Loreen returns with “WILDFIRE”, a record that feels less like a continuation and more like a carefully constructed rebirth. Nearly a decade on from her previous studio album, the Swedish singer-songwriter channels the momentum of her recent success into a project that leans fully into atmosphere, emotion, and intention—resulting in a body of work that feels both expansive and deeply introspective. This acts as the follow-up to her fifth single release, from the said album, titled “Coming Close”.
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From the outset, “WILDFIRE” establishes itself as “a fully connected listening experience where each track feels intentionally placed within a wider narrative. There is a strong sense of flow throughout the album, with each song feeding into the next, creating an almost cinematic journey. The production leans heavily into layered electronic textures, balancing pulsing dance elements with softer, more ambient moments. This duality allows Loreen’s vocals to remain front and centre, acting as both the emotional anchor and the guiding force across the record.
What stands out most is the album’s commitment to mood and storytelling. There is a recurring sense of searching—of questioning identity, connection, and purpose—which gives the project a reflective edge. At the same time, there is an undercurrent of resilience woven throughout, with several tracks leaning into themes of empowerment and self-preservation. The title “Wildfire” itself becomes a fitting metaphor, suggesting both destruction and renewal, chaos and clarity.
This thematic depth is further reinforced by an extensive and varied songwriting team, with Loreen—credited under her full name Lorine Talhaoui—working alongside a wide range of collaborators.
That list includes Kyle Shearer, Nate Campany, Jesse St. John, Jesse Shatkin, Calum Landau, Sia, Charlie Martin, Joe Housley, Andrew Jackson, Rami Yacoub, Kia Sang, Karl Ivert, Dag Lundberg, Maia Wright, Tom Hollings, Sam Brennan, Grace Barker, Bill Maybury, Oliver Petehof, Conor Blake, Boy Matthews, Thomas G:son, Jimmy Jansson, Poppy Baskcomb, Peter Boström, Jimmy Thörnfeldt, Cazzi Opeia, Stephen Kozmeniuk, Mikky Ekko, Kristin Carpenter, Max Grahn, Tom Barnes, Pete Kelleher, Ben Kohn and Casey Smith. This breadth of voices contributes to the album’s layered perspective, allowing its themes to be explored from multiple angles while maintaining a cohesive emotional core.
Vocally, Loreen delivers a performance that is both controlled and expressive. She moves effortlessly between restrained, intimate moments and more powerful, soaring sections, often within the same track. This dynamic approach enhances the emotional weight of the album, allowing the listener to feel the shifts in tone rather than simply hear them. Her voice is not just a vehicle for the lyrics—it becomes part of the production, blending into the sonic landscape while still maintaining its distinct presence.
The inclusion of previously released material helps to bridge the different phases of this era. Tracks like Eurovision 2023 winning song “Tattoo” and the follow-up “Is It Love” sit comfortably within the wider narrative of the album, reinforcing its themes while also grounding it in familiar territory. Rather than feeling out of place, they contribute to the sense that “WILDFIRE” has been a long time in the making—a project shaped by both past success and present evolution.
Production-wise, the album benefits from a polished yet immersive sound, shaped by an extensive list of contributors including Myles Avery, Calum Landau, Peter Boström, Fat Max Gsus, Thomas G:son, Joe Housley, Jimmy Jansson, Koz, Charlie Martin, Oliver Petehof, Jesse Shatkin, Jon Shave, Kyle Shearer, TMS and Rami Yacoub. There is a clear attention to detail in how each element is layered, from the subtle instrumental flourishes to the more prominent electronic builds. At times, the music leans into a more experimental, almost ethereal space, while at others it embraces a fuller, more immediate pop sensibility. This balance keeps the album engaging from start to finish, offering variety without sacrificing cohesion.
Perhaps most compelling is how “WILDFIRE” positions itself within Loreen’s wider discography. It does not attempt to replicate the success of her past work, nor does it completely abandon it. Instead, it builds upon it—expanding her sonic palette while maintaining the emotional intensity that has become a defining feature of her artistry. The result is an album that feels both familiar and forward-thinking.
The “WILDFIRE” album begins with “Where Do We Go From Here”, where piano chords are heard from the outset, gently guiding the listener into the collection. The powerful yet delicate ballad is cinematic in nature and fully showcases Loreen’s effortless ability to draw listeners into her emotional world, one that feels rich with both heart and intensity. What unfolds feels like a piece of art in itself, as she dives deep into the song’s core and makes every word resonate, setting the tone for an album that embraces artistry as a defining signature.
An addictive post-chorus vocal moment—built around non-lexical sounds—introduces subtle club elements, creating a unique pop drop that highlights the track’s production. There are faint echoes of Rita Ora’s “Anywhere” and INNA’s “Heaven” in its structure, while still maintaining its own identity. Lyrically, the song leans into themes of uncertainty and self-discovery, questioning the future while searching for freedom, using imagery of oceans and mountains to convey emotional distance and hope. Altogether, it carries a subtle ‘90s Alanis Morissette influence, especially with her vocals, reimagined through a modern, atmospheric lens.
