Laufey: Singing Nostalgia to The Younger Generation
“We were all looking for an escape,” Laufey said, talking about her nostalgic music
Laufey is a young musician who breathes fresh air into the global music scene. Jazz, often perceived as complex, and classical music, sometimes seen as mere lullabies, are beautifully and familiarly packaged by her, both through her lyrical writing and melodic tunes.
At 24, she revives vintage music genres for a younger generation. The phrase “Live, Laugh, Laufey” encapsulates her artistry. Her velvety, rich vocals, combined with her skill on the cello and piano, evoke a unique sense of nostalgia.
Every song she performs comes to life, making listeners giggle and laugh with the relatable lyrics.
The Early Journey of Laufey’s Musical Career
In 2020, Laufey released her first single, ‘Street by Street,’ which was later included in her debut EP, Typical of Me (2021).
This EP combines a range of emotions and storytelling through evocative yet reflective melodies, rich arrangements, and unique harmonies, consisting some familiar title such as ‘Magnolia’, ‘I Wish You Love’, and ‘Best Friend’.
My personal favorite is ‘Like the Movies,’ which encapsulates Laufey’s experience as a hopeless romantic who is unlucky in love.
This song is honest and warm, with lyrics that express how falling in love like in the movies, might be hard to find in real life. It’s one of those songs I would play on a bright morning.
Laufey’s Rise to Fame
After the release of her first single ‘Street by Street’ in April 2020, Laufey noticed that people started listening to her music on various streaming platforms.
Within a month of its release, the single reached 100,000 streams. Her success coincided with the rising popularity of TikTok, which became the most downloaded app in 2020.
Laufey encourages the younger generation to fall in love with jazz and classical music, partly through the songs she writes — songs that fans liken to the soundtracks of Studio Ghibli or Disney films.
This Icelandic-Chinese female musician recorded her first song on her college campus at Berklee in the winter of 2020, when the world was shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I was like, if I don’t record this song today, I’m never gonna record it. I don’t know when I’m coming back to campus,” she told TODAY.
Laufey’s Second Album: A Showcase of Her Musical Maturity
Three years after releasing her first song, Laufey released her second album titled Bewitched.
The album broke the all-time record for the biggest debut for a jazz album on Spotify, marking an important milestone in Laufey’s musical journey and demonstrating her prowess as an artist.
She showcases a mature songwriting style and high-quality production in her new work, delving deeper into her jazz and classical roots while maintaining an organic sound — a creative process she describes as “so fun.”
Recording sessions for Bewitched took place in Los Angeles and London, featuring symphony orchestras, jazz trios, and intimate solo performances.
These meticulously crafted songs tell captivating stories and showcase Laufey’s fluid musical prowess.
Bringing Jazz Music to Captivate Various Generations
Laufey has the potential to captivate listeners of all ages. Heartbroken teenagers can scream her songs in the car, elderly people can listen while reminiscing about Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, and music lovers can enjoy the musicality she brings.
Indeed, Laufey actively encourages a wide following, expressing in several interviews her dream of repopularizing jazz and classical music.
She even released the sheet music for her latest album before it was released, uploading a crash course in reading music on YouTube.
In her interview with TODAY, Laufey has a theory about why her songs resonate with the younger generation: they successfully transport listeners to a bygone era, perfect for a generation seeking escapism from the real world.
Especially when her music became widely heard during the pandemic, which closed off opportunities for Gen Z to explore the world.
“This old, cinematic, jazzy sound or the timeless, classical sound is something that feels like escapism, you know? We were all looking for an escape,” she said.
Gen Z’s obsession with nostalgia is also reflected in various other aspects, such as the “Coastal Grandmother” aesthetic on TikTok, reminiscent of Nancy Meyers’ romantic comedies, or the comeback of analog technology like film cameras, vinyl records, and cassette tapes.
Her music, which honors the past, fits perfectly with this trend. “Gen Z actually has a taste for this kind of music — and many people don’t even realize it,” Laufey said.
Music is a universal language. Equal access, openness, and non-judgmental attitudes are essential.
For Laufey, all of this is very significant. Therefore, she strives to bring jazz and classical music to a broad audience, not just a select few.
If you enjoy romanticizing life, you should at least listen to one of Laufey’s songs and make it the soundtrack of your day. Here, I compile Laufey’s discography into one playlist to you listen to.
