Zara Larsson: Pop Girls, Confidence, & Crushes

Join Alex in the studio for an interview with Zara Larsson. Zara talks about taking control of her music and artistry and surrounding herself with women. She also reveals the crazy stories behind some of her songs and opens up about her relationship. Enjoy!

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Alex Cooper?

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• 0:45Alex Cooper?

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• 1:30Alex Cooper?

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• 2:13Alex Cooper?

  What is up Daddy Gang? It is your founding father Alex Cooper with Call Her Daddy.

• 2:22Alex Cooper?

  Zara Larson, welcome to Call Her Daddy.

• 2:23Speaker 01

  Thanks.

• 2:24Alex Cooper?

  It is so nice to meet you.

• 2:26Speaker 01

  Nice to meet you.

• 2:27Alex Cooper?

  I have been really, really looking forward to this.

• 2:29Speaker 01

  Me too.

• 2:30Alex Cooper?

  Girl, you are having a moment.

• 2:34Speaker 01

  I know, it's so crazy.

• 2:36Alex Cooper?

  How has this year felt for you? And how are you handling all the attention?

• 2:40Speaker 01

  No, it feels amazing. Honestly, I've been thinking a lot about it because internally it's so crazy because I've been doing this forever. And I think a lot of people might just discover me and find out about me. And sometimes, you know, a lot of artists, it seems like they just like pop out of nowhere. But I've really been doing this for my whole entire life. And yeah, internally, it just feels exactly the same. I feel like nothing's really changed for me like in my day to day or how I feel when I wake up and like what I do. I'm still on tour right now and I've been touring for like the past year. So everything feels really normal.

• 3:19Speaker 01

  I think the only difference or the biggest difference is like my interactions on like my posts look different. And like the amounts of like likes and comments and shares and even things I say in interviews or like things I say today. I think earlier it might've been like wah wah wah wah wah, like I just say something, but then.

• 3:39Alex Cooper?

  Yeah, it's like a bigger microscope now.

• 3:41Speaker 01

  Yes, yes.

• 3:42Alex Cooper?

  That is so interesting because it's like you're talking about how your life, you feel it's like it's been the same. But then there's these big moments that yes, you can pinpoint there. It's like, okay, more people are noticing me. Like then we have the Olympics, Alyssa Lu skated to stateside, which was everyone's talking about it. What did that mean to you?

• 4:00Speaker 01

  It was so amazing and I knew she was going to do that because she mentioned it in an interview like the day before. Some, some interview asked her like, what are you going to do for, for this performance? And when I saw it, I just kept watching it. I maybe watched it like five times with my friends and we filmed the first time and like put it on TikTok. But then the more I watched it, like the more emotional I felt because I think it's also just seeing her looking so.

• 4:28Speaker 01

  In it, like she's so in her body and she's so free and she looks so joyful. Like that is my vibe and the way she talks about her sport and why she does it. And the fact that it just seems to come from this place of true passion and love and not that no one's forcing her to do it. Um, or that, you know, it, it just feels like on her terms. And then she did it to, to Pink Panthers and my song. It just felt like, obviously, I will give her all the credit for pushing it up to number one. But, um, being in that moment for me feels bigger than like the charts.

• 5:12Speaker 01

  Because I feel like that's like a cultural, it's like her story.

• 5:17Alex Cooper?

  Truly, it's the Olympics. It's like, it's, it's representing of countries in the world.

• 5:23Speaker 01

  No, she just, I'm so excited to like, have been a part of that because that's, that's iconic.

• 5:28Alex Cooper?

  Did you get to talk to her at all? Did you guys DM?

• 5:32Speaker 01

  I did, yes. That's actually a very fun part about getting recognized and like having more followers. And having this like celebrity situation, I feel like I can reach out to basically like a lot of people. And I know I will probably get an answer.

• 5:47Alex Cooper?

  Have you been sliding into people's DMs, Zara?

• 5:50Speaker 01

  Yeah, but I do with like, with like love, like queen, like, hey, queen.

• 5:55Alex Cooper?

  Have you gotten any like messages back? You're like, I can't believe I'm even DMing with this person casually?

• 6:00Speaker 01

  I reach out to a lot of artists, like a lot of girls. Um, sometimes just to say like, hey, big fan, like love what you do. Like.

• 6:10Alex Cooper?

  And the fact that you know that they're gonna read it? Cause you go right to the top. You got that blue check. You're like, hi, it's me.

• 6:15Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 6:16Alex Cooper?

  Have a good Wednesday.

• 6:17Speaker 01

  Yeah, yeah, it's amazing. But I just said like, thank you so much. That was incredible. You're amazing. Like, please come to a show.

• 6:24Alex Cooper?

  She has to. I mean, I feel like this new album and era has been really transformative for you. It almost feels like a reintroduction in a way and not even just with your music. It's also your style and your image. Like what inspiration did you pull to create this new world?

• 6:44Speaker 01

  Um, well, a lot of people, you know, give credit to the dolphin trend on TikTok.

• 6:49Alex Cooper?

  Girl. Girl. We gotta talk about it.

• 6:52Speaker 01

  Yes, which honestly, you know, it's, um, I don't think they're wrong. I think subconsciously,

• 7:01Speaker 01

  when you move through life, you just pick up a bunch of stuff. I, I can't, I can't say with the hand on my heart, like the dolphin was not on the mood board, but you know, it's like, it was there. It was a big part of my 2024.

• 7:17Alex Cooper?

  Can you just quickly, just for anyone who lives under a rock and maybe is like,

• 7:21Speaker 01

  No, some people do.

• 7:21Alex Cooper?

  What are you guys talking about? The dolphin? What dolphin? Can you explain the dolphin, where they came from and how they essentially impacted your life?

• 7:30Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 7:30Alex Cooper?

  Changed your life.

• 7:31Speaker 01

  Where did they come from? I don't know. I remember one time I was doing a festival. I was in Norway and my friends, just this day particularly, I remember because they kept sending me these videos on TikTok. It was just very colorful dolphins. They're jumping out of the water. It's rainbows. It's blue skies. It's like happiness in a picture, vivid. Um, and then that picture paired with the kind of explosive chorus of symphony with a very depressing quote of your life, you know? And I think it's that, what's the word? Juxtaposition?

• 8:12Alex Cooper?

  Yes.

• 8:13Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 8:13Alex Cooper?

  Yes, yes, it is.

• 8:14Speaker 01

  It's a big word.

• 8:15Alex Cooper?

  It's like something so, yeah, it's something so depressing in text to symphony in the background. And it's like so random and it makes you laugh every single time you see one.

• 8:28Speaker 01

  And that blew up.

• 8:29Alex Cooper?

  Insane.

• 8:30Speaker 01

  Cause when they, when they sent me those videos, it was like maybe five to 10,000 likes per video. And I was like, whoa, like, why is this becoming a thing? And then from one day to another, it was just everywhere. But, um, yeah, I think like my style and everything from that, the thing is, I did feel like it spoke to me, just the image, because I have always loved glitter. I love glam. I love the sparkle. I love colors. I love like, woo, like this, you know, I love that. And I have always felt a little bit, not embarrassed, but like being from Sweden, which is very like minimalistic, it's like.

• 9:09Speaker 01

  Clean lines, a lot of neutrals, a lot of black, like in fashion. And I've always wanted to be like in fashion, because I think music and fashion go so hand in hand. I feel like I had to repress that side of me a little bit and like be fashion. And then it just turned into like a really weird style. And I think this album just allowed me to

• 9:33Speaker 01

  fully do what I love.

• 9:36Alex Cooper?

  What you said too with the fashion element is so true to artists, the way that they express themselves and the way that they also differentiate themselves from other artists is through fashion, not just the music. And obviously, your fashion sense has really popped off. And I think people are obsessed with the way that you dress. And I can tell that so much of your creative vision is poured into your fashion. People have called you a mermaid Barbie. Does that resonate?

• 10:06Speaker 01

  I love that. I love it. I love it. It's perfect. Like, that's my dream.

• 10:12Alex Cooper?

  Is that how you would describe your aesthetic?

• 10:14Speaker 01

  Yeah, maybe. Definitely colorful. You know, I love the long hair, especially when I'm on tour, to just like throw it around, have the wind, have the sparkles, like, I love the show-ness of it. I love that it feels like

• 10:32Speaker 01

  it's not pedestrian, you know, it's like, no, we're putting on a show. And especially this time around, because I'm doing my US run. And we have like, maybe the budget is five dollars. Like, you know what I mean? It's like, it's small. Like, I wasn't, when we, when we did these, when we booked these venues, like, I didn't know that this was gonna happen. Like, I didn't know I was gonna sit here and talk to you like a year ago. I didn't know like what would be happening to me. So we have these like amazing, amazing women that I share the stage with, and my band, and my dancers, and me. And that's the show. I mean, we are the show. So. Like the show has to be like the outfits, you know, the light and the hair.

