It's a warm fall day at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida where the air feels light and filled with excitement. The sun is starting to set beyond a lake view, and a line has begun to form, snaking around a rustic water tower. However, this is not just any water tower, but the iconic House of Blues tower, soon to be illuminated in its signature blue neon lights. Since Disney Spring is not just home to the House of the Blues, curious onlookers pause to ask those in line: Who is performing tonight? And, with excitement fans respond, Zara Larsson! Some are delighted to hear she is in town, while others are only hearing her name for the first time. If this is you, allow me to introduce you to this impressive artist.
Zara Larsson is an extremely talented singer-songwriter who hails from Stockholm, Sweden. At the age of 10 she auditioned, competed, and won the Swedish show Talang, which is comparable to America's Got Talent. By age 15 she signed her first record deal and hasn't looked back. Signed with the Swedish label TEN, with a licensing and collaboration deal with Sony, she has carved a unique path by acquiring all her masters and copyright, setting herself apart from others in the music industry. Zara has released four highly successful albums to date, along with numerous EP's and collaborations with some of the biggest names in the industry, including MNEK, David Guetta, and Clean Bandit. Her breakout single "Never Forget You", released in 2015 with British singer MNEK, landed her on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time and introduced her to global audiences. Her music can be described as pop with electropop and house influences accompanied with a fresh, powerful voice with soulful undertones. Her most recent album Venus was released earlier this year and has been described by her as "super fun", “dancey" and "a collection of really good music". The reason we are excited to be here tonight: The Venus Tour.
As the doors open fans eagerly make their way to the front of the house to claim the coveted barricade spot. Singer songwriter Sam Short dressed in chic-black takes to the stage. Accompanied by her guitarist and bass/keyboard player, Sam delivers a dynamic performance to get the night going with songs like "Aphrodite" and "Masterpiece".
The clock rounds 9 pm and there is a feeling of pure excitement and joy as the lights dim and cheers fill the room. From the first note Zara Larsson sings, it is evident that we are all in for quite a show. Starting off with the title track "Venus", from her latest album, she invites everyone in for a night of absolute fun. Joining her is an all female band on two separate platforms, and four extremely talented dancers that elevate the show to an even higher level. Little did I know Zara Larsson herself is an incredibly talented dancer. With mic in hand singing through intricate choreography effortlessly she proves to be a true force to be reckoned with. She is dressed in a sheer maroon mid-waist jacket with white trim, sporting the word Venus on the back, along with skin tone shorts covered in rhinestones and a pair of mid shin blue and tan boots. Her bandmates are rocking tan corsets and jeans, while her dancers compliment her style with matching brown sheer outfits and black boots.
Zara is playful, energetic, joyous, and interactive as she commands the stage. Joking and taking selfies with fans mid-performance, the true happiness on her face is contagious. There is no denying she absolutely loves to perform. Playing songs from her entire catalog she takes us on a musical journey that intertwines her most popular upbeats hits, newer songs, with powerful ballads that truly showcase her exceptional voice, and keeps fans singing and dancing all night long. A collective sense of community, empowerment, and confidence envelopes the room as she performs "This One's For You". An innovative mashup of ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!(A Man after Midnight) and "Ammunition" has the fans enthralled. Undoubtedly the highlight of the evening is "Symphony", produced by the popular trio Clean Bandit. The original is a powerful ballad, but tonight the reimagined arrangement is upbeat, giving it a new life of its own and allowing all of us to sing and take part in the new symphony.
As the night comes to an end and the House of Blues empties, our hearts are happy and joyous. Zara Larsson has left a lasting impression on all of us that will shine long after the lights go out.
Although Zara just completed her US tour, she will be back next year supporting Tate McRae on her Miss Possessive Tour in the fall. Be sure to grab your tickets as this will be an unforgettable show with two powerhouse performers!
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