Loreen Wildfire

Tracks: Where Do We Go From Here; Feels Like Heaven; Weapons; Is It Love: Can't Pull Me Down; Melt; Wildfire; Coming Close; Set Me Free; Tattoo; Lose That Light (ft. 6lack); Kiss The Sky; True Love

Label: Polydor


2012 was a phenomenal year for Loreen. Having become known in Sweden after appearing on Idol 2004, she had nearly won the right to represent Sweden in 2011. However, a year later she was not only crowned the winner of Melodifestivalen but also saw her Eurovision-winning anthem, Euphoria, soar up the charts around the world. While her debut album, Heal, enjoyed some success internationally, it's successor, Ride, failed to achieve the same acclaim. With the album track, Statements, failing to make the final of Melodifestivalen in 2017, the album only achieved modest success on her home turf and received a very muted response in other territories.

Her fortunes altered when 2023 saw her return to Melodifestivalen with Tattoo. After a very heated discussion between Eurovision fans in the build-up to the contest, Loreen managed to soar to the podium past Finland's Käärijä. The win saw her catapulted once again into the hearts of the audiences around the world. However, this time around Loreen was in no rush to release material, instead focusing on singles to solidify her sound and numerous tours and festival appearances to build her relationship with her fans.

Fast forward three years and she finally delivers the album her fans have been awaiting. While five of the interim singles have failed to make the album, Loreen arrives back in the album sphere with a collection of 13 songs, with only 5 as previous singles – which is far more enticing for fans than a Greatest Hits compilation of recent releases.

And more importantly, the wait is very much worth the while. Loreen could have been seen by some as a one-trick pony, given the echoes Tattoo has of Euphoria. Yet the album truly delivers on all levels. The performance is hypnotising and powerfully moving. Loreen's vocals are at the centre of the piece, evoking emotions.

Wildfire succeeds in showing that Loreen is much more than a dancefloor powerhouse. It shines due to its intimacy as much as it's a floor filler.