Zara Larsson thinks she would become “a little bit smaller” if she worked with Max Martin.
The 28-year-old Swedish pop star has played down the chances of ever making a full album with the iconic Swedish producer, who has worked with the likes of Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and The Weeknd in the past.
She told Las Culturistas with Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers: “I don’t think so.
“That is someone to look up to for me… Obviously he’s the best songwriter in the world and he just keeps getting number ones.
“But I don’t know if that way of working is for me.”
Max’s credits include 31 Billboard Hot 100 chart toppers he has either written or co-written, included I Kissed A Girl, Shake It Off, I Want It That Way and …Baby One More Time.
However, Zara thinks she’d be better served collaborating with artists like MNEK, Margo XS and Helena Gao, who she has built a creative bond with and teamed up with on her Midnight Sun album in 2025.
She added: “That’s where the magic comes from, not to try and look for it in Max Martin…
“I think me and Max could make an amazing song or album, but I know he will affect me in a way which would make me be a little bit smaller.”
The Lush Life hitmaker explained that having such a high level of admiration for Max – who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2017 – could make it more difficult to hold her own in any creative discussions.
She said: “I respect him so much. I k now he has these huge songs and has so much knowledge that I would feel like whatever he says goes.”
In August 2025, Backstreet Boys heaped praise on Max when he was in attendance for the iconic boy band’s Into The Millennium show at The Sphere.
Before performing the Max Martin-penned Don’t Want You Back, Howie Dorough said: “He helped us create our legacy and the soundtrack to our lives.
“He wrote all those hit songs that we get a chance to sing for you guys. We are very indebted to Mr. Max Martin.”
Kevin Richardson then invited fans to stand on their feet in his honour.
He said: “Let him feel the love y’all. Let him feel the love.”
Meanwhile, Scouting For Girls frontman Roy Stride previously expressed his regret at not taking the chance to work with people like Max.
He told the Daily Star newspaper: “Honestly I had the opportunity then to have worked with anyone in the world, like, really I could’ve worked with Max Martin or like any songwriter in the world.
“I was just like because I’d written all the first album myself I was like, ‘No, I just write it all by myself.’
“And now I spend such a great portion of my time writing songs for other people, which I love. I do wish I’d used that opportunity there to have worked with amazing artists.”
