This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Fainite Auguste. Find her on Instagram at @ceilingdancing. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
After winning Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, there’s no doubt that Laufey is on her way to being a focal point in the music world. She’s introduced Gen Z to the Jazz Genre, me included.
Who is Laufey?
Laufey, (pronounced lay-vay) is a classically trained singer-songwriter from Iceland. She’s released songs with symphonies like the Icelandic Symphony; and has also performed in orchestras, playing the cello. Laufey perfectly encapsulates yearning for someone and her music’s subtle descriptions of youth. The production puts the listener in the same mindset as Laufey; the irregular beats or smooth instruments in the background make the listener feel as in love or heartbroken as she is. It was inevitable that she would go viral on TikTok.
I first heard Laufey’s music in passing, in my dorm kitchen as my roommate played the song “Let You Break My Heart Again.” I was intrigued as I had never heard a song so magical. It sounded like an old Disney Princess movie but a little more grown-up. I sat down with my roommate in silence and listened until the song was over.
Typical of Me EP
Laufey has been officially releasing music since 2020 but in the form of singles, and since then people have been asking is Laufey jazz or pop? The answer is both, she has the traditional jazz instruments in her music like saxophone, bass, and flute. But Laufey adds a pop twist to her songs, the lyrics are something that only a young girl like Laufey can capture. She independently released Typical of Me in 2021. There are seven songs on the EP; Street by Street, Mongolia, Like the Movies, I Wish You Love, James, Somebody New, and Best Friend.
The EP is a nice mixture of love and heartbreak songs. The song, James recounts the story of Laufey falling for a guy who turns out to be a self-absorbed jerk. Like everyone else I found myself romanticizing someone, and erasing their faults. Magnolia falls in the same category of songs like Jolene, Heather, and Lacy. It is about a girl whom Laufey envies because she’s effortlessly beautiful, talented, more experienced, and graceful. As a young person, it is incredibly easy to fall into the trap of hating someone you hardly know.
Everything I know About Love
Everything I Know About Love is a sophisticated build-up from the EP. The debut album contains songs built for relistening. You’ve probably heard them on TikTok; Falling Behind, Slow Down, and Dear Soulmate. The album has so many wonderful moments, describing different forms of love and experiences. In Slow Down, Laufey discusses the terrifying rush one feels entering adulthood. In your 20s, it hits you that adulthood is what you wanted, but it’s not as easy as you thought.
Another beautiful detail in the album is Laufey’s ability to lose herself in a daydream. Dear Soulmate, is a perfect example of this and that is why it holds a special place in my heart. It’s composed of several questions about a future soulmate; like where they live, if they have brown eyes or siblings, and where and when will they meet. Before I met my partner, I daydreamt about these things too. I know you have too; and that’s why her songs work so well. The relatability in someone’s work is how they build their fandom.
Bewitched
The latest Laufey album is Bewitched, it sounds and feels much more grown-up than her past work. The songs are slower, and gut-wrenching in this album, and her voice has matured. The song Promise confesses to the audience that Laufey broke her promise of no contact with the guy she was previously in a relationship with. The lyrics, “It hurts to be something. it’s worst to be nothing with you,” haunt me. However; it is a difficult truth that Laufey has the guts to put into words.
She ends the album on a lighter note with the title track Bewitched, it’s the Disney princess kind of song that made me fall in love with Laufey’s music in the first place. The first 15 seconds of tell you everything you need to know; she is madly in love. But the lyrics tell you the story of two people in London in their own bubble.
In a few years Laufey will be a household name, and receiving the recognition that she deserves. Her first Grammy is a step in the right direction.
Show Your Laufey Love
As a loyal fan of Laufey, you can turn your love for music and admiration for Laufey’s talent into a bright spot in your daily life. Customizing an enamel pin of her is a good choice.
The pins can be designed with some elements that match Laufey’s style, such as a simplified combination of guitar and microphone, and then add personalized text or lyrics to express your love. Every time you see these custom enamel pins, it reminds you to be like Laufey—bravely express yourself, pursue your dreams, and not be bound by the eyes of the outside world.
Have you listened to Laufey? What’s you favorite song? Is Laufey jazz or pop? Let us know!
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