Charlie Garner

Opinion Editor

avg6206@psu.edu

Laufey (pronounced lay-vay)has been gaining popularity in a high amount as of lately, but I still wanted to highlight her as an underrated who deserves more love. Laufey is a singer-songwriter from Iceland who has been receiving attention for her success as a jazz artist. Her music has been gaining traction on the internet and on social media for its unique sound and her lyrics seem to be really resonating with audiences. 

Laufey grew up in a musical environment, where she learned how to play instruments and perform. She states that she appreciates the disciplines, stamina, and techniques that learning how to play music gave to her and that she still uses it to this day. In her music, you can certainly see how she channels that foundation in her songwriting and her musicality. 

The nostalgic vibes of Laufey’s sound combined with the charm in her lyrics gives her a sense of nuance and they are very distinct to her. She is often described as having an old-timey sound with modern lyrics attached. Laufey makes music for Gen Z and wants to make it her mission to have jazz more accessible to that generation. Her most recent album, “Bewitched,” released in September 2023 and it broke the record for biggest debut for a jazz album on Spotify. “From the Start,” the album’s breakout single, gained popularity on TikTok as a popular sound, but people gravitated towards its relatability. It is basically a song about being in love with your best friend while they are in love with somebody else. “Bewitched,” as a whole, dives into feelings of love, hope, and sorrow all together. Laufey typically sings of yearning for a life that is perfect, but there are signs throughout “Bewitched” that she also adores the ordinary. Most of her appeal comes from how she narrates and tells a story with her emotions. This can surely be seen in “Letter to My Thirteen Year Old Self,” in which she sings about the heartache and confusion of youth and adolescence, but puts a hopeful spin on it as the song progresses. All of her songs feel like they are magic and you are entranced by her spell. 

Critics and just casual listeners are drawn to Laufey’s jazz-style music, due to the fact that the genre has been in a decline in popular media. Her music has the perfect balance of modern and vintage sounds and is certainly unique to the music that is usually popular today.