• 11:12Alex Cooper?

  But that makes sense where it's like, people forget that tours are booked so far in advance. And so like

• 11:17Speaker 01

  We try to upgrade and it's just, it's booked out, like so far in advance. But I will be back though.

• 11:22Alex Cooper?

  You will be back. And you know what? Maybe it's fun that it's like, this is going to be the most intimate it will ever get. Because it's like your career is on the rise. Okay. You mentioned you're chronically online.

• 11:33Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 11:34Alex Cooper?

  Which I remember seeing an interview, you said that your screen time was like 16 hours a day. And I'm like, perfect. She doesn't sleep.

• 11:40Speaker 01

  No, I know.

• 11:40Alex Cooper?

  What app are you using the most?

• 11:43Speaker 01

  TikTok.

• 11:44Alex Cooper?

  I figured. What is like taking over your for you page? Like what is, if I was, if I was on your phone, what am I seeing?

• 11:50Speaker 01

  Me.

• 11:53Alex Cooper?

  You're your own biggest fan. I'm obsessed.

• 11:54Speaker 01

  For real. Like I, I try to engage also so much in like what people post and like what they say. And I like always like and comment and like engage. So I feel like my algorithm's like, oh, you must like be really big fan of Zara Larson.

• 12:08Speaker 01

  Just like, I'm like, yes, like, like, like.

• 12:12Alex Cooper?

  Repost, repost.

• 12:14Speaker 01

  And then what else is it? But that's the, that's the, that's the crazy part of it all. You can spend like six hours on that app. And then you lay down your phone and you're like, what have I just watched for six hours?

• 12:25Alex Cooper?

  And then you pick it back up because you're like, I need more. And you're like, what have I even watched?

• 12:28Speaker 01

  The way you scroll is like, next video will be amazing. Next video will be amazing. It's that dopamine rush.

• 12:33Alex Cooper?

  And your videos are you.

• 12:35Speaker 01

  Cause maybe the next one's good.

• 12:37Alex Cooper?

  I feel like some people, Zara, like would be like, whenever people would see themselves on an app, they'd be like, oh my God, quickly scroll. Whether they're like, I'm going to be cringe or whatever. You haven't, you're like, I fucking love myself.

• 12:50Speaker 01

  Yes. But also I think it's like, that's funny. You say that actually, because I used to really be like that. I used to like not watch anything. I didn't want to watch any performances. I was like, oh, like. Get it away from me, you know, and now I think it's just so in in my face a lot of the times. And it it truly did come from me wanting to like engage with the people who are posting it. Um, but I think also the older I get, I've never actually been a very shameful person. Like everything that I do, I think that's one of my best qualities is that I um, I don't carry like a lot of shame and I think that just allows me to have

• 13:33Speaker 01

  more fun and like not be so hard on myself and judgmental because I really used to be like every time I would step off stage, it wasn't good enough. I it wasn't fun, like I could have done better. That was embarrassing. Oh, I I messed this up. I did. I was just like, everything was like boo.

• 13:50Alex Cooper?

  What do you think was that turning point for you though? Was it age?

• 13:54Speaker 01

  Perhaps age. I think it was also me really feeling like I, because I've been doing this for like so long. Um, it wasn't until quite recently, I felt like I

• 14:08Speaker 01

  am finally like a part of creating what I do. Cause when I started out, I didn't write my music. I didn't like really creatively

• 14:19Speaker 01

  make like my shows, my video. I feel like it was just kind of happening around me and it was happening with. I was always like a part of the decision, the overall like decision making and like I get, I got to like, no, I want to do this song, like I don't want to do this song, but overall, I think um, a sense of control that I have now where it's like it's coming from me. That's when I feel like it represents me and I feel like it's I have to plant the seed. I can't just like tend to the garden that somebody else planted. I have to like, this is how I feel. I have to make like write my music, be a part of the show, be a part of designing like what I wear, be a part and that just makes me. Feel like in control and it makes it so much more fun.

• 15:04Alex Cooper?

  Right. It's almost like I was thinking about it when you're saying that you saying you don't scroll past yourself. It's because you're fully aware of what you're about to see because

• 15:13Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 15:13Alex Cooper?

  All of the creative you chose, all of your outfits, what you're singing you chose. So you're like, oh, I remember, oh, and I hit that dance move, but I like that moment. Where before you're probably like, oh, God, like,

• 15:23Speaker 01

  Why did I do that?

• 15:24Alex Cooper?

  Why did I do that? I was already feeling icky about it before I went on stage because I actually didn't even really know if I wanted to sing that song.

• 15:29Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 15:37Alex Cooper?

  Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Southern New Hampshire University. Daddy gang, let's get real, okay? We like to make our own rules. Southern New Hampshire University gets it. They let you learn what you want with over 200 career-focused programs, where you want with 100% online courses and how you want with no set class times. Basically, you get to call the shots from day one. Visit SNHU.edu/callherdaddy to learn more. This is a paid ad by BetterHelp. So anytime that I am finding myself having a habit that I just cannot kick, I'm like, okay, I need to talk about this in therapy. Listen, guys, everyone has habits, mindsets, or patterns that don't serve them,

• 16:19Alex Cooper?

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• 17:01Alex Cooper?

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• 17:46Alex Cooper?

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• 18:25Alex Cooper?

  to add entrepreneur to your list of accomplishments? Head to Shopify.com/daddy. That's Shopify.com/daddy. You sparked a lot of conversation when you said that you finally broke out of the Kia asylum. First of all, for anyone who does not know what that means, can you explain what the Kia asylum is?

• 18:49Speaker 01

  I feel like it's a place that, um, okay, here we go. It's a place, I don't know how it was started. And it's this institution where I think it's mostly girls in there, honestly, like the pop girls that have big hits. So they've been charting, like they maybe have billions of streams on their songs. Like I have really popular songs. But they have little to no like cultural relevance, I would say. Um, or maybe like an identity. So they have like the songs and people know can sing along with them, but they might not necessarily know who is singing the song.

• 19:33Speaker 01

  And I've always kind of struggled with this. I'm like, oh, I've been so aware of it. And I didn't know about like the Kia asylum or the Kai asylum before. Um, you know, like five, six, seven years ago, but I've always felt like, what is it? That because I, I feel like I have so much inside of me that people can connect with. Why, why can't I bridge that gap? Cause I've had these amazing songs, but like. What the fuck is happening that makes me not?

• 20:02Alex Cooper?

  Wait, what isn't clicking?

• 20:03Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 20:04Alex Cooper?

  In your opinion, now looking back, what do you think was keeping you there?

• 20:07Speaker 01

  I think, I think it was being free in. Like sharing myself because I, you know, I've tried the whole like, I wanna be mysterious. There's something very like, uh, like sexy about that, you know, but I'm not a mysterious person. And that's just genuinely not who I am. So with this, um, Midnight Sun, because it felt so much like me, I also felt like just. Sharing who I am with people and my followers. I think my, my like. You know, hardcore fans have always kind of known me and like. Checked out all my interviews and like all of that. But I think I've also just shared more of myself.

• 20:50Speaker 01

  With my followers and like online. And I think it's again, I think it's all these small things coming together, like the music, the fashion, the personality, just me being freer, but also more, um.

• 21:08Speaker 01

  Yeah, like myself.

• 21:10Alex Cooper?

  It's like you thought being in the music industry, you're like, maybe I'll just try to be mysterious. And look at when you just leaned into yourself, everyone's like bitch obsessed.

• 21:19Speaker 01

  But it's also hard. I think like Instagram is like hard because it is so like aesthetic, you know?

• 21:24Alex Cooper?

  It's so hard.

• 21:25Speaker 01

  And I think that's why it's just so much easier to like, like connect because I don't have to think about. And, and, and even sometimes I do wanna wear like a black leather jacket. And now I'm like, wait, can I do that? But it's like the duality of a woman, like I still have it in me. I still have a leather jacket in me.

• 21:42Alex Cooper?

  I love it. I love it.

• 21:44Speaker 01

  But it's hard. It's hard to like, I think that's also what it is. Actually, now when I think back at it, it's like staying a little bit disciplined because it is me and it is what I love. But it's also like, if you wanna create some sort of brand, you have to have the consistency and the discipline.

• 22:01Alex Cooper?

  You're so right. Um, you said in an interview that people used to call you a flop like 50 times a day. It's like.

