Laufey (singer) explained
Laufey |
Birth Name: | Laufey Lín Bing Jónsdóttir / 林冰[1] [2] |
Birth Date: | 23 April 1999 |
Birth Place: | Reykjavík, Iceland |
Genre: | Pop, Jazz pop, classical |
Years Active: | 2020–present |
Module: | Child: | yes | C: | 林冰 | P: | Lín Bīng | J: | lam4 bing1 | Wuu: | 2lin-pin1 |
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Laufey Lín Bing Jónsdóttir (pronounced as /is/; ; born 23 April 1999), known as Laufey, is an Icelandic singer and musician. She achieved prominence in the early 2020s for her success as a jazz-inspired pop artist, with critics stating that her jazz-inflected songs have received considerable success for a genre that has largely declined commercially.
Having performed as a cello soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra at age 15, Laufey was a finalist in the 2014 edition of (Iceland's Got Talent), and a semi-finalist on The Voice Iceland the following year. She released her debut EP, Typical of Me (2021), and graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Her debut album, Everything I Know About Love (2022), charted in Iceland and the United States. Its follow-up, Bewitched (2023), won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards (2024) and its single "From the Start" found moderate chart success in Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Early life and education
Laufey Lín Bing Jónsdóttir was born on 23 April 1999 in Reykjavík, Iceland's capital. Her father is Icelandic and her mother is Chinese,[3] hailing from Guangzhou. Her mother is a classical violinist and her grandfather,, was a violin educator at the Central Conservatory of Music in China, which Laufey credits as partly inspiring her love of music.[4] She has an identical twin sister named Júnía Lín Jónsdóttir, who is a violinist and serves as her creative director.[5] She lived in Washington, D.C., for two years and then moved back to Reykjavík in 2008, where she studied at Háteigsskóli.[6] Laufey started learning the piano at the age of four and the cello at the age of eight. She graduated from the Reykjavík College of Music, where she also studied singing, in 2018.[7] She spent her childhood moving between Reykjavík and Washington, D.C., as well as visiting Beijing.[8]
At age 15, Laufey performed as a cello soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. While in Iceland, Laufey participated in the 2014 edition of Ísland Got Talent—the Icelandic version of Got Talent—where she ended as a finalist. The following year she also appeared as a contestant on The Voice Iceland and reached the semi-finals. At the time, she was the youngest competitor in the series' history.
Laufey graduated with a presidential scholarship from the Berklee College of Music in 2021., she resides in Los Angeles.[9]
Career
On 6 April 2020, Laufey released her debut single, "Street by Street", which charted at number one on Icelandic Radio. She then launched her first EP, Typical of Me, which she calls her little baby, on 30 April 2021. It includes "Street by Street" and six other songs, many of which were written in her college dorm room. Rolling Stone particularly praised her rendition of "I Wish You Love". American Songwriter included the EP in its list of best albums of 2021. Additionally, Typical of Me received attention from musicians such as Billie Eilish.
The same year, Laufey hosted a weekly music show on BBC Radio 3 during spring and summer (and once again during December for a Christmas special) called Happy Harmonies, on which she highlighted uplifting music in a wide variety of genres. In November, Laufey performed at the London Jazz Festival. Around the same time, she collaborated with the London Philharmonic Orchestra to release her song "Let You Break My Heart Again". In December, she collaborated with singer Dodie to release another single, "Love To Keep Me Warm", their cover of "Winter Weather" by Ted Shapiro.[10] [11]
Laufey's United States network television debut was in 2022 when she appeared as the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 21 January; she played her song "Like the Movies" from Typical of Me.[12] Her debut album, Everything I Know About Love, was released on 26 August 2022 via AWAL to critical acclaim.[13] On Billboards Alternative New Artist Album chart, the album peaked at number one on its debut.[14]
In August 2023, it was announced that Laufey had signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music (WCM). Her second album, Bewitched, was released on 8 September 2023.[15] A week before the release, she leaked the sheet music for fans to be able to pre-save the album.[16] It was met with critical acclaim and garnered Laufey's first Grammy Award, for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards,[17] where she performed with Billy Joel on his closing number, "Turn the Lights Back On".[18]
Public image
Influences and music style
Although Laufey was influenced by classical music, classical artists such as Frédéric Chopin,[19] and played it from an early age, she turned to her father's records of female jazz musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday to develop her musical style. She has cited Fitzgerald and Chet Baker as her biggest artistic influences, naming the former as her favorite musician. Laufey also cited Taylor Swift, Norah Jones, and Adele as inspirations for her musicianship; she said "[Taylor Swift] has done for pop and country what I hope to do for jazz. She has managed to unite people across the world which is one of my main goals as a musician."[20]
