Zara Larsson Details Her ‘Essentials’ For A Successful ‘Girls Trip’

Zara Larsson's Midnight Sun era really is never-ending, and this time, she's bringing her girls with her.

The Swedish singer and songwriter, 28, gave fans a sneak peek at her new remix album Midnight Sun: Girls Trip one day early during an intimate iHeartRadio Album Preview on April 30 that aired live on TikTok from the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles and on CHR stations around the country as well as Hit Nation on the free iHeartRadio app.

After a stunning acoustic version of "Midnight Sun" where she showed off her impressive vocal skills while sitting in a giant, hot pink chair, Larsson explained why she wanted to stay in the world she created with the original Midnight Sun album while enlisting the help of incredible female artists on the remix, which comes out Friday, May 1.

"I'm so proud and happy. I love it, I love every song. I love every woman on these songs. I love the production. This is an expansion of the Midnight Sun world that I also love so dearly," she said.

Larsson said she was inspired by artists like Charli XCX, who created a "fun" universe with her Brat era and its subsequent remixes, helping her see that there were "infinite possibilities to keep being creative on this album."

"I think music and culture in this day and age, it moves quickly, but I'm definitely not ready to move on from Midnight Sun, for a little while at least. And I just thought, 'how fun.' It would be so fun."

The show played through some of the remixed tracks from the new album, including "Crush" with Eli, "Hot & Sexy" with Tyla and a "more chaotic" version of "Pretty Ugly" with JT and Margo XS as well as "Eurosummer," which became "legendary status" with the addition of "global" icon Shakira.

Larsson also introduced "Blue Moon" with Kehlani as "one of [her] favorites" on the record and a "dream" come true as she has "been a fan [of Kehlani] for so long." She also explained that she knew she needed to bring on "Swedish icon legend" Robyn for "Puss Puss" given its ties to their home country. Larsson described the phrase as a "fun thing" they say in Sweden to mean "kiss," comparing it to writing "XO" in a message.

Not only did Larsson perform for the crowd and give them their first taste of her new album, but she also answered fan questions, TikTok comments and voice notes sent in via the Talkback feature on the iHeartRadio app during a Q&A hosted by iHeartRadio's EJ. When TikTok personality and music executive Carter Gregory asked what Larsson thinks makes a "great girls trip," she was quick to explain why the right music selection is of the utmost importance.

"I think the music is quite important. The girls trip starts when you get in the car, or on the train, or on the way to the airport," she said, adding music helps "set the tone" for the trip.

Aside from her own Midnight Sun: Girls Trip, Larsson said throwback songs are "essential" for any road trip playlist as well as "classic singalong," party songs and karaoke bangers. Other must-haves for a successful girls trip include having a "good mood" and delicious snacks.

The "Girl's Girl" star ended the night with a spontaneous dance party and performance of her 2015 song "Lush Life," and just like throughout her recent tour, brought fans on stage to do the choreography, a trend that she revealed was inspired by Green Day having fans join the band on stage during a show.

Larsson first revealed the tracklist for Midnight Sun: Girls Trip on Wednesday (April 29), posting an animated movie trailer-style video on Instagram with the help of Paris Hilton to share the full stacked lineup of collaborations:

• "Blue Moon" — Kehlani
• "Midnight Sun" — Pink Pantheress
• "Saturn's Return" — Malibu and Helena Gao
• "Crush" — Eli
• "Puss Puss" — Robyn
• "The Ambition" — Madison Beer and Bambii
• "Eurosummer" — Shakira
• "Pretty Ugly" — JT and Margo XS
• "Girl's Girl" — Emilia
• "Hot & Sexy" — Tyla

Midnight Sun: Girls Trip drops May 1.