Laufey Opens Up About 'A Matter of Time' and Her Music Taste

an image of laufey's album cover for a matter of time featuring her lying on a clock imposed over a stack of records — (Image credit: Vingolf Recordings/AWAL / Future)

If you ever wanted to know who is on your favorite singer's playlist, or what albums inspired the latest “it girl” the most, tune in for Marie Claire’s resident music franchise Listen Up. In this interview series, we ask musicians about their listening habits and the specific records that informed their taste—and inherently their journey as an artist.

In the less than three years since the release of Laufey’s debut album, Everything I Know About Love, the 26-year-old has been dubbed a “Gen Z jazz icon” for introducing pop fans to music inspired by old standards.

Her magic touch and fantastical flourishes are all over her forthcoming album, A Matter of Time, due out August 22. In the album’s promotional imagery, the Grammy-winner channels a sorceress casting spells, and the tracks are named after fairy tales and feature stunning orchestrals resonating of early Walt Disney scores. Growing up, Laufey tells Marie Claire via email, she related the most to the bookish Belle from Beauty and the Beast, but she’s far from a damsel in distress in the lyrics on her new release.

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Instead, the musician was eager to explore “female rage.” “As I spend more years in my 20s and learn more about love, I’ve experienced so many emotions beyond ‘sad’ or ‘happy,’ and I wanted to write about them.”

She’s also come to embrace how impossible it is to define her, be it her genre-defying artistry or her personality. “I’ve learned that I am a lot more flexible than I thought as a child,” she says. “Growing up, I thought that I would get the most out of life if I put myself in the right boxes and learned the right rules. It wasn’t until I was forced to explore what life looked like outside of my rules and boxes when I found myself as a person and as an artist.”

Here, Laufey shares the classic jazz artists who continue to inspire her, the aughties pop divas she still listens to, and the Mitski song she wishes she wrote.

singer laufey holds an hour glass and wears a shirt with a bow collar — Laufey has released three singles from *A Matter of Time*: "Silver Lining," "Tough Luck," and "Lover Girl."

text that says who was the one artist or what was the one album growing up that inspired you the most

I was obsessed with Golden Age movie musicals growing up, so I’d have to say [the soundtracks to] The Sound of Music or An American in Paris. I just love the sweeping orchestral music and waltzy dancing.

text that says what was the first album you bought

The first album I bought with my own money was a Miley Cyrus CD.

text that says what is your 10/10 no skips album

Chet Baker Sings. I remember listening to it at home; my dad had it on CD.

text that says what era of music or scene do you wish you could have experienced for yourself

An evening in a Shanghai jazz club in the ‘30s!

text that says do you have a favorite needle drop in a movie

The ending of La La Land always gets me.

text that says how do you discover new music

I discover a lot through what my fans are listening to, honestly. Other than that, I get most of my music recommendations from my twin sister. I don’t make playlists; I just save hers!

singer laufey poses in a blue gown by a window covered in a lace curtain — Laufey won the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her 2023 album *Bewitched*.

text that says is there a live performance you've seen that altered your perception of what a show could be

Cowboy Carter. It was the most magical show from start to finish. The way it blended Beyoncé’s eras and included different sounds from different areas of music felt like a deep dive through the history of American music and dance.

text that says what's your favorite artist merch you've ever owned

I have a Bill Evans cap that I’m obsessed with.

text that says name a song you wish you wrote

“My Love Mine All Mine” [by Mitski].

text that says who would you most like to collaborate with

Lana Del Rey.

text that says if you were to curate a music festival who is on the lineup

I’m going to have to go with some old masters. I think an all-female lineup would be so cool, so Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Julie London.

Laufey - Silver Lining (Official Music Video) - YouTube

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text that says what do you listen to when you want to cry or feel down

Recently, I’ve been listening to Tom Odell.

text that says what do you listen to when you're getting ready to go out

I have two modes: Either I’m listening to pop hits—currently on a K-pop kick—or classical music, no in-between.

text that says what do you listen to when you're driving

I love listening to Adrienne Lenker or Nat King Cole.

text that says what wouldyou play if you were handed the aux cord at a party

“Angeleyes” by ABBA.

text that says what do you listen to when you work out

2000s pop bangers! Destiny’s Child, Rihanna, Fergie, Lady Gaga.

text that says what are your favorite lyrics you've written

Probably the entirety of [the A Matter of Time track] “Snow White,” especially the lyrics, “Mirrors tell lies to me / My mind just plays along.” It’s my favorite because, though the lyrics are a bit brutal, it strangely helped me with my insecurities.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Sadie Bell is the Senior Culture Editor at Marie Claire, where she edits, writes, and helps to ideate stories across movies, TV, books, music, and theater, from interviews with talent to pop culture features and trend stories. She has a passion for uplifting rising stars, and a special interest in cult-classic movies, emerging arts scenes, and music. She has over nine years of experience covering pop culture and her byline has appeared in Billboard, Interview Magazine, NYLON, PEOPLE, Rolling Stone, Thrillist and other outlets.