The genre of Laufey's music style has been subject for debate. She describes her genre as jazz or jazz pop, while organizations such as National Public Radio,[21] the New York Times, and The Sydney Morning Herald have noted that her music includes elements of jazz, pop, bossa nova, and classical, describing the entirety as traditional pop or old-time pop due to the blend of styles in her songs into one.[22]
Critical acclaim
Many critics such as Maura Judkis, an editor at the Washington Post,[23] and editor Murray Stassen from Music Business Worldwide[24] noted that Laufey is "bringing back" jazz to Gen Z, as the genre has largely declined commercially, and has received less recognition than other genres when compared to its heyday. In a 2023 article, Music journalist Michael Dwyer of The Sydney Morning Herald described her as a "TikTok jazz ambassador".[25] Organizations such as Billboard and National Public Radio opined that Laufey created a blueprint for the success of jazz in the music industry today, helping push the genre back into the mainstream scene.[26] [27] Her second album, Bewitched, received praise from critics due to its composition and her take on jazz. The album received a score of 83 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on six critics' reviews.[28] Morgan Enos, writer at Grammys.com, wrote that Bewitched success shows Laufey has left "jazz neophytes spellbound".[29]
Fashion
Laufey is characterized by her simple and casual fashion style,[30] mixing elements such as lace, pastel colors, and bright metallic elements into her clothing.[31] Vogue and the South China Morning Post have described her fashion style as an "extension to her music", citing a blend of lukewarm colors and jazz-esque clothing incorporated to her clothing during appearances and stage performances.
Discography
Artist: | Laufey |
Studio: | 2 |
Live: | 1 |
Ep: | 4 |
Singles: | 22 |
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
Other charted songs
Notes
Awards and nominations
Tours
Headlining
Notes and References
- News: Chinese-Icelandic jazz singer Laufey wants Gen Z to fall in love . Judkis . Maura . Maura Judkis . . 14 September 2023 . 26 January 2024.
- Web site: 24歲中國冰島混血女歌手林冰獲葛萊美獎 . 24-year-old Chinese-Icelandic female singer Lin Bing [Laufey] wins Grammy Award . . 5 February 2024 . 12 February 2024 . zh . 29 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240229080041/https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121478/7757132 . live .
- Web site: Jacob . Ugalde . Interview: Laufey and the beauty of making it up as you go . From the Intercom . 31 August 2022 . English . 30 Apr 2021 . 27 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427211131/https://fromtheintercom.com/interview-laufey/ . live .
- Web site: 林耀基中國音樂基金 - Lin Yao Ji Music Foundation of China . linyaoji.com . 2022-03-30 . 30 November 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121130185615/http://www.linyaoji.com/photo_detail.php?ALSID=1 . live .
- Web site: Halbert . Mosha Lündstrom . Laufey Is the Viral Icelandic Prodigy Bringing Jazz to Gen Z . Vogue . 8 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231025154525/https://www.vogue.com/article/laufey-profile . 25 October 2023 . This gamine persona belies a business savvy aided by her partnership with her creative director: twin sister (and accomplished violinist) Junia Lin Jónsdóttir. . 7 September 2023 . live.
- Web site: Ruskin . John . 24 October 2023 . Nardwuar vs. Laufey . 21 December 2023 . . 21 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231221110741/https://nardwuar.com/nardwuar-vs-laufey/ . live .
- Web site: Á forsetastyrk til Berklee . 2023-09-12 . www.mbl.is . is . 19 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230919094018/https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2018/06/11/a_forsetastyrk_til_berklee/ . live .
- Web site: Meet Laufey, the Icelandic-Chinese Gen Z musical talent: from her record-breaking debut album Bewitched to her love of Chanel and fashion, to her upcoming Hong Kong concerts at KITEC – interview . 5 February 2024 . . Laramie . Mok . 19 September 2023 . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206095629/https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3235009/meet-laufey-icelandic-chinese-gen-z-musical-talent-her-record-breaking-debut-album-bewitched-her . live .
- Web site: Geraghty . Hollie . 28 August 2023 . Laufey is here to stay . 20 October 2023 . NME . en-GB . 19 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231019032308/https://www.nme.com/features/the-cover/the-cover-laufey-interview-bewitched-3488458 . live .
- Web site: Johnson . Tommy . 2021-12-03 . Laufey & dodie Share Stunning Cover Of "Love To Keep Me Warm" . 2023-11-21 . Ghettoblaster Magazine . en . 21 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231121200159/https://ghettoblastermagazine.com/features/laufey-dodie-share-stunning-cover-of-love-to-keep-me-warm/ . live .
- Book: Ted Shapiro. The Unsung Songwriters: America's Masters of Melody. Warren W. Vaché. 2000. Scarecrow Press. 448. 9780810835702.