• 22:09Speaker 01

  No, listen, girl, that's why I had to delete Twitter. I'm like, take care.

• 22:12Alex Cooper?

  You're like, goodbye.

• 22:15Alex Cooper?

  But how did those type of comments affect you when you were reading them and consuming them?

• 22:19Speaker 01

  Um, it's weird because it's this like game with my brain. I think reading, it's, it's so strange how, I don't think we're meant to read a thousand opinions about ourselves a day. Even like over five, like that's a lot. And I think what matters is like what the people around you are saying, right? So having, having like some sort of social media or platform where people would just kinda say everything. And I have to be honest, like, yeah, I searched for my name. I did that. I don't wanna see the mention.

• 22:53Alex Cooper?

  You wanna talk about Wikipedia? Oh, we know. How do we, can we quickly talk about that? Really pivot, sorry. This Wikipedia beef that you have, have we settled it? Have we squashed it?

• 23:06Speaker 01

  They locked the page.

• 23:07Alex Cooper?

  They did.

• 23:08Speaker 01

  No one can, no one can come in and edit it anymore.

• 23:11Alex Cooper?

  And explain the photo to people who haven't seen it.

• 23:14Speaker 01

  It was just an ugly photo of me and I was like, I don't want that to be the photo. I want it to be a hot photo. And then we tried to change it and then they kept changing back and we emailed them like can can like we just keep this picture and they were like well it has to be by a photographer who have to give up like the copyright and I'm like yeah but like I took the photo like my friend took the photo and they were like what camera then we send this camera and they were like send us a full resolution and we're like it's just like a small bad digital

• 23:41Alex Cooper?

  Going back and forth with Wikipedia?

• 23:42Speaker 01

  No, like back and forth. I think they didn't believe that I like owned the picture and I was like no like I had to send them a video like hey this is Zara Larson like I took this photo like my friend took this photo and they were like yeah so the girl it was the whole thing

• 23:58Alex Cooper?

  The lengths that you went to be like there will be no ugly photo of me. Get this shit out. Zara.

• 24:06Speaker 01

  I'm like that's the one I want.

• 24:07Alex Cooper?

  You're like I want a surf face. Also I love how of all the photos you're like no one even looks at fucking Wikipedia these days but you're like my Wikipedia will slay to the gods and don't you ever forget it? Honestly, I have a lot of respect for that. How many times did you go in and try to change it?

• 24:22Speaker 01

  Oh, like twenty? Yes. It was over a period of time and then when I posted the video I posted a video on TikTok I was like whoever's changing this like stop it like cuz I will not give up. I will change it twenty one times.

• 24:38Alex Cooper?

  Like every morning you're having your coffee you're like hmm here we go, refresh.

• 24:42Speaker 01

  Yes, yes like I will text my friend Vandela just be like you have to change it again like it's changed back.

• 24:48Alex Cooper?

  Okay, so you're searching yourself online constantly. You're as deep in as Wikipedia.

• 24:53Speaker 01

  And I think it's I think it's

• 24:56Speaker 01

  and I think it's like again a sense of false control of like what are people saying about me what are they thinking about me because at the end of the day I'm like an artist, right? Like I have this ego that I have to soothe and I want people to love me and I want people to like what I do. And when I have a bad day I almost go in and I search for like the good comments gives me a boost and like yay you know it's like woo but then I just kind of look for the bad comments to almost confirm what I feel about myself that day and it's like

• 25:31Speaker 01

  I knew it. I knew it.

• 25:32Alex Cooper?

  What are some of the negative things that you feel about yourself? Because I feel like people online would look and be like, oh, you want to know what I look up? When I want to like get confidence, it's Azar Larson dancing video of you shaking your ass, looking like the hottest goddess in the world. And then like, so I'm assuming people are like, wait, what do you mean? Like, what are those things?

• 25:52Speaker 01

  I think it is. I think if I have a bad day, I mean, what the only, the only thing that affects me is, which I guess is true for everyone, the things that affects you is the things that you believe, even a little bit, you know? So because I always like, I always felt this disconnect with people or like, fuck, I'm in the key asylum, like, I'm really stuck in here, you know? Or like, maybe I am a flop or like, what is it that doesn't connect? Like, what am I missing? And like all those things, I think that affects me more because I've been like, beefing with people online since I was like 14 and I had my blog. And I would just, you know, but I used to write a lot about feminism.

• 26:35Speaker 01

  I used to write a lot about like, I was out here hating men before it became a thing. Yes, no, truly. And when it comes to me personally, I think, yeah, like when I have a bad day, it just reinforces what I feel like I already felt.

• 26:54Alex Cooper?

  Right. Do you look back at the time when there was negativity and when it would get to you before you got yourself out of this asylum? Um, did it impact the way that you felt about releasing music?

• 27:05Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 27:06Alex Cooper?

  Talk to me about that.

• 27:07Speaker 01

  Well, I think I just cared a lot about what people would think and what people would say. And earlier on, I also, again, I didn't like write my stuff. So I felt like, since it wasn't really like coming from me, like my words.

• 27:29Speaker 01

  I could kind of only lean on other people's opinion. Like, I could know that it's good, I think it's good, but also like, it was very important for other people to also feel like it was good for me. Because I started, like, I got signed at fourteen, and at that point, you're so young and you're around all these grownups and,

• 27:49Speaker 01

  they just, you know, have been in the industry for a really long time and they're very talented. So it's like, we're giving you this song and we're giving you this song. And it wasn't really like an option for me to, well, I didn't know like, I, when you don't know what it is, you don't know. You just don't even know where to start. And I've always kind of, I've loved writing. Like I said, I had my blog, I love to like, I love to like, express myself. Um, but I think also I tried to be in some sessions and, and I think there's just this sense of like, like when you're fourteen, fifteen, it's hard to truly emotionally connect with someone who is like forty.

• 28:26Alex Cooper?

  And those are the type of people you're sitting in that room with?

• 28:28Speaker 01

  Yeah, you feel really small and they're so amazing and incredible. So I just kind of felt like, oh, what do I have to say? Like, you guys know better than I do. When really it's not about that, it's just about like, it's not about who, who is better. It's like, who can, now I realize like, who can get, who can get me the most comfortable, so I can be the most myself.

• 28:51Alex Cooper?

  But even Zara, I'm thinking too, you referenced, you know, you're a young girl at the time when you started your career. When you would walk into rooms with label executives and producers, you would be the youngest person there.

• 29:07Speaker 01

  Definitely.

• 29:08Alex Cooper?

  What did that make you feel like?

• 29:10Speaker 01

  Um,

• 29:13Speaker 01

  it's just always been like that for me. And now, when that's no longer the reality, I'm like, wow, I think I really, really would have benefited from, um,

• 29:26Speaker 01

  Being around people more like my age, but it's really hard to find like the next big, the number one writer fifteen year old like.

• 29:37Alex Cooper?

  But you're not stacking your studio with fifteen year olds.

• 29:39Speaker 01

  Yeah, yeah, just like, uh, come hang after school.

• 29:44Alex Cooper?

  Who's paying for the studio? None of us have jobs, we're all fifteen. No, I get it, I get it.

• 29:50Speaker 01

  Um, it's just always been like that. And the thing is, I used to have my mom with me everywhere.

• 29:54Alex Cooper?

  Okay.

• 29:55Speaker 01

  My mom was with me everywhere, like in every session and every studio, like she would sit right there. Like she was just with me and um, I think that is such a blessing for me and like thinking back at it, I'm very thankful that she was just there, you know, and I've always felt like the people I started working with were also um, cause I got signed to an independent label in Sweden called Ten and um, starting out, it was kind of this three sixty deal where they were like managing and record label, which kind of worked in the beginning because it was so small and it was just kind of in Sweden, but they were also with me and I felt like

• 30:36Speaker 01

  um, I could really trust them. They always wanted like what was best for me. I've been lucky to have been around good people.

• 30:45Alex Cooper?

  You go on tour with all these women.

• 30:47Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 30:47Alex Cooper?

  Since surrounding yourself with women, what difference has that made for you in your career?

• 30:52Speaker 01

  I feel so confident.

• 30:53Alex Cooper?

  Yeah.

• 30:54Speaker 01

  I feel so um, free in expressing myself. I also feel like for a lot of women, like in whatever kind of um, work they're doing, even like on tour, because we're all women on stage, but there's so much happening. Um, also a lot of women holding the mics, you know, performing being pop stars, but the producers and the, the people working backstage, like nothing of this would work without people surrounding me or like the industry. So I think um, they, they always just have to, the classic, you know, work twice as hard to take um,

• 31:35Speaker 01

  or to get half the recognition that, that men get. And it feels really um, it feels really like.

