GRAMMY®-winning Icelandic-Chinese artist Laufey will release her highly anticipated new album, A Matter of Time, on August 22 via Vingolf Recordings / AWAL. Last month, she offered a preview with the track “Silver Lining,” performed with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil at Coachella and during her New Orleans Jazz Fest headline set. Today marks the debut of the album’s new single, “Tough Luck.”
Of the single, Laufey explains,
Tough Luck’ is a fiery song about love gone wrong. I wanted to reveal an angrier side of myself—a side that this unfortunate relationship brought out in me.
Crafting “A Matter of Time,” Laufey felt unprecedented creative freedom, viewing each album as a new narrative. Following coming-of-age themes in “Everything I Know About Love” and exploring young love in the GRAMMY®-winning “Bewitched” (both featuring orchestral arrangements, bossa nova, and jazz), she now refines her unique sound, rooted in her influences but unbound by strict rules. Collaborating with familiar producer Spencer Stewart and newcomer Aaron Dessner, Laufey delves into more complex themes, exploring her flaws and the vulnerability of “real love.”
Laufey (lay-vay) has captivated a generation with her jazz and classical-infused pop, bridging older musical eras for a younger audience, a vision she calls “Laufey Land.” Raised between Reykjavik and D.C., and a Berklee alumna, her debut EP “Typical of Me” (2021) launched her success. Achievements include 5 billion streams, a vast social media following, record-breaking jazz LP debuts, Billboard Top 20 albums, Platinum awards, Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition, and being named a TIME Woman of the Year. She has sold out iconic venues, performed with major orchestras, shared stages with renowned artists, and recently established The Laufey Foundation to support young musicians.
Katie Macbeth
Katie Macbeth is a freelance music journalist and editor of Indie is not a Genre.