“Feels Like Heaven” follows, opening with dark, club-driven production that echoes the sonic world established by Loreen on 2024 tracks like “Tattoo” and “Is It Love”, which appear later in the album. The first verse arrives with a softer vocal delivery, immediately drawing attention with the line “Everyone I’ve ever loved, I hurt, I hurt, I hurt,” setting an emotionally vulnerable tone from the outset.
As the track unfolds, it transitions into a darker dance-pop soundscape, while still retaining the emotional weight of a power ballad. The chorus, in particular, stands out for its richness and intensity, allowing Loreen’s vocals to fully expand and elevate the track’s impact. Lyrically, the song captures a journey from pain to healing, following this singer-songwriter’s movement through past hurt and ultimately finding a sense of release in a love that feels almost transcendent.
The third track, “Weapons”, flips the script, opening with Loreen’s flawless falsetto before building into a rhythm-driven arrangement. A prominent drum pattern pushes the song forward, gradually expanding into an epic dance-pop production. Around the 30-second mark, an addictive drop hook emerges beneath the chorus, adding momentum and giving the track a distinct edge.
From start to finish, the track is intricate, with layered vocals, inventive instrumentation, and bold delivery, marking it as one of the album’s most unique moments. The song tells the story of someone who feels lost and disconnected, with Loreen encouraging them to recognise their inner strength—referring to them as a “weapon” and urging them to embrace even the most painful emotions as a source of power.
Next up is “Is It Love”, the single that followed “Tattoo” and saw Loreen deliver an equally cinematic visual set against a desert backdrop. Unsurprisingly, the track continues that 2023 winning Eurovision song’s expansive, cinematic tone, making it a natural successor within this era. Vocally assured and emotionally driven, “Is It Love” blends rhythmic guitar-led moments with a fuller pop-dance production, as Loreen questions her partner’s intentions and whether the relationship is truly built on love. We’ve previously covered both the “Is It Love” single and its official music video in more detail in separate features.
Track five, “Can’t Pull Me Down”, builds on the dance-driven momentum left by “Is It Love”, pairing Loreen’s deeply emotive vocals with a progressive production style. The verses pull things back into a more hypnotic space, while the pre-chorus steadily builds rhythmic intensity before giving way to a deep, club-ready chorus. There’s a subtle ’00s R&B influence woven into its pop-leaning structure, all underpinned by dark, pulsating house beats that drive the track forward.
The result carries an anthemic quality, blending house and R&B textures into something both powerful and immersive. At its core, the track leans into themes of confidence and resilience, with Loreen asserting her strength—positioning herself as unstoppable, on fire, and ultimately unshaken by outside forces.
“Melt” follows, opening with a heartfelt intro that immediately showcases Loreen’s artistry. Whispered vocals glide into falsetto over a subtle backing track, allowing her to set the tone and establish the rhythm with just her voice, bringing her exceptional vocal control to the forefront from the outset. As the track progresses, the production gradually builds while retaining a sense of restraint, delivering a laid-back dance-pop feel that quietly intensifies.
That sense of anticipation carries through to the first post-chorus, where pounding house beats finally break through, giving the drop a satisfying release. The track maintains its dance-pop core throughout, matching the album’s addictive pull. At its centre, the song explores a powerful physical connection, with references to “Nirvana” and the repeated image of her body melting into another, reinforcing its sense of intimacy and immersion.
The title track, “Wildfire”, opens with dark techno elements and a fragmented, heavily layered vocal hook, where Loreen repeats and overlaps the phrase “I drive fast” in a way that feels almost non-lexical, immediately setting a moody tone. She then moves into a first verse driven by expansive, expressive vocals, bringing a heartfelt pop energy that leans into a subtle symphonic quality, while the production remains stripped back and minimal. Emotion runs deep from the outset, with Loreen delivering each line with intensity and conviction.
As the track progresses, she navigates a wide vocal range, effortlessly shifting into falsetto while contrasting it with deeper, darker tones in the chorus. The hook returns in the post-chorus, layering over the beat to reinforce its distinctive rhythm. The song centres on intense passion, inviting a partner to “dance the pain away” like a wildfire, with the recurring “I drive fast” motif threading through the track and amplifying its sense of urgency.
The eighth track, “Coming Close”, slows the pace of the album, allowing Loreen’s vocals to take centre stage within a cinematic pop ballad that carries a distinct film soundtrack quality. The production subtly echoes the pulse-driven energy of “Sandstorm” by Darude, while Loreen stretches and reshapes her lyrics through expressive vocal runs and sustained notes, building tension throughout. That tension leads into a restrained, rhythmic drop that aligns with the closing line of the chorus, offering a controlled yet impactful release. The track explores the feeling of a presence drawing nearer through moments of chaos and solitude, as Loreen reflects on connection, suggesting she is not alone and that this bond is mirrored within the natural world.