• 31:44Speaker 01

  They're just so accomplished and I feel like everyone is being taken seriously and it does. You don't have to like prove all the time that you know what you're talking about or that you know what you want. It's so refreshing.

• 31:58Alex Cooper?

  And I'm curious, like since having this success, I in your song stateside, you say, I'm that girl, I've been it.

• 32:05Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 32:05Alex Cooper?

  What does it feel like now that you really have people finally recognizing that like? Is it a little annoying? Like are people coming out of the woodwork?

• 32:14Speaker 01

  I love it. I love it. And this just proved like, oh, I'm the shit. Like I'm hot right now. Like that's fun. It just, it says more about like what I'm doing than um, and I think, I think. I think actually maybe the opposite for me. I think a lot of my friends, because I'm so bad at staying in contact with my friends. When I travel, just in general, like this really been an issue for me and a lot of my friendships throughout the years because I'm away a lot. And like the only thing that exists for me, I'm very present. It's this, like whatever's in front of my nose, that exists. But I think almost the opposite, that people might be scared of now, like clothes, close friends that I had are a bit like.

• 32:58Speaker 01

  Scared of calling me because maybe they don't want to think that I. Like that they're calling me because that is going well for me.

• 33:06Alex Cooper?

  I see.

• 33:07Speaker 01

  So it's almost like the opposite.

• 33:09Alex Cooper?

  But you're like, girl, call me.

• 33:10Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 33:11Alex Cooper?

  Let's go. Let's go get dinner.

• 33:13Speaker 01

  Yes. But also like, yeah, I've been, I feel like I am just um. Doing what I do, you know, and that's what makes it so fun and easy. I think this whole era is just. I don't really have to think about like, oh, fuck, what's gonna be the next thing like, oh, because I just do what I like. And like, I just do what feels right. And that's just who I am at the moment. And then I don't have to overthink. What's next so much or what it is like, it's just is and I've, I'm just, I'm just this, like, I'm very open. What you see is what you get.

• 33:46Alex Cooper?

  Okay, let's talk about tour. First of all, the one note in your song Midnight Sun, it's like kinda long.

• 33:53Speaker 01

  It's kinda long.

• 33:54Alex Cooper?

  Do you have to like prep for it? Like when you do it live, are you like, like, could you bust it out right now? Or do you have to like fully prep for that?

• 34:04Speaker 01

  I could bust it out right now. It's just loud.

• 34:08Alex Cooper?

  Would you do it for me?

• 34:09Speaker 01

  Wait.

• 34:09Alex Cooper?

  Wait.

• 34:12Alex Cooper?

  Not me fangirling. Okay, me pushing my mic way too.

• 34:16Speaker 01

  Okay, I think it's, that's the right key. So I do take a breath. That's what I do.

• 34:21Alex Cooper?

  Okay, take a breath.

• 34:44Speaker 01

  I think that was the right key. Maybe it was, I think it was lower.

• 34:46Alex Cooper?

  If that wasn't the right key.

• 34:49Speaker 01

  Maybe it's up there. Yeah.

• 34:51Alex Cooper?

  I just got tears in my eyes.

• 34:52Speaker 01

  Oh, stop it.

• 34:53Alex Cooper?

  Wait.

• 34:55Alex Cooper?

  No, no, no, I'm not even gassing you up. Every single woman in this room right now. Your voice.

• 35:01Speaker 01

  Oh, thanks.

• 35:02Alex Cooper?

  Getting a little live performance right now, I'm like. I have full.

• 35:07Speaker 01

  But you know, I used to do that. I think that was like when I used to go to, to these like record labels to be signed. I would be like, and now I'm gonna sing acapella for you. Like old school shit.

• 35:18Alex Cooper?

  And then they would just literally with their mouth open be like, oh shit. She doesn't need any auto tune.

• 35:23Speaker 01

  I used to sing, I would rather go blind.

• 35:26Alex Cooper?

  Stop.

• 35:28Alex Cooper?

  You like get up on the chair. You're like, are you all ready to be graced with greatness? Sit down.

• 35:33Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 35:33Alex Cooper?

  Zara?

• 35:34Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 35:35Alex Cooper?

  You have an insane voice.

• 35:37Speaker 01

  Thanks.

• 35:37Alex Cooper?

  Oh my God, you didn't even do a, do you do vocal warmups? You just hit it.

• 35:41Speaker 01

  I don't. I literally don't. I feel like the first song of the show, Midnight Sun, that is like my warmup.

• 35:48Alex Cooper?

  That'll do it.

• 35:48Speaker 01

  And then I, yeah, and then I just get like warmed, warmed up throughout the show.

• 35:54Alex Cooper?

  I'm never gonna get over that. First of all, I've also never had someone sing that loud in the Call of Duty studio. And I am, whoa. Okay, um, you've been touring for like 10 years.

• 36:05Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 36:06Alex Cooper?

  I'm assuming you have some wild stories, like things that have happened, but okay, you're like, no.

• 36:11Speaker 01

  No, I'm doing that face because the craziest thing we do is like throw some candy wraps on the floor in the bus.

• 36:17Alex Cooper?

  Stop. Okay, what's the craziest thing that's happened on stage?

• 36:21Speaker 01

  Ooh.

• 36:22Alex Cooper?

  Malfunctions, disasters, people.

• 36:24Speaker 01

  All the time, all the time. Yeah, but that's just like that showbiz baby. You just gotta suck it up and, and move on.

• 36:41Alex Cooper?

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• 37:23Alex Cooper?

  And when you give me that plus a good chocolate, I'm gonna have that in my freezer. Every single night, I'm gonna pop one in. I am obsessed. I love it so much. Taste the joy with every bite of My Mochi Ice Cream. Look for the green and brown box of My Mochi Dubai Chocolate Ice Cream in the freezer aisle of your local grocery store. Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Southern New Hampshire University. Daddy gang, let's get real, okay? We like to make our own rules. Southern New Hampshire University gets it. They let you learn what you want with over 200 career-focused programs, where you want with 100% online courses, and how you want with no set class times. Basically, you get to call the shots from day one.

• 38:06Alex Cooper?

  Visit SNHU.edu/callherdaddy to learn more. We have something in common. Okay. We both like edibles. Oh, yeah.

• 38:20Alex Cooper?

  I love that shit. What is your favorite kind? Ooh. Like you don't even say- Like strained or like brand? Or just like, or just like, yeah, like, are you more of a sativa girl? I'm like a hybrid. Hybrid. Because-

• 38:33Speaker 01

  Sometimes I get scared.

• 38:35Alex Cooper?

  Okay.

• 38:35Speaker 01

  You know.

• 38:35Alex Cooper?

  Talk to me about your fears.

• 38:37Speaker 01

  No, but sometimes I get like paranoid.

• 38:39Alex Cooper?

  Yes, oh.

• 38:39Speaker 01

  Like if I take one, it's like, oh, I'm scared.

• 38:42Alex Cooper?

  What, what time of day are you usually?

• 38:45Speaker 01

  Um, always like, always recreational, like no work.

• 38:52Alex Cooper?

  No work.

• 38:52Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 38:53Alex Cooper?

  So like you're at.

• 38:54Speaker 01

  So my worst nightmare would be to like have an edible, sit in this couch with you and like having to speak.

• 39:01Alex Cooper?

  You know what? It's, I am the same exact way. Like if we both were on edibles right now.

• 39:06Speaker 01

  No, we would just, we would just, we wouldn't, we would just, ah, ah. Knee slap, knee slap, knee slap.

• 39:12Alex Cooper?

  And we'd be too scared to like say anything. Cause I'd be like, was, did I come off weird?

• 39:16Speaker 01

  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 39:16Alex Cooper?

  Wait, was that weird?

• 39:17Speaker 01

  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 39:17Alex Cooper?

  And you'd be like, no, no, am I being weird? And I'm like, am I sitting weird? What's my posture like?

• 39:21Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 39:22Alex Cooper?

  And you'd be like, I don't know where I am.

• 39:23Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 39:24Alex Cooper?

  Okay. So you're gonna do it in private.

• 39:25Speaker 01

  With friends. Um, I have done it like twice on tour and it was so fun.

• 39:34Alex Cooper?

  What? Okay. So it went well.

• 39:36Speaker 01

  It went really well, but it was also like just an opening slot. It was for Tate and it was just 45 minutes. At, at that point I was very comfortable in the set, but having done it, I'm like, yeah, I don't think I'm gonna do it again. Because I think it's something, you know, it's, for me, it's like giggle and chill with your friends or like, you know.

