Laufey (singer)

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This article is about the real-life Icelandic singer. For the figure in Norse mythology, see Laufey. For the comic book villain, see Laufey (character).
Laufey
Laufey Lin.jpg
Laufey in 2021
Background information
Birth nameLaufey Lín Jónsdottír
Born (1999-04-23) April 23, 1999 (age 22)
Genres
  • Jazz pop
  • bedroom pop
  • R&B
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
  • violoncello
Years active2020–present
Associated acts
Websitewww.laufeymusic.com

Laufey Lín Jónsdottír (Icelandic pronunciation: ​[ˈlœiːvei ˈliːn ˈjounstouhtɪr̥]; born April 23, 1999), known by the mononym Laufey [ˈlœiːvei], is an Icelandic singer and songwriter. She released her debut EP, Typical of Me, in 2021. She describes her style as modern jazz.[1]

Early life and education[]

Laufey Lín Jónsdottír was born on April 23, 1999. She is of half-Icelandic and half-Chinese descent. Her Chinese family is from Guangzhou.[2] Her mother is a classical violinist and her grandfather, Lin Yaoji, was a violin educator at the Central Conservatory of Music in China, which Laufey credits as partly inspiring her love of music.[3][4] She also has an identical twin sister.[5] She spent her childhood moving between Reykjavík and Washington, D.C.[6]

At age 15, she became a cellist in the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.[1] While in Iceland, Laufey participated in the 2014 season of Ísland Got Talent—the national version of America's Got Talent—and 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.[7]

Laufey graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 2021. She currently resides in Los Angeles.[2]

Career[]

Although Laufey was influenced by and played classical music 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.[2] She released her debut single, "Street by Street", in 2020 and it charted at #1 on Icelandic Radio.[8] She launched her first EP, Typical of Me, on April 30, 2021. It includes "Street by Street" and six new songs. Many of these tracks were written in her college dorm room. Rolling Stone particularly praised her rendition of "I Wish You Love".[9] American Songwriter included the EP in their list of best albums of 2021.[10] Additionally, Typical of Me received attention from musicians such as Willow Smith and Billie Eilish.[5]

Laufey performed in the London Jazz Festival in November 2021.[4] Around the same time, she collaborated with the London Philharmonic Orchestra to release "Let You Break My Heart Again".[5] In December 2021, she collaborated with Dodie to release another single, "Love To Keep Me Warm", a cover of the original by Irving Berlin.[4]

Laufey hosts a weekly music show on the BBC Radio 3 called Happy Harmonies, where she highlights uplifting music in a wide variety of genres.[11][12] She also has a significant following on TikTok, where she frequently hosts live sessions.[2]

She made her U.S. network television debut when she appeared as the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live on January 21, 2022 (Season 20 Episode 54). She played her song "Like The Movies" from her debut EP, Typical of Me.[13]

Discography[]

Singles[]

  • "Street by Street" (2020)
  • "Love Flew Away" (2021)
  • "Let You Break My Heart Again" (2021)
  • "Love To Keep Me Warm" (2021)
  • "Valentine" (2022)

Extended plays[]

  • Typical of Me (2021)

References[]

  1. ^ a b Wu, Ali (October 13, 2021). "Meet Laufey, the Gen Z Artist Making Us Fall in Love With Jazz All Over Again". Ones to Watch. Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Ugalde, Jacob (April 2021). "Interview: Laufey and the beauty of making it up as you go". From the Intercom. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  3. ^ "林耀基中國音樂基金 - Lin Yao Ji Music Foundation of China". www.linyaoji.com. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  4. ^ a b c Kent, Matthew (December 3, 2021). "On the Rise: Laufey". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Holbrook, Emma (August 13, 2021). "TREMORS// Laufey is revitalising jazz for the 21st century". The Forty-Five. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  6. ^ Neil Z. Yeung. "Laufey Lin Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  7. ^ Sue, David (July 6, 2020). "Introducing – Laufey Lin". New Sounds. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  8. ^ Ugalde, Jacob (March 3, 2021). "Laufey charms us all on the heartfelt "Best Friend"". From the Intercom. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  9. ^ Leight, Elias (April 30, 2021). "Hear Laufey's Reverent Version of 'I Wish You Love'". The Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  10. ^ American Songwriter (December 17, 2021). "The 41 Best Albums of 2021". American Songwriter. Savage Media Holdings. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "Happy Harmonies with Laufey". BBC Radio 3. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  12. ^ Sang, Ray. "Laufey". 1883 Magazine. 1883 Magazine. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  13. ^ Jimmy Kimmel Live (January 21, 2022). "Laufey – Like The Movies". YouTube. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
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