How a dolphin meme turned Zara Larsson into a summer icon

Swedish singer Zara Maria Larsson has been in the public eye since childhood, but a quirky viral moment on TikTok helped evolve her brand in an unexpected way — transforming how fans see her and how she presents her music in 2025 and beyond.

Larsson first stepped into the spotlight at age 10, when she won the second season of Talang (Sweden’s Got Talent), launching her into the music industry with early local success.

She signed with TEN Music Group in 2012 to 2013 and released her debut EP Introducing in 2013, which included “Uncover”, a multi‑platinum hit in Sweden that helped establish her voice as a young pop star.

Her breakthrough on the international stage came with 2015’s “Lush Life”, a sun‑soaked electropop smash that charted around the world and became a summer anthem, followed by “Never Forget You” with MNEK.

In 2017, the collaboration “Symphony” with Clean Bandit cemented her global pop presence and became one of her best‑known tracks.

A meme that became a mood

Fast forward to the mid‑2020s: a 2017‑era meme on TikTok — pairing “Symphony” with surreal imagery of dolphins and bright colors — unexpectedly re‑entered internet culture and sparked fresh interest in Larsson’s sound and visual style.

Rather than distancing herself, Larsson leaned into it. She shared versions of the meme and used its joyful, colorful aesthetic as inspiration for her next era, blending nostalgia with contemporary Y2K influences.

This playful period of viral engagement helped shift how audiences perceive her — not just as a dated pop star with earlier hits, but as a creative figure willing to embrace fan culture and internet trends, transforming them into her own artistic language.

'Midnight Sun': A new era of eternal summer

In 2025, Larsson unveiled her fifth studio album Midnight Sun, with the bright, electro‑pop title track released in June 2025. The song and video lean heavily into Y2K and dreamy summer aesthetics — sun‑drenched visuals, neon hues, and a carefree vibe that mirrors the spirit of its namesake. The track also earned Larsson her first Grammy nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording — a milestone in her career.

Larsson told Women In Pop that the album draws from her Swedish heritage — particularly the endless summer nights where the sun never fully sets — and she crafted the soundscape to reflect that feeling of warmth and freedom.

From meme to makeup — and tour stardom

The Midnight Sun era isn’t just about music — it’s a full visual brand moment. Larsson’s tour makeup and styling have gone viral, with fans and beauty creators trying to recreate her vibrant, glitter‑heavy looks that capture the album’s bright aesthetic and Y2K feel.

As Larsson brings her “summer forever” persona to stages around the world — from arenas in Europe to major U.S. tours — she’s embraced the meme‑inspired imagery that helped reignite her cultural relevance.

Concert clips, fan edits, and social media dance challenges have all contributed to a broader summer icon image well before the calendar summer season hits in many markets.

A brand built on fun, nostalgia & reinvention

What started as a fun, internet‑driven moment has grown into a bona‑fide aspect of Larsson’s artistic identity: vibrant, nostalgic, and unapologetically pop.

By collaborating with fans and leaning into global trends, she’s not only reintroduced her past success to a new generation — she’s also turned a meme into a creative springboard for her most personal pop chapter yet.