• 39:58Alex Cooper?

  Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no, no. I, um.

• 40:00Speaker 01

  I don't understand people that just like smoke crazy and then they go and do a show.

• 40:04Alex Cooper?

  I'm the same. I like to, I think I thrive my most when I'm alone and I have a little edible.

• 40:09Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 40:09Alex Cooper?

  I'm not like walking around and going to meetings.

• 40:11Speaker 01

  No.

• 40:12Alex Cooper?

  Couldn't do it.

• 40:12Speaker 01

  No, no, no.

• 40:13Alex Cooper?

  Um, okay. Speaking of Tate, you opened for Tate McCray.

• 40:16Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 40:16Alex Cooper?

  What was the most fun part of that tour?

• 40:20Speaker 01

  Wow. I mean, the whole experience was really so incredible for me. And I knew it was gonna be amazing before we went on. First of all, because she's incredible. Her fans are so fun and I feel like it was just the perfect match. So I knew that this was gonna be like one of the first stepping stones of. What I was trying to do with Midnight Sun, I mean, it was right, I think my album released on the last day of the tour. So it was like a perfect setup because I really haven't toured that much in the US or like America in general. And the the most fun part, I mean, obviously to do the show every night, which was still like a forty five minute.

• 41:03Speaker 01

  So I got to give them like a good chunk of what I do and who I am. And just the way it was received, I just could never have guessed like

• 41:18Speaker 01

  how much it was gonna do for me because they really felt like maybe it was just my for you Paige, because that's all it is. Just me, me, me.

• 41:27Alex Cooper?

  You're like, they were loving me, Alex, okay? I was thriving on that tour.

• 41:33Alex Cooper?

  Me, me, me.

• 41:34Speaker 01

  Yeah, but I but I I saw so many videos from it and like people engaging with it. And even though I don't have Twitter, I have my friend Vandelaar, she sometimes she sends me like

• 41:46Speaker 01

  the hit tweets of the week.

• 41:49Speaker 01

  And people were like really, really positive. And I think also the story of it all, I think the lore, like people love an underdog and people love to root for someone who who they feel like is like on the come up a little bit. And I think because I've been doing it for such a long time, it's like there is so much history to it and there is so much lore. It's like this is not like an overnight thing and people could be like, wow, like she's worked so hard, like she deserves this. And I think that like adds to it.

• 42:21Alex Cooper?

  And having two women that are so good at dancing, like you're gonna have a good time that night and singing. Both of you are like insane dancers and singers, so you're like, I'm gonna enjoy.

• 42:30Speaker 01

  But it was so incredible because I've been opening for other people before, like Ed Sheeran, Kiggo. Yeah, love, love, love, love, love him. I love him. But I think that that match was like way better. And I've never had it was like, it was, it was like a lot of people who came to see the opening, which I didn't feel was the the vibe for the other.

• 42:58Speaker 01

  People that I've opened for.

• 42:59Alex Cooper?

  The girlies were out.

• 43:00Speaker 01

  The girlies were out and they were like, they came to see it. So that was so much fun.

• 43:05Alex Cooper?

  I know that you had written in an Instagram post, you kind of called out, even though so many, like you're saying, the comments were so positive, the vibes were so positive. It was strange seeing people pit you and Tate against each other, which is so sad because it's like kind of expected, which is like, why do, like, why is that even the case? Um, what was going on that you think was creating that dynamic?

• 43:27Speaker 01

  What was going on? I think, um, well, first of all, I've been doing this for longer. I'm older. And maybe some people felt like

• 43:38Speaker 01

  I deserved to be in the arena. And I'm like, well, buy the ticket then.

• 43:43Speaker 01

  That's not Tate's fault. You know what I mean? I haven't toured. For me, this was an amazing opportunity. Um, I think it's just like the nature of how people speak about girls in pop. Again, like coming back to the fucking Kia asylum, like no one's being put in there except for the pop girls. You know, is this culture around? Which I sometimes think it's, it's very interesting. It could be fun because people are very like engaged in pop girls. The girls of pop are kind of pop culture, at least in my world. But then I think, um, we are similar in the sense that, you know, we both dance, although she's a way better dancer.

• 44:25Speaker 01

  And I, I like, I do pop, she does pop. I think it's like, and I think again, it's easier to root for someone who is like an underdog, you know? Cause once you, and I kind of always said this, like, once you start getting haters, that's when you know, you're like, that bitch.

• 44:44Alex Cooper?

  Yes. No, it is so true. It's like, I remember Taylor Swift's line. It's like, they want to see you rise, but they do not want to see you reign.

• 44:50Speaker 01

  No, no.

• 44:51Alex Cooper?

  They love the come up.

• 44:53Speaker 01

  Totally.

• 44:53Alex Cooper?

  And then the minute you're there, they're like, what the fuck are you doing there?

• 44:56Speaker 01

  And obviously Tate is like massive. She had this sold out arena tour. Like I'm on her tour, like opening for her. So she's this very successful girl. And I think it's just, we're both talented, but I think people are like, why is Zara opening for Tate? Well, it's not really about talent. It's about. The me being put in front of a crowd where I haven't like been before. So I think it's just it's it's like too easy for people to compare us even though we are. We're similar, but we're very different and um. I don't think that was fun at all for her.

• 45:37Speaker 01

  We haven't spoke about it much, but I think as a human being, you know, like her being so hardworking and talented. And just seeing this fucking random Swedish girl come on her tour and be like the fuck. Like, you know what I mean? But I did tell her that I was like, I am on your tour like she is incredible. And also being on that tour, I personally have so much respect for the way she works and how hard she works and the fact that everyone was so lovely and I think that says a lot about the artist. Cause I definitely do think it trickles down. Like if you have a good boss, she's the boss, she's the one employing all of these hundreds of people.

• 46:22Speaker 01

  If you have a good um head, that makes the whole experience good. And it really was like down to the crew, the dancers, the drivers, like the truck drivers were incredible. And um, I think it's just a classic like also a little bit of misogyny or like the it can't be it can't be two girls being good. You know, it's so crazy. Have you had the ability and you don't need to name names to talk to anyone

• 46:51Alex Cooper?

  in the industry about this like problem that all of the pop girlies have of just like comparison and everyone pitting you guys against each other?

• 47:01Speaker 01

  Hmm, not really because I don't really go out. But um, like in DMs and that, I think I could definitely because this is something that we're all aware of, of course, we exist in the universe, you know? We see things that everyone else is seeing on their timeline. We're just people with phones at the end of the day. And I think um. Everyone can relate to it somehow. And you know, who knows in the future? Maybe karma comes back around and I have a really great girl opening for me. And everyone's like, what the fuck? Like she's, you know, boo, yay, boo, like. It's just, it's just crazy the way it is.

• 47:44Speaker 01

  And I think, um, I just know that I.

• 47:50Speaker 01

  But I love all the girls. I really do. And I think, I think most of the people do. I think it's such, it's like a cheap shot of, um. Putting someone up by putting someone else down. It's like you can actually just say, wow, that was incredible. You don't have to put someone else down because of it.

• 48:11Alex Cooper?

  Something I was thinking about with your album is the Girls Girl song.

• 48:17Speaker 01

  It's funny you say that because I have something to say about that too, on the remix.

• 48:20Alex Cooper?

  Do you want to say it now?

• 48:21Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 48:21Alex Cooper?

  Okay, let's do it. You're like, Anne, shut up, I have a statement. Sit back, relax and enjoy.

• 48:26Speaker 01

  Because it's funny because I did take that song. And I turned it into what happens when a girl's girl, like, I want to be a girl's girl. But what happens when a girl's girl wants spotlight? Because there's only room for one girl, apparently. So we all have to have this like be nice and friendly, which is the reality of it all. And this is at the end of the day, just a song. But just to like. Okay, but I, it's, it's that weirdness in the industry. But also like, that's how I choose to, to, to twist it, to make it a little different and fun.

• 49:01Alex Cooper?

  Oh, I like that.

• 49:02Speaker 01

  It's gonna be really fun.

• 49:03Alex Cooper?

  Because the original is, it's about realizing you have feelings for your friend's boyfriend. And you said that this was inspired by real events at the time. What is the story?

• 49:14Speaker 01

  It was inspired. It definitely wasn't like the truth. And I think, um, I just love the song. I love, I love a little story. Like, let's get messy in this story.

• 49:25Alex Cooper?

  Back to the blog days.

• 49:26Speaker 01

  Yes, I used to be so messy as a teenager. I really, I really, and now I'm a granny. But at sixteen, um, I just like.

