If Olivia Dean’s rise has been meteoric, Zara Larsson’s has been years in the making.<\/p>\n
It’s almost a decade since the Swedish star first performed at Big Weekend – opening the main stage in Hull.<\/p>\n
But her global popularity has exploded recently, powered by viral dances, high-profile collabs and, she says, by becoming “the most me”, external<\/a>.<\/p>\n It would be naive to think sounds and personalities aren’t still carefully curated by talented teams.<\/p>\n But the shift does at least seem to reflect fans’ perceptions – and what they’re craving. <\/p>\n “It’s like Zara Larsson’s bloomed into the full butterfly version of herself, like this is the Zara,” fan Christian 25, tells BBC Newsbeat.<\/p>\n His friend Leanne, 26, agrees, saying: “The dances, her make-up, everything she’s wearing in this era, it’s incredible.”<\/p>\n She’s not the first star to claim that authenticity can be the key to breaking through with more savvy and social media-focused audiences. <\/p>\n The message? To stop aiming for old-fashioned stereotypes of what a pop star should look and sound like, and instead lean into your own artistic instincts and true character. <\/p>\n Girl group FLO agree it’s increasingly important if you’re going to have a long career. <\/p>\n “It’s always easier to sell a story that’s your own,” singer Stella Quaresma tells Newsbeat. <\/p>\n “It becomes a drag when it’s not from you.”<\/p>\n