Laufey Transforms Personal Diary into Musical Masterpiece with ‘A Matter of Time’
A Rising Star’s Continued Ascent
Icelandic-Chinese artist Laufey has solidified her position in the music industry with her third album ‘A Matter of Time’ (via Vingolf Recordings/AWAL), following her Grammy Award-winning collection ‘Bewitched’. Her remarkable journey includes sold-out performances at prestigious venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Radio City Music Hall, and London’s Royal Albert Hall, as well as collaborations with renowned orchestras such as the LA Phil and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Evolution of Sound and Style
The new album represents a significant artistic evolution, moving beyond her earlier focus on jazz preservation to explore more vulnerable and emotionally expressive territory. Laufey collaborated with longtime producer Spencer Stewart and Aaron Dessner of The National to create a sound that balances emotional depth with broader musical influences. The album tackles personal themes including friendship breakups, apprehension about love, and introspection, with Laufey describing it as an opportunity to explore more complex and imperfect aspects of herself.
Impact and Innovation
Critics and industry experts have noted Laufey’s significant role in revitalizing jazz for a new generation. Music journalists have dubbed her a “TikTok jazz ambassador,” while organizations like Billboard and National Public Radio credit her with creating a blueprint for jazz’s success in today’s music industry, helping push the genre back into the mainstream scene.
Looking Forward
Laufey’s influence extends beyond her music, as evidenced by the establishment of The Laufey Foundation, which supports young musicians with resources to reach their full potential, especially through youth orchestras. Her 2025 schedule includes numerous concerts and festival appearances across North and South America, featuring special collaborations with symphony orchestras. Her impact is further demonstrated by her status as Iceland’s most-streamed artist worldwide, with her song ‘From The Start’ holding the title of the most streamed jazz song in 2023 and maintaining impressive streaming numbers of 900K daily streams on Spotify as of July 2025.