• 49:36Speaker 01

  Oh, girl. Um, we were celebrating New Years. And yeah, my, one of my best friend's boyfriend, he just like, he, he was flirting with me all night and I was really interested in his friend. So, we were at this party and by the end of the night, you know, I don't know what it's like for you guys, but in Europe at sixteen, that's like, you've been drinking for about four years at this point. So. Not so mu- well, it depends in the US where you grow up, but yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, I was like, ooh, I was picking on my jacket. Everyone was already downstairs, we were going somewhere else. And yeah, he just kinda like started kissing me.

• 50:21Speaker 01

  And I just kissed him back because I was messy like that. And I was sixteen and really drunk and like, I, um, the fucked up thing about this though was that the girl who's, who, who we had had the party at, she filmed this and I didn't know. So before I got the chance to tell my friend what happened the next day, she had already got the video sent to her. Yeah, so that, that was like really messy. But then, yeah. But the truth is, I wasn't really like in love with him or interested in him. It was this weird, um, unforgivable mistake that happened.

• 51:04Speaker 01

  But obviously seeing it, it just, she just cut me off and all my friends just cut me off. And I was just like a floating piece of trash in the universe. No. Yes. A video? Yeah. What was her reaction? I don't know because she didn't speak to me for like four years. Like she cut me off. She meant that shit. And I had like clothes, you know, she had clothes at my place. And my mom was like, I can come and pick it up. And she was like, her mom was like, no, we can mail it.

• 51:38Alex Cooper?

  Like, how far did you guys live from each other? Like 10 minutes? You're like, mail it, bitch.

• 51:42Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 51:42Alex Cooper?

  No.

• 51:43Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 51:43Alex Cooper?

  When did you guys ever finally talk?

• 51:45Speaker 01

  Yes, yes, yes, yes.

• 51:46Alex Cooper?

  Okay.

• 51:46Speaker 01

  And now it's okay. And everyone's like on, on good terms. And, uh, yeah, it was one of, it was one of my worst mistakes in life. Like, it truly was at 16. I just, um, if I could take it back, I, I would so, so, so bad. But I also have to like forgive myself for it because again, this is more than 10 years ago now. And, uh, I was just really stupid and messy. And also I found out that I can't drink. Like, I just can't. Because I always do really like my morals and my, my just sense of self. Like, it just goes out the window. And now I just stick to the edibles.

• 52:26Alex Cooper?

  I was gonna say, and then enter edibles. That's when you were like, we're gonna stick to that.

• 52:29Speaker 01

  Yes, truly.

• 52:30Alex Cooper?

  How has your idea of girl's girl evolved over the years as you've become a woman?

• 52:37Speaker 01

  Hmm, I think girl's girl is, um, what I'm trying now when I'm like a boss. I feel like I can employ women, you know? I can put like money in their pockets. And, um, I can make sure to uplift and amplify like their voices. Or again, in the studio, like I want to ride with other women. I want to produce with other women. I want to create with other women. And, um, I, I, you know, just take women very seriously. Cause I think we're so amazing and capable.

• 53:22Alex Cooper?

  Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Airbnb. As you guys know, I have basically been working double time throughout this pregnancy to bank episodes for the month that I will be on maternity leave. And a few weeks ago, it all just kind of hit me. I was like, wait, wait, wait, where did summer go? And I was talking about this with Matt and he ended up surprising me with a little staycation. He booked this beautiful home on Airbnb in Malibu so that we could. Pretend like it was summer while it's still warm here in LA. The weather was perfect. The house was right on the beach, which was so relaxing and amazing. It also had just such a gorgeous kitchen. We stayed in, we cooked dinner together. And you know, daddy gaining my cooking skills, they have, they have gotten better.

• 54:07Alex Cooper?

  They've gotten a little bit better through pregnancy. But it was really just so nice to unplug and spend that time together before the baby comes and we move into this completely new chapter of our life. So whether you're planning a cozy weekend away, or you're just looking for an excuse to unplug for a few days, October is the perfect time to get out of town. Booking a home on Airbnb makes the trip feel even more special because everyone has room to actually spend time together. Whether you're coming back after a long day out, or you're also just cooking dinner. Airbnb makes settling in even easier because you can order groceries for your trip and have all the snacks and essentials delivered after you arrive.

• 54:48Alex Cooper?

  My favorite fall trips always have one thing in common, an amazing place to say. That's why I always look at Airbnb first. Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Ross. Fall is about finding pieces you love, making them your own and creating looks and spaces just right for the season. Whether you're updating a small apartment or a spacious home, drawn to timeless neutrals or bold seasonal touches, Ross makes it easy to imagine what's next and bring your fall vision to life. Ross makes fashion accessible to all with up to 20 to 60% off other retailers' prices on the brands you love. Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com.

• 55:31Alex Cooper?

  There was an interesting article about you recently that I wanted to get your opinion on this quote. They said, "There's nothing about Zara Larson's public persona that shows any interest in capturing the validation or attention of straight men." I love that. Is this an accurate statement? I think the older I get, which I do think comes with age a little bit. I think I, because I used to be heavy male centered. Even if I didn't want to like admit to it, I think even in like.

• 55:58Speaker 01

  Having relationships or making sure that I felt like validated and loved by like a man. And it didn't have to be like people outside of my relationship, but even so, that was still important to really feel desired by men. I think now, maybe it's like you turn 25 and like your brain develop, but like hitting status return, like grow, just growing up, just literally your brain develops. I think I, I focus so, so, so little on that right now.

• 56:27Alex Cooper?

  How have you like really managed to de-center men from your life? Can you give the girls listening like a little go-to guide?

• 56:33Speaker 01

  Oh, no, I only want to impress like the mean 13-year-old girls. You know what I mean? Like that's who I want to impress.

• 56:42Alex Cooper?

  So real.

• 56:43Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 56:43Alex Cooper?

  They're looking at your outfit.

• 56:44Speaker 01

  Yeah, exactly.

• 56:45Alex Cooper?

  It's cute. You're like, I'm not gonna be able to sleep tonight.

• 56:50Speaker 01

  No, I think it's, um, I, I used to crave that so much. I don't know if it's like a classic, you know, my, like my dad.

• 57:01Speaker 01

  But like my dad, like not, and I love my dad and my dad loves me, but he was away a lot. Like, you know what I mean?

• 57:08Alex Cooper?

  You're like, we gotta go back to the origin story. It's always the dad.

• 57:11Speaker 01

  Right, right.

• 57:12Alex Cooper?

  What's the relationship with the dad? I wanted my dad's attention.

• 57:15Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 57:15Alex Cooper?

  Said I wanted other men's attention.

• 57:17Speaker 01

  Exactly. But I think, um, now also maybe I hate to say it, but like in my relationship now, I think he has made me realize that, um, I don't need like outside validation, um, because it has to come from within. And how do you find that within? You just, ew, I'm saying corny things on corny things. Like I was gonna say you have to love yourself. But it's true.

• 57:44Alex Cooper?

  The 13-year-olds are like.

• 57:45Speaker 01

  Yeah, they're like, mm.

• 57:47Alex Cooper?

  Yeah.

• 57:48Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 57:50Alex Cooper?

  But it's true.

• 57:50Speaker 01

  And like, how do you love yourself? I think, um, you have to like have a lot of grace for yourself. You have to surround yourself with people who, um,

• 58:03Speaker 01

  Are like uplifting and non judgmental.

• 58:07Alex Cooper?

  No, it's such a good point. It's like the amount of times and everyone's timeline is going to be different, but the amount of time you have to take at some point in your life to realize like you're going to keep getting a zero to nothing result when you're looking for other people's approval and you're looking for people to validate you. And the minute that you are able to source that all within yourself.

• 58:29Speaker 01

  And there's still, it will always be there.

• 58:31Alex Cooper?

  Of course.

• 58:32Speaker 01

  But it can't be like the source of it. No.

• 58:35Alex Cooper?

  Okay, back to your album. I love it because you write about like kind of taboo.

• 58:40Speaker 01

  No, totally.

• 58:40Alex Cooper?

  Topics. How have fans reacted to some of these topics?

• 58:46Speaker 01

  I think they're pretty chill, you know, I think um you know, at the end of the day, it's songs, but it is a very relatable thing, I think. And um having a little crush on someone when you're in a relationship is like uh uh uh uh, bad, bad, bad. But I've had that and I think it comes down to again, like just it's not even really about that other person that I was interested in and just it's just about me wanting to feel desired and wanting to feel like, ooh, you know, wow, I'm so hot.

