Biography
Laufey is an Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for blending jazz, classical, and pop influences in her music. Born in 1999, she gained recognition through her participation in Ísland Got Talent and later studied at Berklee College of Music. Her debut EP, Typical of Me (2021), introduced her signature vintage jazz sound, which she further developed in her albums Everything I Know About Love (2022) and Bewitched (2023). Laufey’s music, characterized by soothing vocals and nostalgic melodies, has attracted a young audience rediscovering jazz. She has collaborated with renowned artists and performed with prestigious orchestras, including the London Philharmonia. With millions of streams worldwide, she is a key figure in reviving jazz for modern listeners.
Profile
- Name: Laufey
- Birth name: Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir
- Birthday: April 23, 1999
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus
- Height: 170 cm
- Instagram: @laufey
- Twitter: @laufey
Career
On April 6, 2020, Laufey released her debut single, Street by Street, which reached number one on Icelandic Radio. She followed up with her first EP, Typical of Me, on April 30, 2021, featuring seven songs, including Street by Street, many of which she wrote in her college dorm. The EP received praise from Rolling Stone and was recognized by artists like Billie Eilish. That same year, she hosted Happy Harmonies, a weekly music show on BBC Radio 3, and performed at the London Jazz Festival. She also collaborated with the London Philharmonic Orchestra on “Let You Break My Heart Again” and released “Love To Keep Me Warm” with singer Dodie.
In 2022, Laufey made her U.S. network television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing “Like the Movies.” Later that year, she released her first album, Everything I Know About Love, on August 26, which debuted at number one on Billboard’s Alternative New Artist Album chart. In 2023, she signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and released her second album, Bewitched, on September 8. A week before its release, she leaked the sheet music for fans to pre-save the album. The album received critical acclaim and won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 66th Grammy Awards, where she also performed with Billy Joel.
Personal Life
Early Life
Laufey was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, to an Icelandic father and a Chinese mother from Guangzhou. Her mother, a classical violinist, and her maternal grandfather, Lin Yaoji, a renowned violin educator, greatly influenced her passion for music. Laufey has an identical twin sister, Júnía, who is a violinist and serves as her creative director. She spent her childhood between Reykjavík, Washington, D.C., and Beijing, where she was immersed in a rich musical environment of jazz, orchestral pieces, and classical sonatas.
Musical Background
She began playing piano at four and cello at eight, later graduating from the Reykjavík College of Music in 2018. At 15, she performed as a cello soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Laufey gained early recognition as a finalist on Ísland Got Talent in 2014 and later reached the semi-finals of The Voice Iceland as its youngest contestant. However, watching others succeed in entertainment left her feeling out of place. Her song Letter to My Thirteen Year Old Self reflects on these insecurities, particularly about her deep voice, once described as that of a “50-year-old divorced woman.” She now embraces this distinctive tone, which has become central to her success.
Initially accepted to the University of St Andrews for economics, Laufey instead chose to attend Berklee College of Music on a prestigious Presidential Scholarship, graduating in 2021. Her unique alto register and deep vibrato have drawn comparisons to Julie London, Ella Fitzgerald, and even Billie Eilish, who once shared Laufey’s acoustic cover of Happier Than Ever. Now based in Los Angeles, she continues to bridge jazz, classical, and contemporary music, redefining the genre for a new generation.
Redefining Jazz & Classical
Laufey’s music is a seamless blend of jazz, classical, and pop, creating a nostalgic yet modern sound. Her signature phrasing and rich low notes are reminiscent of jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald and Chet Baker, yet her lyrics reflect contemporary experiences. She often weaves in casual, present-day expressions, as heard in her bossa nova-inspired hit “From The Start,” giving her vintage influences a fresh, Gen Z appeal. “My songs are old sounds with modern lyrics,” she explains. Laufey believes that just as jazz standards once captured the language of their time, her songwriting reflects today’s conversations.
Laufey’s influences range from classical composers like Chopin to jazz legends like Billie Holiday, Norah Jones, and Taylor Swift. She admires Taylor Swift’s ability to unite audiences across genres. Laufey’s instrumentation further blurs genre lines, seamlessly incorporating symphony orchestras, solo cello, and classical arrangements alongside jazz elements like drum brushes and electric guitar. Her latest release highlights this diversity, featuring both a classical nocturne and a cover of the jazz standard Misty.
Rather than confining herself to a single genre, Laufey prioritizes mood and emotion in her music. “It’s no longer about genre, it’s about feeling,” she explains. While her melodies and arrangements evoke the past, her lyrics and perspective remain unmistakably modern. “I don’t see myself as someone who should have existed in a different decade. I’m very much a 21st-century girl.”
Net Worth
Laufey’s net worth is estimated to be around $1.5 million as of 2024. Her financial success reflects her growing popularity and influence in the music industry.
Fun Facts
- Laufey was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, but was raised both there and in Washington D.C, USA, along with yearly visits to Beijing, China. She’s curently based in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- She fell in love with the jazz standards of Ella Fitzgerald after digging through her father’s record collection.
- She speaks Icelandic, Mandarin, and English.
- At age 15, Laufey performed as a cello soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra.
- Laufey has a book club.