The next track, “Set Me Free”, carries echoes of “Tattoo”, making it a fitting lead-in to the Eurovision Song Contest 2023-winning single. That familiar energy is reworked into a more upbeat, pop-leaning direction, with Loreen aligning her vocal runs seamlessly with the track’s rhythm. This builds into a powerful, dance-driven chorus that feels primed for club remixes and DJ sets alike.
There’s a clear sense of catharsis woven throughout, as Loreen leans fully into the chorus with an intensity that mirrors the song’s core theme of liberation. Both addictive and empowering, it’s the kind of track that demands to be sung at full volume.. The lyrics centre on freedom and escape, using imagery of flight—lost wings rediscovered and the wind calling—as symbols of breaking free.
The tenth track, “Tattoo”, stands as one of the album’s defining moments, showcasing Loreen at her most emotionally compelling. Cinematic in scope and rich in feeling, the track blends strength and vulnerability, driven by a commanding vocal performance that anchors its intensity. Its wider recognition, including its win at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, reflects just how strongly it resonated with audiences. Epic and enduring, “Tattoo” continues to land with striking impact. At its core, the song explores a painful yet temporary goodbye, with Loreen expressing a love that feels permanent—likened to a tattoo—while holding onto the belief that distance and hardship can be overcome in time.
The album’s only collaboration arrives with “Lose The Light”, which sees Loreen team up with American R&B artist 6LACK. Following another emotionally charged moment, the track opens with prominent piano chords, immediately setting a reflective tone while Loreen’s vocals take centre stage from the first verse, delivered with striking control and depth. R&B influences are woven throughout, supported by a restrained, cinematic production that allows the performance to breathe.
6LACK enters on the second verse, his smooth delivery complementing Loreen’s tone while adding a fresh dynamic to the album. The stripped-back arrangement keeps the focus on both artists, and when their voices come together in harmony, the track builds into a powerful emotional peak. Lyrically, the song explores an intense, passionate love, with imagery of protecting the “fire” and “light” in a partner’s eyes, reinforcing its sense of devotion and hope.
“Kiss The Sky”, the twelfth track on the album, bursts forward from the subtle pulse of its predecessor and expands it into a vibrant, rhythm-driven pop moment from the outset. A dynamic, progressive production unfolds as Loreen showcases her vocal range with confidence and precision, moving effortlessly between restraint and power. There’s a soulful edge woven into the chorus, while a distinct trance-inspired energy—long embedded within European EDM—runs throughout, paired with an alternative-pop sensibility that highlights her versatility. The song captures a moment of alignment within chaos, with the repeated refrain “kiss the sky” acting as a call to seize the moment and fully embrace the night.
The album closes with “True Love”, a cinematic pop ballad that allows Loreen to deliver one of her most emotionally resonant performances. Soulful and heartfelt, her vocals carry the weight of the song, building towards a powerful chorus that lands with striking intensity and honesty. There’s a clear sense of finality in its delivery, giving the album a fitting and impactful conclusion. As the song unfolds, sweeping string arrangements gradually emerge, elevating the production and guiding it towards a memorable close. The song unfolds as a reflection on past joy and pain, expressing unwavering devotion while questioning whether the depth of feeling shared is, ultimately, true love.
Taken as a whole, “WILDFIRE” showcases Loreen’s versatility and mastery over her craft. From the cinematic introspection of “Where Do We Go From Here” to the euphoric dance moments of “Set Me Free” and “Kiss The Sky”, every track feels intentional, carefully produced, and emotionally charged. The album also creates a subtle narrative arc: the questioning vulnerability of “Is It Love” finds a reflective counterpart in the closing “True Love”, bookending the journey with emotion and introspection while highlighting Loreen’s growth and storytelling prowess. Across twelve tracks, “WILDFIRE” moves seamlessly between introspection, passion, and energy, offering both breadth and cohesion.
By the time “WILDFIRE” reaches its conclusion, it leaves a clear impression of an artist confidently in control of her creative vision. The album avoids predictable hits or formulaic structures, instead prioritising layered production, cohesive storytelling, and emotional resonance—the hallmarks of Loreen’s artistry across more than a decade in the music industry. In doing so, she delivers a project that rewards attentive listening, inviting fans to absorb its intricacies, revisit its highlights, and connect with it on a personal level over time.
Ultimately, “WILDFIRE” stands as a powerful and deliberate statement, showcasing Loreen’s ability to evolve while remaining fully true to the essence of her artistry. The album balances introspection, energy, and emotion, leaving listeners with a journey that is both memorable and deeply resonant.
“WILDFIRE”, by Loreen, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via Human Creation, Polydor, and Universal Music France.
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