• 59:25Speaker 01

  It wasn't even really about them because I've been reading through our text messages afterwards and I'm like, you're not even funny. Like I'm the funny one. Like if we look at it with sober eyes now, I'm like, why am I just like? You know what I mean?

• 59:41Alex Cooper?

  Right. Do you find that in your in the past? Because I know you're in a relationship of like over five years, which we're going to get to. But in the past, have you found that within yourself where you're like still lightly looking for to feel desired the minute you're in a relationship? Does it, does the spark go?

• 59:57Speaker 01

  No, I think I've always just um, it could come from anywhere. It's not really about the relationship again, because like right now and has been from the start, my boyfriend is. Fantastic. Like, I love him and I can't, I, I, I can't not be honest to him. Cause he also, like, he will just see right through me. And he's so patient and he's so understanding and I think having some sort of crush, like, we obviously spoke about it and he could tell, like, immediately. He's like, "So what's going on?" You know what I mean? Like, "What's up with you?"

• 1:00:40Alex Cooper?

  How did you handle that?

• 1:00:42Speaker 01

  You just have to talk about it. It's actually not that, it doesn't have to be dramatic. And then you just say how you feel and he know, he knows me better almost than I know myself. Cause he also knows that we call, actually saying I'm a woman, but this person that craves disvalidation, we call her the girl. And sometimes the girl pops out and she wants to like roam around town. But the girl is kinda gone now.

• 1:01:10Alex Cooper?

  Girl is gone. Cause you're a woman now, Zara.

• 1:01:13Speaker 01

  Yes, yes.

• 1:01:14Alex Cooper?

  We, and so your boyfriend was like, he was okay. Like, he was like-

• 1:01:18Speaker 01

  I wouldn't say okay. I wouldn't say okay, but-

• 1:01:22Alex Cooper?

  You got through it?

• 1:01:23Speaker 01

  Yeah, like, it wasn't, it wasn't like very dramatic. It was just like, what I'm saying, like, he wasn't okay. He wasn't like, "It's fine by me, baby." But he was just like, "Let's have an honest conversation because that's all you can have."

• 1:01:35Alex Cooper?

  Have you ever been cheated on?

• 1:01:38Speaker 01

  Yes, in previous relationships. Uh, like, my first relationship was just, that was so weird.

• 1:01:45Alex Cooper?

  How did you find out?

• 1:01:46Speaker 01

  We were together for, from like fourteen to eighteen, nineteen.

• 1:01:50Alex Cooper?

  Oh, wow.

• 1:01:51Speaker 01

  And we were together for three months and then he told me like, "I'm sorry, I slept with someone at a party." And then our relationship was kinda just like that for the whole of my teenage, teenage years. Very traumatic. Like, we were both just really bad for each other. But we didn't have any sort of reference point to like what love is supposed to be and that like teenage- Fiery like hormones everywhere.

• 1:02:19Alex Cooper?

  So crazy.

• 1:02:19Speaker 01

  Like you think it's like passion and really it's just trash.

• 1:02:23Alex Cooper?

  Yes.

• 1:02:23Speaker 01

  Like so bad.

• 1:02:24Alex Cooper?

  It's so crazy. At sixteen, you're like, I'm in love.

• 1:02:27Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 1:02:28Alex Cooper?

  This is the love of my life.

• 1:02:29Speaker 01

  Yes, yes, yes.

• 1:02:30Alex Cooper?

  I'll ruin everything for this person.

• 1:02:32Speaker 01

  No, literally.

• 1:02:33Alex Cooper?

  Babe, you're not okay in the head. Like I went through that same thing where you're like, what was I thinking?

• 1:02:38Speaker 01

  What was I thinking?

• 1:02:39Alex Cooper?

  Um, we and how, what initially attracted you to your boyfriend?

• 1:02:45Speaker 01

  So we were friends for a really long time before. It was like a friends to lover situation. It was very cute. It was very cute because I've never really had that. I'm a very like, yo, we were fucking on the first date. Like, let's just get it over with. You know what I mean? And I couldn't really do that with him because

• 1:03:04Speaker 01

  it, it, it just gradually, I mean, I've, he, he's always kind of been in my friend group, like my bigger friend group. Um, and I've always been in a relationship. So when I broke up with my ex, um, we were just like out and about with this big friend group and then we started having like parties at my place and, um, yeah, just like the later God, the more people dropped off and like every day, every week, it would just be like smaller, smaller circle and we would just hang out. And then all of a sudden it was just like us there. And we were like, and he was like, oh no, I missed the last train. I'm like, you can take an Uber bud. You know what I mean?

• 1:03:44Alex Cooper?

  Who made the first move?

• 1:03:45Speaker 01

  It was so, um, in sync. Like he obviously was very interested and he made sure, you know, you just know.

• 1:03:54Alex Cooper?

  Yeah.

• 1:03:54Speaker 01

  You just know, but I've never looked at him in that way until I did. Like I've never, I was never in the relationship, looking at him, thinking like, mm, he's always been beautiful. But he's very friendly and he's very like respectful. So I think when I got, uh, out of my relationship, it was started hanging out. It was just like one day, like, wait, yeah, like wait a minute. And then he stayed over and he stayed over for like a week and we just got like closer and closer every night. And it's such a cute story because really, we probably would have like gone down to business earlier.

• 1:04:32Alex Cooper?

  So you were really waiting. You're like, we need to talk.

• 1:04:35Speaker 01

  I'm like, let's wait. But really I just needed those like.

• 1:04:40Alex Cooper?

  I need a couple of seconds.

• 1:04:41Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 1:04:41Alex Cooper?

  Yeah. I need a second. Oh, my god.

• 1:04:44Speaker 01

  So, um, it was really cute. It just like made it really beautiful. And then when it happened, um, it's just been us since that day. And, uh, and he's my person, like he's my best friend. And we just have such a fun time and he's so smart. And he gets along really, really well with my friends. My sister loves him. My fam, like, that's so important to me. That my, my, especially my sister and like my friends get along with my man. Because I didn't really have that before where I felt like you fit into my world and the opposite. But I think it's so, so, so important.

• 1:05:28Speaker 01

  And now I just know like, now I feel since the girl is kind of gone. Um, I really do feel like it's just like, that's my person for life. Like we're locked in, I feel so secure. And even now when I'm traveling, we don't have to speak every day, all the time, like that shit's lame. Like, why would you have to? Like, I know you're there and I feel so secure. And he knows I'm here and feels so secure. And I think it's because we've had just always really open and honest conversations. And I think before him, I didn't really have that even with myself. Like I would tell him like, no, it's not that, I actually feel like this.

• 1:06:10Speaker 01

  And it's like, but is it really like that? Like, what is it really about? And it's like, let's take it from the start. So, and then, and then we'll talk, and then eventually, eventually it's like, well, actually, it's not like that. And they're like, it's like, you know? So I think he taught me to be honest with myself, which is actually the hardest part.

• 1:06:33Alex Cooper?

  It's so hard because you have to find that person that balances you just right.

• 1:06:37Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 1:06:37Alex Cooper?

  And I feel like also you guys have gone through a lot. I know you posted on TikTok calling out some of the racist comments that people were making towards your boyfriend.

• 1:06:47Speaker 01

  He's like elevated. He's like, he doesn't even live, like in his mindset. He's so grounded, but also at the same time, it's like. He don't care about anything like that.

• 1:07:00Alex Cooper?

  How do you handle that hate though towards someone you love online?

• 1:07:03Speaker 01

  Yeah, I think that's worse. Cause in a way when it's about me, like I can kinda handle it. But he, um, of course it's never fun, but I think he just the way he moves through life, like he's so, he's a very like interesting character. And he just makes me realize too that even the, even how many hours a day I spend online, like at the end of the day, this is real and like he grounds me a lot. And I think, um, I have these really big dreams and aspirations and goals. And not that he don't have that, but his dream is to like have a family.

• 1:07:47Speaker 01

  He's like, my purpose is to be like a dad and be the best dad I can be. And to be like the best friend I can be and the best partner I can be. And everything else is just like cherry on top and like, but his purpose is not to go look for what I'm looking for. So we're very different and I think we balance each other a bit.

• 1:08:10Alex Cooper?

  Yeah.

• 1:08:10Speaker 01

  He grounds me and like I inspire him with like goals and dreams because I'm like, what the fuck do you mean? Like you have to like, what do you mean? You don't wanna take over the world? And he's like, no, I mean, this, this, this is it. Like this is life for me. Like he will like live on a farm, you know, like grow his plants.

• 1:08:29Alex Cooper?

  He's gonna keep you super grounded. And you're gonna be like, let's go.

• 1:08:32Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 1:08:33Alex Cooper?

  Wait.