- Web site: Laufey sló í gegn hjá Jimmy Kimmel . Laufey Hit Jimmy Kimmel . Iceland Monitor . 20 November 2023 . 5 February 2024 . 29 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231229043741/https://www.mbl.is/folk/frettir/2023/11/20/laufey_slo_i_gegn_hja_jimmy_kimmel/ . live .
- Web site: 24 August 2022. Cordelia Lam. Laufey – Everything I Know About Love review: an ode to the magic of life's little moments. NME. 10 November 2022. 10 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221110130504/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/laufey-everything-i-know-about-love-review-radar-3295845. live.
- Web site: 2 August 2023 . Warner Chappell Music Signs Global Publishing Deal with Rising Jazz Star Laufey . 2023-08-22 . warnerchappell.com . 22 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230822054209/https://warnerchappell.com/news/#/press/9e2bc35c-cb2e-4d97-a4e5-43e955db8382 . live .
- Web site: Laufey Official Website . 2023-08-22 . Laufey . en-US . 27 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827130243/https://www.laufeymusic.com/ . live .
- Web site: Sparrow . Joe . 2 September 2022 . Marketing round-up: sheet music "leak" and Asia-Pacific report . 21 December 2023 . Music Ally . 21 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231221115247/https://musically.com/2022/09/02/marketing-round-up-sheet-music-leak-and-asia-pacific-report/ . live .
- Web site: Artist GRAMMY.com . 2023-11-16 . www.grammy.com . 16 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231116201459/https://www.grammy.com/artists/laufey/54021 . live .
- Web site: Billy Joel gives first Grammys performance in over two decades . Daly . Rhian . 5 February 2024 . 28 April 2024 . .
- Web site: Steffanee . Wang . How Jazz, Rom-coms, & Chopin Shaped Laufey's Bewitched . Nylon . 26 January 2024 . 8 September 2023 . 26 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240126030847/https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/laufeys-moodboard-for-her-debut-album-includes-rom-coms-her-cello . live .
- Web site: Pirovic . Jasmine . 2023-09-13 . Laufey shares the song that always makes her cry . 2023-09-14 . . 19 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230919094017/https://www.russh.com/laufey-music-interview/ . live .
- Web site: Powers . Ann . 31 January 2024 . Laufey is a trad-pop superstar (and that's enough) . 6 February 2024 . . 5 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240205234258/https://www.npr.org/2024/01/31/1227976838/laufey-grammys-jazz-pop . live .
- Web site: Russonello . Giovanni . 2 November 2023 . Laufey's Old-Time Pop Is Smooth. Its Relationship to Jazz Is Spikier. . 6 February 2024 . . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206124041/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/arts/music/laufey.html . live .
- News: Judkis . Maura . Maura Judkis . 14 September 2023. Chinese-Icelandic jazz singer Laufey wants Gen Z to fall in love . 6 February 2024 . . en-US.
- Web site: Stassen . Murray . 13 October 2023 . With The Biggest Jazz Album Debut In Spotify History, AWAL Says Laufey Is Bringing 'Jazz To Gen Z' . 6 February 2024 . . en-US . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206121834/https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/with-the-biggest-jazz-album-debut-in-spotify-history-awal-says-laufey-is-bringing-jazz-to-gen-z/ . live .
- Web site: Michael . Dwyer . Meet Laufey, TikTok's hottest jazz ambassador . . 6 February 2024 . 1 June 2023 . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206121833/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/meet-laufey-tiktok-s-hottest-jazz-ambassador-20230526-p5dbo3.html . live .
- Mims . Taylor . 2023-11-08 . Chartbreaker: How Laufey Created a Blueprint For Modern Jazz Success . 2023-11-16 . . en-US . 15 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231115012538/https://www.billboard.com/music/features/laufey-from-the-start-bewitched-jazz-interview-chartbreaker-1235466072/ . live .
- Web site: Guevara . Milton . Martínez . A . Haney . Taylor . 7 September 2023 . With 'Bewitched,' Laufey hopes listeners can escape . 6 February 2024 . . en-US . 6 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206095629/https://www.npr.org/2023/09/07/1198065570/laufeys-new-album-of-love-songs-is-called-bewitched . live .
- Web site: Bewitched by Laufey Reviews and Tracks. Metacritic. 3 October 2023. 13 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231013135141/https://www.metacritic.com/music/bewitched/laufey. live.
- Web site: With 'Bewitched,' Icelandic Singer Laufey Is Leaving Jazz Neophytes Spellbound GRAMMY.com . 2023-11-16 . www.grammy.com . 16 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231116203242/https://www.grammy.com/news/icelandic-jazz-singer-laufey-interview-new-album-bewitched . live .
