Zara Larsson Rejects Grammy Best New Artist Submission: “It Would Be So Fake”

Swedish pop star Zara Larsson has made it clear she has no interest in being labeled a “new artist” at the Grammys.

The 28-year-old singer revealed in a recent interview that she rejected a potential Grammy nomination for Best New Artist after her former record label suggested entering her into the category. Larsson said the idea “would be so fake” and that winning would have felt wrong given her long history in the music industry.

Larsson has been making music for over a decade. She rose to fame at age 15 after winning the Swedish version of Got Talent in 2008. She has released five studio albums, including the global hit Midnight Sun, and has been a prominent figure in pop music since her breakthrough single “Lush Life” in 2015. The Grammy category defines a “new artist” as someone who has achieved a breakthrough in the eligibility year. Larsson, however, has already released 15 singles on her current label and has been performing for over half her life.

By rejecting the submission, Larsson joins a growing list of artists who have criticized the category’s parameters, arguing it often overlooks the history of international artists who have had long careers before breaking through in the U.S. market. She also pointed out the irony of considering herself a “new artist” after she has already earned multiple platinum certifications and sold out arenas worldwide.