• 1:08:33Speaker 01

  Helicopter, charge, charge it up. Like, yeah.

• 1:08:37Alex Cooper?

  Um, who's the funny one in the relationship?

• 1:08:40Speaker 01

  Um, it's me.

• 1:08:42Alex Cooper?

  I was gonna say.

• 1:08:43Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 1:08:43Alex Cooper?

  I was like, I will never forget when you posted your foot in a condom, well, your leg actually in a condom.

• 1:08:50Speaker 01

  My whole leg. Yeah.

• 1:08:51Alex Cooper?

  What can, what happened there?

• 1:08:54Speaker 01

  I don't know. I feel like it wasn't that big of a deal.

• 1:08:57Alex Cooper?

  It was amazing.

• 1:08:58Speaker 01

  Seen like so many people do the same thing, but they, cause it was like the Tumblr days, right? And they could only fit like kinda the foot. And then that day we had gone to the youth clinic with like my school, as you do. I don't know if you guys do that here.

• 1:09:14Alex Cooper?

  No, but I love that.

• 1:09:15Speaker 01

  I feel like everyone should. More sexual education with the kids. And then we got a bag, like I'm talking like a bag of condoms. And I was like, I'm not gonna use all of this because I do it unprotected. No, I'm kidding.

• 1:09:30Speaker 01

  No, but uh kidding. So I I had to try it on and it reached all the way up to my knee. And I was like, that's incredible. Like, that's fantastic. So I had to post a picture saying like, if you feel, if you say it doesn't fit, I don't know how big it is, but it's not as big as my leg. Like, let's just be honest.

• 1:09:50Alex Cooper?

  Dude, it was up to your fucking knee.

• 1:09:52Speaker 01

  It really was. And I find that quite impressive. Um, but yeah, and it just blew up. It just blew up.

• 1:09:59Alex Cooper?

  It just was so funny too, because I was like, oh, my gosh, has she ever had a guy be like, I can't do that because like I'm too big. And you're just like,

• 1:10:04Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 1:10:05Alex Cooper?

  You have?

• 1:10:06Speaker 01

  Actually, no, that's a lie.

• 1:10:07Alex Cooper?

  Okay.

• 1:10:07Speaker 01

  But like a lot of my girlfriends have.

• 1:10:09Alex Cooper?

  Have had that.

• 1:10:09Speaker 01

  Yes. Because I've always been like in a relationship and condom or not, my mom, as soon as I got in a relationship, she was like, I am putting you on birth control. Hello, if you're in a relationship at fifteen, whatever, like you do what you want to do.

• 1:10:24Alex Cooper?

  I'm dead.

• 1:10:24Speaker 01

  So, but that was.

• 1:10:26Alex Cooper?

  Okay, so you're the funny one. You're the funny one.

• 1:10:28Speaker 01

  I would say so.

• 1:10:28Alex Cooper?

  I love that.

• 1:10:29Speaker 01

  I don't think if, yeah, he would agree.

• 1:10:31Alex Cooper?

  Okay. Um, I know the song Blue Moon is about him.

• 1:10:33Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 1:10:34Alex Cooper?

  How did you first show that song to him?

• 1:10:36Speaker 01

  We were actually in Jamaica together, writing it. And um, or I was with my writing crew and he was there. So uh, he was just kind of in the studio as we were writing it.

• 1:10:48Alex Cooper?

  Have you written other songs about him?

• 1:10:51Speaker 01

  Yes. Yeah, I have. It's um, it's so fun, honestly, because I don't really write a lot about, I don't know if I, I don't make like a conscious decision about not writing specifically only about like romantic love, but I think a lot of my songs are about other things as well, you know, like Crush or Girl's Girl, which is about love, but like in a different perspective, even Midnight Sun, that's like a good song about my, my country house. And I was just like, I would need to write a song about what it feels like on a summer's day in the countryside. But the love songs, um, yeah, he's gotten a few of those and he'll get some more.

• 1:11:33Alex Cooper?

  I feel like obviously your album was such a success. It's been such a success and now we have the deluxe album coming out. What can you tell us about it?

• 1:11:45Speaker 01

  I'm so excited about this. I'm so excited.

• 1:11:48Alex Cooper?

  We are too.

• 1:11:50Speaker 01

  It's gonna be a fantastic, fantastic, I mean, just for me, I'm just like, I can't believe this is happening because I've always said I wanted to do collabs with girls. And it's so many girls on this. So many girls.

• 1:12:03Alex Cooper?

  Can you give us any hints?

• 1:12:06Speaker 01

  Uh, hmm.

• 1:12:11Speaker 01

  What could be a hint?

• 1:12:15Speaker 01

  Uh, uh.

• 1:12:20Speaker 01

  Did you get that?

• 1:12:21Alex Cooper?

  You got that. I got that. We'll zoom in. Don't worry. Perfect. Thank you. Internet, do your thing. Um, can you tell us about any of the new songs?

• 1:12:30Speaker 01

  Yeah, I mean, they are just reproduced and like reworked. A lot of them are really like amazing new songs. It's like a new way of listening to the album. And um, it's really fun. I was super inspired by Charli XCX, how she did her album. And I'm like, wait, that's so fun, cuz I always think that there's so many way, even like when producing the original song that gets to be put out to the world. Usually, there's just so many

• 1:13:04Speaker 01

  versions of it before that never really gets to see the light of day, or there's so many, there's so many ways you can take a production where um,

• 1:13:15Speaker 01

  like,

• 1:13:17Speaker 01

  I don't know, like, it's just so fun to give it another life. Um, and I'm so, I'm just so excited. Like, some of these people on it, I just can't believe it. That's really where I felt like, wow, like, I'm a star, like, I'm like, wow, you want it to be on my song? It's really incredible.

• 1:13:36Alex Cooper?

  I'm so happy for you. Can you share what do you think is your favorite?

• 1:13:44Speaker 01

  One of my favorites is Blue Moon. It's so nice. It's so nice.

• 1:13:50Alex Cooper?

  I'm so excited for you and so happy for you and just like getting to know you today was so lovely. I feel like we had such, I feel like I've gotten to know you from, yes, that young girl that was hungry and wanted it. But then really, I feel like this was about the evolution of you as a woman and coming into your own. And yes, you've popped off and so many people are talking about you now, but like you've been working at this and it's so well deserved. And you've put the work in, you've put the time in and it seems in a beautiful way, like you're still being so true to yourself. And that to me is what is going to like make you continue to stand out to people because it feels really authentic.

• 1:14:30Speaker 01

  It's the only way that could work in a way like it's just what, it's just what has to be it.

• 1:14:37Alex Cooper?

  It has to be it and it is, and that's what it is. And so I'm so excited for everyone to listen to this deluxe album. I'm so happy that we finally got to meet.

• 1:14:45Speaker 01

  Me too. This is really big for me. Like this is like a really big deal for me.

• 1:14:49Alex Cooper?

  Well, I'm so.

• 1:14:50Speaker 01

  So thank you for having me.

• 1:14:51Alex Cooper?

  I am so happy we did this.

• 1:14:52Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 1:14:55Alex Cooper?

  Thank you for coming, Call Her Daddy.

• 1:15:12Alex Cooper?

  Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Ross. Fall is about finding pieces you love, making them your own and creating looks and spaces just right for the season. Whether you're updating a small apartment or a spacious home, drawn to timeless neutrals or bold seasonal touches. Ross makes it easy to imagine what's next and bring your fall vision to life. Ross makes fashion accessible to all with up to 20 to 60% off other retailers prices on the brands you love. Find your nearest Ross at rossstores.com. Call Her Daddy is brought to you by Klavio. So Klavio says it's your brand's best friend. Both claim, but here's the thing. Klaviyo knows your brand, your tone, your customers,

• 1:15:56Alex Cooper?

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• 1:16:38Alex Cooper?

  when someone gives you a gift that is actually meaningful, you appreciate it so much more. And that's what I do love about Pandora. They have so many pieces that you can really just make your own, from festive charms to personalized engravings and jewelry that can represent the people and the moments that mean the most to you. So whether you're shopping for your partner, or your mom, your best friend, you can find something that really is specific to them. Maybe it's a charm that makes you think of the trip that you guys took together once, or maybe it's an engraving for your anniversary, or just a piece that feels like them the second you see it. Pandora makes it so easy to give a gift that feels thoughtful and personal, and makes every holiday moment even more

• 1:17:22Alex Cooper?

  meaningful and special. Because at the end of the day, the best gifts aren't just about the piece itself, but it's the intention and the story behind them. Say more this holiday season with Pandora. Shop now at pandora.net or visit your closest Pandora store.