fri 20/12/2024

Album: Zara Larsson - Poster Girl | reviews, news & interviews

Album: Zara Larsson - Poster Girl

Album: Zara Larsson - Poster Girl

Perfectly performed shiny disco-pop

Zara Larsson's new album Poster Girl

Best known for winning Sweden's version of Got Talent, at the tender age of 10, Zara Larsson is a shining example of a prodigious young female talent being groomed by the music industry into the perfect pop icon.

Her third album Poster Girl is exactly what it says on the tin. Here is a place of dance floor beats and snappy sass for your average teenage girls’ bedroom karaoke session. Perhaps, it’s what the title alludes to, although I was expecting more irony on that front.

For the most part, the album is very generic pop. The “touch me the way you do’s” of “Love Me Land”, “Make your jaw drop, Make you say ‘Oh my god’” of “Wow” and ABBA nuance of “Look What You’ve Done” are slickly produced bangers with all the bounce and claps teen girls need to sustain their basic life dramas.

There’s a whisper of a unique voice that demonstrates a yearning for valid tracks somewhat truer to who Zara might be as opposed to a male-created version of how she should be seen (mostly lace and bra tops, apparently). “I’m Right Here” is a wry riot of wondering why she even tries to get the attention of some idiot who keeps his eyes on the screen and wouldn't notice anything she's up to, as spelt out in the lyrics: “I could have two girls in this bed, I could have powder as my best friend, I could be naked at dinner”.

“Ruin My Life” has more depth of sound with a deep resonating bass and richness that borders on individual and I find myself almost enjoying the broken doll soundscape intro and very brief echo of Iggy Azalea in “What Happens Here” in which she sings “I'ma do it 'cause it's what I want… To be honest, I don't give no fucks”. It’s clear Larsson is a strong young performer who has the talent, drive and wherewithal to get to where she wants to be. I guess it just won’t happen authentically until the contract with Sony is up.

Slickly produced bangers with all the bounce and claps teenage girls need to sustain their basic life dramas

rating

Editor Rating: 
3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Share this article

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters