Laufey (pronounced “Lay-vay”) is a 25-year-old Icelandic-Chinese jazz pop artist who has been gaining traction in recent years.
Her classical-inspired sound mixed with jazzy chords has won over the hearts of many Generation Z teenagers and adults alike. She has made one of the most popular jazz debuts in recent times, with notable tracks like ‘From The Start’ and ‘Promise’ on her top-tier discography. This artist’s magical music has brought back a genre that was first popularized over 100 years ago.
For those wondering how she became popular, what her story is, and why everyone has been smitten with her music lately, here’s the 411!
Laufey’s Rise to Fame
Laufey grew up in a household filled with music, with her grandparents and her mother being musicians themselves. She was exposed to classical music as a child, and branched out into jazz through her father. Laufey and her twin sister, Junia, both began to play instruments such as the piano, cello, and violin from a young age.
She was performing with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra at the young age of 15, charming the audience with her cello solos. She finished in 2nd place on Iceland’s Got Talent.
The singer studied music and singing at the Reykjavik College of Music, and then at the Berklee College of Music. Berklee closed their campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was during this dark time that Laufey released her first song. ‘Street by Street’ rose higher and higher on Icelandic music charts, marking the beginning of the upwards trajectory in her career. Her smoky voice paired with lyrics about heartbreak went viral.
With the release of her album ‘Bewitched’, she was given the title of the biggest jazz debut on Spotify. Today, Laufey’s albums have billions of streams and even a Grammy nomination! She has collaborated with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and continues to amass more fans with her melodious voice.
Why GenZ Are Falling In Love With Her– And Rightfully So
Laufey’s music has a tendency to get stuck in your head. Her versatile tracks range from catchy jazz pop tunes to heartfelt ballads, exploring themes like love, longing, and friendship. The singer’s unique voice paired with jazzy melodies and classical-inspired instrumentals are pleasing to the ears of many GenZ.
Along with this, the raw relatability in her lyrics in draws in many youth. Songs like ‘Letter To My 13 Year Old Self’ depict the musician reassuring her younger self. She sings about what she went through as a teenager and encourages her 13-year-old self to keep pursuing her dreams.
Her aesthetics and the emotion in each of her songs appeal to her younger audiences. The young musician’s albums paint pictures of romance and young adulthood, with magical undertones.
“while she’s still mining the vein of young love, her lyrics have a knowing, wry wisdom to them, as when she sings, “It hurts to be something / It’s worse to be nothing with you.” Bottom line is, everything Laufey touches bears the thumbprint of authenticity, which is exceedingly rare to find. A true gift. ” – Cheston knapp, berklee college of music
Additionally, Laufey’s sound is refreshing in a generation focused hip-hop, rap, and other fast-paced music. People know Generation Z for their unexpected love for music and fashion from the past, meaning they like anything that makes them feel nostalgic!
Classical composers like Chopin influence this artist’s modern jazz tunes, which cater to the interests of the recent generation. As a result, her music successfully introduces youth to jazz, despite the fact that many dislike the genre for being ‘outdated’.
An Icon For Upcoming Modern Jazz Artists
Laufey’s easily-approachable music is introducing many youth all over the world to the wonders of jazz. Her success allows for the genre to be revived in this century, with her songs allowing for modern jazz-pop music to gain traction.
Jazz music began its dominance in the early 1920s, but began to lose popularity 40 years later in the 1960s. Due to modern jazz artists like Laufey, musicians are predicting the genre to reappear in trends.
Laufey’s goal is to make jazz music ‘cool’ again (her words, not mine). Taking a look at the billions of streams she has on Spotify and the multitudinous amount of fans she has gained, she’s doing a great job so far! Fans are excited to be a part of her journey, and are predicting her popularity to only rise from here.
My personal favourites from her include “Let You Break My Heart Again”, “While You Were Sleeping”, “Valentine”, and “Bewitched.” For those who enjoy melodious, whimsical, and nostalgic music, Laufey is the artist for you!