Zara Larsson Shares 'My Life in 10 Songs,' Talks Beyoncé, Avicii, Green Day, and More

Why It Matters

Understanding Larsson’s musical DNA reveals how curated influences drive branding, audience loyalty, and industry shifts toward inclusive, genre‑blending pop.

Key Takeaways

• Zara credits Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” as childhood anthem.
• Beyoncé’s “B‑Day” inspired her vocal practice and female‑empowerment vision.
• Swedish EDM artist ACI shaped her teenage party soundtrack.
• Whitney Houston and Green Day influenced her performance style and stage energy.
• She aims to feature all‑female crews, echoing Beyoncé’s all‑women band.

Summary

Zara Larsson opens her 'My Life in 10 Songs' series by mapping the soundtrack of her upbringing, from Queen’s classic rock to contemporary EDM, illustrating how personal playlists become artistic DNA.

She explains that a non‑musical household still pulsed with her father's record collection, especially Queen’s 'Don’t Stop Me Now,' which she calls her 'funeral song' for its unstoppable energy. Beyoncé’s 'B‑Day' became a vocal drill, teaching her perseverance and sparking a commitment to all‑female line‑ups. Swedish producer ACI supplied the anthem for her teenage house parties, while Whitney Houston’s 'Greatest Love of All' and Green Day’s rebellious punk cemented her stage confidence.

Larsson recounts watching Beyoncé perform with an all‑female band in Stockholm, prompting her own hiring policy favoring women. She describes the thrill of hearing ACI at recess, the first time she felt 'naughty' listening to explicit tracks, and the emotional catharsis of Green Day’s Coachella set, which inspired her signature 'Lush Life' dance moment. A quote she repeats: 'When I hear a song, I feel it in my body, not just my ears.'

The narrative underscores how eclectic, cross‑genre influences shape a global pop star’s brand, reinforcing the commercial value of authenticity and representation. For industry observers, Larsson’s playlist offers a blueprint for leveraging nostalgia, diversity, and female empowerment to deepen fan engagement and differentiate in a crowded market.

Original Description

@ZaraLarssonOfficial goes deep on the music that has soundtracked her life in Rolling Stone's video series 'My Life in 10 Songs," and talks about how those songs impacted her musical journey. "I've always been singing. I've always been singing my whole life. It's just been a part of me," #zaralarsson says. "I don't think there was ever a time where I was like, 'Oh, I'm pretty good at this.' It just always felt...inside of me. I feel good doing this."

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Zara Larsson's Life in 10 Songs:

0:14 — #queen "Don't Stop Me Now"

3:04 — #beyoncé "Resentment"

5:27 — #akon ft. #eminem "Smack Dat"

7:35 — #avicii "Levels"

9:37 — #whitneyhouston "Greatest Love of All"

11:07 — #greenday "Basket Case"

13:56 — #yunglean "Leanworld"

15:42 — #jhus "Did You See"

17:14 — #christinaaguilera "Hurt"

19:05 — #carola "Säg mig var du står"

Talent: Zara Larsson

Director of Social & Video: Waiss Aramesh

Senior Producer/Interviewer: Viviane Feldman

Executive Producer: Christopher Hwisu Kim

Producer/Colorist: Mitch Saavedra

Social Producer: Sim Tumay

Editor: Alexa Baruch

Video Director of Photography: Will Chilton

Camera Operator: Haley Snyder

Motion GFX: Sara K. Afridi

UX Editor: Nicole Thompson

Creative Director: Joe Hutchinson

Executive Music Editor: Christian Hoard

Co-Editors in Chief: Sean Woods & Shirley Halperin

CEO: Julian Holguin

Shot at: Ella's Lounge at The Brooklyn Paramount

https://www.youtube.com/user/rollingstone