- Web site: Laufey is here to stay . . 7 February 2024 . 28 August 2023 . Hollie . Geraghty . 7 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207140159/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/the-cover/the-cover-laufey-interview-bewitched-3489751 . live .
- Web site: Laufey took on the 'Coquette' trend in an angelic white dress at the Golden Globes . . 7 February 2024 . 8 January 2024 . Josefin . Forsberg . 7 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240207140158/https://www.voguescandinavia.com/articles/golden-globes-2024-laufey . live .
- Web site: plotutidindi: Week of 24 September 2022. plotutidindi. https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170431/https://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/. 20 September 2022. 26 February 2023.
- Web site: ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. 6 May 2024. 3 May 2024.
- Billboard Canadian Albums: Week of September 23, 2023. Billboard. 19 September 2023. 19 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230919153629/https://www.billboard.com/charts/canadian-albums/2023-09-23/. live.
- Web site: NZ Top 40 Albums Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 6 May 2024. 3 May 2024.
- Web site: Laufey. Official Charts Company. 4 May 2024. 1 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230901171458/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/63376/laufey/. live.
- Web site: Official Independent Albums Chart. Official Charts Company. 4 May 2024.
- Billboard 200: Week of May 11, 2024. Billboard. 7 May 2024.
- Independent Albums: Week of May 11, 2024. Billboard. 7 May 2024.
- Jazz Albums: Week of October 20, 2023. Billboard. 2 November 2023. 2 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231102163235/https://www.billboard.com/charts/jazz-albums/2023-10-20/. live.
- Web site: Bewitched - CD . 12 September 2023 . 11 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231011133141/https://store.laufeymusic.com/products/bewitched-cd . dead .
- Web site: Bewitched - Cassette . 22 October 2023 . 5 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231105160425/https://store.laufeymusic.com/products/bewitched-cassette . live .
- Web site: Laufey Collaborates with Norah Jones on Two Christmas Duets. Iceland Review. 10 November 2023. 11 November 2023. 11 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231111054034/https://www.icelandreview.com/news/laufey-collaborates-with-norah-jones-on-two-christmas-duets/. live.
- The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 1 January 2024. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1765. 4. 1 January 2024.
- Peaks in Canada:
- Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 24 July 2023. 22 July 2023. 21 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230721220221/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5619. live.
- "A Night to Remember": Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 30 October 2023. 28 October 2023. 27 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231027220708/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5697. live.
- "Winter Wonderland": Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 11 December 2023. 9 December 2023. 8 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231208154646/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5724. live.
- "Goddess": Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 18 March 2024. 15 March 2024. 15 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240315030454/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5778. live.
- Web site: Laufey full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 15 September 2023. 1 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230901171458/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/63376/laufey/. live.
- Web site: Official Independent Singles Chart. Official Charts Company. 4 August 2023. 7 August 2023. 4 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230804171403/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-singles-chart/20230804/130/. live.
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- Hot Rock & Alternative Songs: Week of November 4, 2023. Billboard. 2 November 2023. 2 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231102161202/https://www.billboard.com/charts/rock-songs/2023-11-04/. live.
- United States. Laufey. 15 May 2024.
- Australia. single. 2023. 14 December 2023.
- Canada. Laufey. 28 March 2024.
- Web site: Beabadoobee and Laufey announce new song 'A Night To Remember'.. Coup de Main Magazine. 12 October 2023. 20 October 2023. 21 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231021073424/https://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/beabadoobee/19440. live.
- Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 18 September 2023. 16 September 2023. 18 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230918072307/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=5665. live.
- Web site: Minsker . Evan . 2023-11-10 . Grammy Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here . 10 November 2023 . Pitchfork . en-US . 10 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231110161249/https://pitchfork.com/news/grammy-nominations-2024-see-the-full-list-here/ . live .
- Web site: Tómas . Ragnar . Two Wins for Laufey at 2024 Icelandic Music Awards . 13 March 2024 . 17 March 2024 . . 17 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240317101144/https://www.icelandreview.com/news/two-wins-for-laufey-at-2024-icelandic-music-awards/ . live .
- Web site: Edvardsen . Astri . 5 January 2024 . Icelandic Optimism Award to Jazzy and Hopeful Artist Laufey . 2 March 2024 . High North News . en-US . 2 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240302072303/https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/icelandic-optimism-award-jazzy-and-hopeful-artist-laufey . live .
- Web site: Kerecis and Laufey received awards . 10 March 2024 . 24 April 2024 . Iceland Monitor .
- Web site: MTV Video Music Awards: Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter and Eminem Top Nominations . Rahman . Abid . 6 August 2024 . 6 August 2024 . The Hollywood Reporter.