When people think “pop star,” they tend to focus on American icons like Britney, Christina, Billie, and Taylor. But Sweden is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to pop music. From ABBA to Avicii, the iconic Robyn to legendary producer Max Martin, Sweden has truly blessed us with a wealth of pop music, and Zara Larsson is no exception. With two songs surpassing the 1 billion stream mark (and a third soon to cross it), it’s no surprise that her songs have a chokehold on listeners around the world.

At the second of her two sold-out shows at New York City’s Webster Hall, it was clear that this was the perfect size venue to experience Zara Larsson in all her glory. Her energy filled every corner of the space, delivering a venue-shaking, powerful performance that could have easily commanded a stage like Madison Square Garden. Every song felt like a #1 hit, with fans singing and dancing along - even to the newer tracks from her latest album Venus. The crowd went especially wild when the newly revived viral hit “Symphony” began to play, as she leaned into the TikTok meme featuring Lisa Frank-style dolphins, which were prominently displayed on stage.

There is no denying that Zara Larsson is a star. With hits like “Lush Life,” “Ain’t My Fault,” and “Ruin My Life” that made me feel like a teenager again, and her perfect nod to her roots with a cover of ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” it’s clear she was made for this. Not to mention, her unapologetic willingness to speak out on issues that matter to her and her dedication to using her platform to raise funds and awareness further prove that she hasn’t just earned her stardom—she truly deserves it.