I was born in Sweden.
That I have my family.
["Saturn Returns" playing]