Maybe you don't know Laufey, maybe you're not one of her 2.8 million followers on TikTok, but you've definitely heard her voice. Or something close, anyway. It's a sound from over half a century ago, which makes it all the more striking when you learn its owner is only 24 year old. At a time when artists her age are dropping hyper pop tracks, the Icelandic-Chinese vocalist and cellist is determined to bring jazz back into the mainstream, one misty, low register song at a time. Her heroes are Chet Baker and Ella Fitzgerald (with a dash of Taylor Swift – what? She is still a Gen Z with ears!)
With her sophomore album Bewitched out in the world, RUSSH spoke to Laufey about her first memories of music and the song that always makes her cry.
My first memory of music is…
Listening to my mother teach violin to her students at our home in Iceland.
An album everyone should listen to once is...
It Could Happen To You by Chet Baker. It’s a masterclass.
As a child my favourite musician was…
As a child my favourite musician was Ella Fitzgerald. When I was a kid, I always felt I was different because of my deeper voice, and therefore, the deeper timbre of Ella’s voice really spoke to me.
Now it’s...
Taylor Swift. She 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.
The first concert I ever went to was...
The first concert I ever went to was a Jessie J concert in my hometown of Reykjavik.
And the last...
Taylor Swift’s Eras tour concert.
The best song to fall in love to is...
Isn’t It Romantic by Ella Fitzgerald.
A song I wish I’d written...
Misty by Erroll Garner.
My favourite lyrics of all time...
My favourite lyrics that I’ve written myself are: “It hurts to be something, it's worse to be nothing with you."
I am currently listening to…
My Lover Is Sleeping by Wasia Project.
My most replayed album is...
Chet Baker Sings.
A song that always makes me cry…
A song that always makes me cry is Lover, Please Stay by Nothing but Thieves.
An artist my parents introduced me to...
Norah Jones.
My hype song is...
Ditto by NewJeans
Home sounds like...
Mozart's Sonatas.
The song I’m most proud of is...
Bewitched.
