Laufey is an Icelandic singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles who is captivating audiences by merging jazz, pop, and the Great American Songbook into a distinctive blend. Her sophomore album, "Bewitched," has garnered significant attention. Laufey's music evokes a sense of timelessness and cinematic quality, perhaps stemming from her upbringing in Iceland, where she created an imaginary world of music as an escape.
Musical Influences and Style
Laufey's music is influenced by her environment. After moving to Los Angeles, she started writing more Bossa Nova-style songs, inspired by the beach and warmer climates. Her upbringing in Iceland pushed her to create timeless, cinematic music as an escape. She admires Golden Age films like "American in Paris" and "Singin' in the Rain", aspiring to write music for them. She also appreciates more recent films like "La La Land".
Laufey describes her sound as an ever-evolving process. While she believes each album represents her current sound, she anticipates it will continue to change. She is more confident in using jazz and classical references, finding that younger audiences welcome it more than she initially thought.
Arrangements are crucial to Laufey's music. She co-produces her songs with Spencer Stewart, layering cello, violin (often played by her sister), piano, drums, and bass. The arrangements are often spontaneous.
Laufey balances pop and classic sounds by letting it flow naturally. Some songs lean towards pop, while others are straightforward jazz. She focuses on her voice as the common denominator, ensuring cohesion.
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The song "Bewitched," the title track of her album, dictated the sound of the record. It features a guitar voice waltz with a symphony orchestra, setting the tone for the album. The album explores the state of being "bewitched," which Laufey describes as being in love in a way that feels like being under a spell.
Laufey acknowledges the concept of speaking or singing something into existence. Her past songs revolved around the idea of falling in love with a stranger, which she has since experienced more of in her own life. Songwriting, for her, is a way of detangling her thoughts and journaling her life through music.
She was inspired by the movie "Before Sunrise," which embodies the idea of falling in love with a stranger. Some of her most popular songs are written quickly, almost as if they were channeling something. "From The Start" is an example of this, where she barely remembers writing it.
Laufey approaches songwriting as a craft, forcing herself to write every day, even if the results are not always satisfactory. This routine helps her make progress and develop new ideas. She feels that every song represents a different part of herself and a world she wants to continue growing into. The song "Lovesick" was a step in a different direction for her, as it is more pop and rock-driven.
Creative Process and Influences
Laufey envisions her albums as something different and more mature than the last. She challenges herself to write each album, viewing it as a significant accomplishment.
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"Fragile" from her first album and "Letter To My 13 Year Old Self" from "Bewitched" are among her most cherished songs. "Letter To My 13 Year Old Self" is particularly meaningful to her, as it aims to reach young people who may perceive her life as magical, reminding them that she also experienced similar feelings at that age.
Laufey's twin sister serves as her creative director, helping her create visually appealing music videos. The video for "From The Start" was envisioned as a mid-century dream world, with Laufey portraying a bratty teenager dancing around and thinking about a boy.
"Bewitched" aims to capture the essence of falling in love in a pure, accidental, and romantic way, reminiscent of old movies and jazz records. The album embraces clichés about love, such as serendipity, lovesickness, and its bewitching powers.
Influences
Laufey cites several major influences for her songs, including her journal, her cello, the movie "You've Got Mail", coffee, Chet Baker, and Chopin.
My Journal
Laufey's journal serves as the first step in her songwriting process. It helps her sort out her thoughts, and many of her song titles and concepts originate from her journaling. She sees it as writing the story of her life through song. She uses ruled Moleskine journals in different colors, viewing them as a colorful bank of secrets.
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My Cello
The cello is an extension of Laufey. Her approach to singing, melodies, arrangement, and production is all influenced by the cello and its sound. She feels a close connection to the instrument, which she considers the closest to the human voice.
Her family has a strong background in classical music, with her mother, twin sister, and grandfather all being violinists. Laufey initially started with the violin but switched to the cello because she preferred its lower pitch.
You've Got Mail
The movie "You've Got Mail" is one of Laufey's favorites. She appreciates the visuals and Nora Ephron's storytelling style, which she finds full of life, character, and charm. The movie's exploration of internet relationships and its soundtrack also resonate with her.
Coffee
Coffee plays a role in Laufey's creative routine. She associates it with slowness, jazz, and the world she envisions in her music. She typically makes herself a latte with oat milk.
Chet Baker
Laufey cites Chet Baker's album "It Could Happen To You" as a blueprint for her album. She admires the simple, beautiful versions of jazz standards and recommends it to those interested in getting into jazz. Her goal is to bring jazz principles back to her generation, studying the old masters to learn and bring back relatable elements.
Chopin
After getting a piano in her Los Angeles apartment, Laufey began writing more piano-driven songs. She also included a piano composition without singing, which was a significant step for her. Chopin was her favorite composer growing up, and she considers him a songwriter at heart. She named the interlude in her album "Nocturne" as a tribute to Chopin's nocturnes.
Lukas Gage: Health, Wellness, and Perspective
Lukas Gage, known for his roles in "The White Lotus," "Euphoria," and "You," shares insights into his health, wellness, and perspective. Gage emphasizes the importance of having fun as part of self-care.
Diet and Supplements
For breakfast, Gage enjoys ThisBowl's The O.G. Bowl with salmon sashimi, followed by coffee and vitamins. His supplement stack includes omega fatty acids from DMK for skin problems like rosacea and dermatitis, a triple magnesium complex, a turmeric-ginger-oregano oil shot, and apple cider vinegar. He also takes PrEP as part of his health regimen.
Mental Health
Gage discusses his experiences with psychiatric drugs, noting the importance of finding the right cocktail. He is currently on a micro-dose of medication that helps manage his symptoms while allowing him to feel alive. He also emphasizes the value of therapy and experimenting with different therapists to avoid becoming overly influenced by their expectations.
Gage practices DBT and CBT techniques to regulate his emotions. He finds tactile activities like touching ice or playing a song with the opposite emotion helpful in managing difficult situations.
Body Image and Training
Gage embraces self-affirmation, often complimenting others with "you're hot." He trains at Dogpound and Alo, focusing on bodyweight exercises like pull-ups, sit-ups, and push-ups. He also incorporates sledding and Solidcore Pilates into his routine. While he has gone through phases of not working out, he walks daily for at least 20 minutes for mental health benefits.
Skincare
Gage follows a detailed skincare routine, including the Celluma Pro LED Light Therapy Mask, SIV Biome Balancing Serum, Plated eye serum, and Cryo-Sticks from Biologique Recherche. He also finds that cutting out dairy improves his skin.
Acne and Self-Acceptance
Gage shares his experience with folliculitis and cystic acne, recalling a time when he had to film with severe breakouts. He appreciates director Karim Aïnouz's acceptance of his acne, which helped him feel less self-conscious. This experience has shifted his perspective, teaching him to surrender to imperfections and stress less about his skin.