Ever thought going from singing competitions to winning a Grammy in a matter of years was possible? Well, meet singer and musician Laufey who has stepped into the limelight following her Grammy win for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album earlier this year. Having only released her debut single in 2020, her Grammy win may be considered premature taking into account that well-established singers such as Katy Perry have not won the acclaimed award, but her story tells one of dedication and not following the crowd.
Laufey (pronounced lay-vay) has been making TikTok videos with her twin sister Junia, using the platform to share her music. With 12 million monthly listeners on Spotify, her audience is steadily growing over time. Despite her seemingly sudden rise to prominence, Laufey’s companionship with music dates back to early childhood.
Born in Reykjavik, Iceland to a Chinese mother and Icelandic father, she was raised with classical music. Her mother’s role as a violinist in a local symphony exposed her to musicality early on, influencing her deep understanding of music. Remarkably, she had learnt how to play the piano by the age of four.
Adding another string to the long line before her, Laufey started playing cello at eight years old and was soon attending a cello band camp in Beijing. As the years progressed, she found herself performing with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and showcasing her talents as a cello soloist. She continued establishing herself by entering Ísland Got Talent – Iceland’s version of Britain’s Got Talent- where she finished as a finalist. The following year she participated in The Voice Iceland and left the show as a semi-finalist and the youngest competitor on the show. These experiences shaped Laufey’s reputation as a gifted singer, a reputation that she solidified through her studies at Berkley.
In 2020, she released her debut single ‘Street by Street’ which was a success in Iceland and started to create recognition in the US and UK. She stated that ‘as a musician, [her] goal is to bring jazz and classical music to [her] generation through a more accessible road’ which she accomplishes by releasing music that uses traditional jazz but is paired with modern lyrics that relate to current generations. In her interview with Vogue, Laufey opened up about her self-consciousness regarding her uniquely deep voice, which distinguishes her from other singers. However, far from being a hindrance, her unique voice complements the playful sounds of her jazz-inspired music and is refreshing for her listeners.
Since then, she has joined classical forces with the London Philharmonic Orchestra to release the magical Let You Break My Heart Again which sounds like it danced out of a Disney film. In 2022, she made her first appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! where she performed her song ‘Like the Movies’, marking her United States network television debut. That summer, she released her debut album ‘Everything I Know About Love’ which charted at number one on Billboard’s Alternative New Artist Album chart.
In September last year, Laufey released her second album ‘Bewitched’ which was received with high praise. It was for this album that she was awarded her first nomination and Grammy win! And I’m sure this is just the beginning of a very successful career. As well as this, earlier this week Laufey relaunched her book club, aiming to build a community of dedicated readers passionate about literature.
Rhea’s Laufey Recommendations:
From the Start
Falling Behind
Letter To My 13-Year-Old Self
Let You Break My Heart Again
As Laufey continues to release more music, I would love to see her collaborate with the likes of Billie Eilish, Lana Del Rey, and Lorde.
The seeds of Laufey’s career as a musician were planted long ago; now they have blossomed into reality. I hope her story serves as inspiration, encouraging others to persist in pursuing their dreams!
Laufey, 'Bewitched' 2023