Zara Larsson is ready to shed the “Symphony” softness and step into something a little louder, a little messier, and a lot more unfiltered. Following a resurgence of her 2017 Clean Bandit collaboration going viral on TikTok—complete with dolphin GIFs and Gen Z confessions—the Swedish pop star is back with a track that’s designed to shift the narrative. Her new single, “Pretty Ugly,” is a riotous pop rebellion that signals a bold new era.
Produced by Margo XS and longtime collaborator MNEK, “Pretty Ugly” is a high-voltage manifesto of misbehavior. Larsson trades in polished perfection for something unapologetically raw and raucous. “They tell me to be nice, I should know my place / Sometimes a girl don’t wanna be well-behaved,” she declares in the pre-chorus. The line sets the tone for a defiant, anthemic chorus delivered over snapping beats and zapping synths: “Have you ever seen a pretty girl get ugly like this? / Messy like this? / Losing her shit?”
The sound is heavily influenced by ’90s house and the chaotic pop wave led by artists like Charli XCX and her BRAT-era cohorts. But Larsson brings her own brand of sleek Scandinavian attitude to the mix — confident, theatrical, and fun as hell. It’s a reminder that even pop royalty needs to kick off their heels and stir up some trouble once in a while.
The single arrives alongside a Charlotte Rutherford–directed video that perfectly complements the track’s theme. Drenched in pink but covered in mud, the visual finds Larsson and her crew of cheerleaders turning a field into a battleground of dance and delight. With a towering speaker wall blasting the beat and choreographed chaos all around, the video turns the concept of polished pop femininity on its head. It’s cheeky, it’s aggressive, and it’s Zara at her most unbothered.
Written by Larsson, MNEK, Helena Gao, and Margo Wildman, “Pretty Ugly” isn’t just a fun detour — it’s a declaration of creative freedom. And if this is where Zara Larsson is heading next, we’re all in for a beautifully messy ride.