Pop dynamo Zara Larsson has officially kicked the door open on a bold new chapter with the release of her blistering single “Pretty Ugly.” Dropped through her label, Sommer House, in partnership with Epic Records, the track is a high-voltage blast of electro-pop that not only breaks the rules but also rewrites them. Packed with unruly energy, raw honesty, and untamed feminine power, “Pretty Ugly” sets the tone for what may be Zara’s most thrilling era to date.
A Soundtrack for the Beautifully Unraveled
“Pretty Ugly” isn’t just a catchy track; it’s a sonic rebellion. Anchored by gritty 90s house keys and pulsating electro beats, the single is a swaggering, shout-along anthem built for dance floors, arenas, and every girl who’s ever been told to “calm down.”
Zara co-wrote the track with hitmakers MNEK, Helena Gao, and Margo Wildman. Production duties were handled by Margo XS and MNEK, who crafted a beat designed to shake the ground beneath you. With lines like “Have you ever seen a pretty girl get ugly like this? / Messy like this? / Losing her shit?” Zara invites listeners to embrace the chaotic, imperfect parts of themselves and to do it loudly.
A Visual Riot That Redefines Pop Aesthetics
The music video for “Pretty Ugly” is as unfiltered as the song itself. Directed by visual mastermind Charlotte Rutherford and choreographed by Zoi Tatopoulos, the video is a technicolor spectacle that subverts traditional femininity.
It opens in a quiet field where a group of women stretch in perfect unison. Zara arrives barefoot in a retro Volkswagen, flips a switch on a massive wall of speakers, and unleashes pure mayhem. The bass knocks her off her feet, only for her to rise and lead the group into a mud-soaked, rain-drenched dance frenzy. What begins as polished cheerleader choreography transforms into something feral, primal, and unapologetically messy.
From “Venus” to Full Control
“Pretty Ugly” follows the success of Zara’s 2024 album Venus, which marked a turning point in both her sound and her career. The album was the first released under her label, Sommer House, a venture she launched after securing ownership of her masters, a rare feat for any artist, let alone a young woman in the pop industry.
Venus showcased Zara’s evolving artistry with standout tracks like “Can’t Tame Her” and “End of Time.” It also helped solidify her presence in the meme-driven pop zeitgeist when her earlier hit “Symphony” with Clean Bandit experienced a viral resurgence, climbing back up the charts thanks to TikTok. The song’s video has now surpassed 1.3 billion views, proving that Zara’s pop magic still resonates deeply.
Zara Hits the Road This Fall
Fans won’t have to wait long to see Zara bring her new sound to life. She’s set to join Tate McRae as the special guest on the Miss Possessive Tour, hitting arenas across North America this August and September. With the rowdy energy of “Pretty Ugly” designed for massive stages and crowd screams, her set is guaranteed to be a show-stealer.
A Fearless Pop Statement for the New Generation
“Pretty Ugly” is more than just a song; it’s a declaration. Zara Larsson is embracing the loud, the wild, and the imperfect. She’s stepping into the spotlight not as a perfectly polished pop star but as an artist unafraid to get messy, unhinged, and real.
A first look into her upcoming album, “Pretty Ugly,” promises a body of work that captures Zara at her most raw, powerful, and honest. If this is how she’s starting her new era, there’s no telling just how far she’ll go, and we’ll be here for every unfiltered, unapologetic moment.
Stream “Pretty Ugly” now on all major platforms. Catch Zara Larsson live with Tate McRae on the Miss Possessive Tour this fall.
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