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New Music Friday: Meet the Collaborators of Zara Larsson's " Girls Trip"

On May 1st we were blessed with a Midnight Sun remix album: a party medley that sonically lifts you into euphoria, summer nights, and sunset skies-- the heights of Zara's tropical fantasy.

A post blow-up Zara Larsson gives us beloved tracks like Eurosummer, Ambition, Girl's Girl, and Saturn's Return revamped by their collaborator's touch and an infusion of Summer-y fast-paced, loud, dance beats.

Since last Friday, the album's at 1.2 million streams, #1 in Apple Music in Germany, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands, with lots of love going around in Latin America. 

Pop household names like Shakira, Khelani, and PinkPanthress graced tracks while rising talent like Helena Gao and Eli earned themselves one-stop tickets to mainstream success.

In no particular order, here's a digital meet and greet of the main characters invited on Zara's Girl's Trip: 

Shakira on Eurosummer 

Some fans are confused why a Latina was chosen to be featured on a Europe-dance track instead of a European classic like Stereo Love. But there's no denying this is the album's most hyped-up collaboration and the top streaming track at over 2 millions streams.

Shakira's signature sultry vocals and the slight speed-up gives this song exactly what it needed to be a Summer 2026 staple. Also *cough cough* it's not a song about Europe, it's a song about feeling sexy using a European summer metaphor, and name an artist makes you feel more sexy than Shakira? I'll wait. 

PinkPanthress on Midnight Sun

Princess of sampling, PinkPanthress remixes Midnight Sun using crowd favorite bass n' drums beat in Gold Dust by DJ Fresh. 

Grunging it up with dirty bass and kicks, Pink turns the scream-your-lungs-out-in-the-car pop banger into a tunnel-rave techno rave. She also stunned the internet by nailing the riff in her verse.

Now you can listen to Midnight Sun works at a girly pool party AND a dark, foggy club? Not mad at it. 

JT + Margo xs on Pretty Ugly 

JT and Midnight Sun producer Margo xs change up Pretty Ugly, making a girly, sassy pop song feel gritty and fast. One-half of the Miami-based duo,“City Girls”, JT brings a raw directness to the song, reminiscent of Hip Hop hits from 2020. Margo xs, LA-based DJ and producer known for her work with the LGBTQ + community and Kim Petras gives the song's break a "Skrillex" feel. 

The genre whiplash going from a hip hop verse and dubstep dance break the song is generating mixed reviews, but fans who love it can't get enough. 

Emilia on Girl's Girl 

— ໊ ꕤ (@dieforyous) May 1, 2026

Spotify's most streamed artist in Argentina in 2024 and Latin Grammy Nominated Reggaeton artist, Emilia made her mark on Girl's Girl. We hear a sick new message about female competition and misogyny in the music industry, a change from the original message about romance. 

Audiences are raving about this track, for good reason— amped up beat, flow-y dance break and Emilia's perfectly timed verse about young women being scrutinized industry. Things that needed to be said were laid out in this song with precision and ferocity. 

Eli on Crush

Since gay twitter was partly responsible for Zara's blow up, Eli, @journalofadoll, songwriter and queer pop star was a very correct feature. Eli's been vetted Olivia Rodrigo and SZA and has garnered over 2 million streams on her single, Girl of Your Dreams. She'll continue to skyrocket after this legendary collaboration with perfect tone, story-book lyrics, and the most playful bridge ever.

Mid-song we're dropped into a dreamy synth vortex. Eli says "Zara? I can't see anything, where are we? ", and Zara responds, "We're in the song!", shooting us into the last chorus. Like, are you kidding? Hilarious and also inexplicably iconic. 

Kehlani on Blue Moon

Kehlani's remix is the biggest transformation of the album.

Grammy-nominated R&B master, Kehlani, slows down Blue Moon and transforms it into a sultry ballad. Her controlled music arrangement gives so much space to Zara's airy, intricate vocals, making a purely pop 2000's song feel like it was written for the R&B genre.

Tyla on Hot & Sexy 

— Tylafan (@SophieDecault) May 1, 2026

Spoiling us with the second collaboration of the month, Tyla and Zara are back on Hot & Sexy.

South-African Grammy-winner, Tyla delivers groovy verses and gives her girl a shout, saying "Beep Beep that's my evil twin. That's my Barbie girl, Barbie girl going bad". Since the original song is about hyping up your friend group, Tyla's feature feels like a love letter to their friendship. 

Madison Beer and BAMBII on The Ambition

— Madison Beer News (@madisonchart) April 30, 2026

Madison Beer's vocals are criminal in The Ambition. Her intertwining vocals with Zara are a genuine treat to listen to. The new production turns the funky and light original into grounded, tight expression of emotional intensity. BAMBII's stellar understanding of arrangement— the quiet build up to cathartic release— makes you feel euphoric.

Helena Gao and Malibu on Saturn's Return

This dreamy, experimental pop version of Saturn's Return feels like ascending into a space. Helena Gao, a Dutch-Chinese singer and one of Zara's consistent co-songwriters, gives the song an refreshingly alternative feel. Malibu, the French electronic producer, uses shimmering synthetic strings and pulsing production, a "weightless" and "fourth-world" style that feels like a breath of fresh air in the middle a tightly-packed, high-energy album.

Robyn on Puss Puss 

 It was only right Zara Larsson ended the remix album with Electronic pop titan and fellow Swedish Star, Robyn. If you were on any dance floor in 2010, you're probably a fan of Robyn. The Dancing on Your Own singer delivered a fun and sexy verse for Puss Puss - Girl's Trip, which now charting at #3 in Sweden. 

On her last instagram caption, Zara said that this album will be her best because she surrounded herself with female producers which let her be the most experimental and herself she's ever been while making music. We're seeing those blood-pumping, awe-inspiring, summer-licious results here. 

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