Laufey, an Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter, is back with her newest studio album, A Matter of Time. Released on August 22, the album features fourteen songs and one bonus track. A Matter of Time centers on the theme of time, including the distinct pulse of ticking clocks throughout her songs. After her previous album, Bewitched, won a Grammy award for the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2024, fans had high hopes for this new release, and this new album doesn’t disappoint. Laufey’s enchanting instrumentals surround listeners with a fairytale feeling.
In A Matter of Time, Laufey experiments with new genres of music. Her vocals in “Clean Air” carry a country music influence, and she ventures deeper into the genre of pop with “Tough Luck.” Laufey also returns to her roots in “Forget-Me-Not,” singing in both Icelandic and English. Nevertheless, she still maintains her unique sense of style from her previous works, with “Clockwork” and “Lover Girl” encompassing her authentic bossa-nova style that listeners love.
Throughout the album, she explores the idea of finding love in the 21st century. From head-over-heels in “Lover Girl,” poignant in “Castle in Hollywood,” sorrowful in “A Cautionary Tale,” vulnerably honest in “Sabotage,” and more, Laufey covers a wide range of emotions throughout the stages of love.
Laufey’s blend of styles reintroduces classical tunes to the younger generation, making her music distinctly recognizable. “I would say it would be because you normally don’t hear a lot of music these days similar to hers,” music enthusiast Freshman Emma Barrido says. “It’s very much like a revised version of classical music, but it’s modern and relatable.”
What sets A Matter of Time apart from Laufey’s other works are the vulnerable topics and flaws she addresses about herself in the lyrics. “It’s very…introspective,” says long-time Laufey fan, Freshman Kirtana Sen. “She reflects on herself, and her voice is very unique.”
Many also agree that the meaning behind her songs are a significant part of enjoying the album. Laufey calls fans back to her old works, where in “Too Little, Too Late,” her vocals mirror those from “Bewitched” in her previous album. The third track of the album, “Snow White,” draws parallels with her older song, “Magnolia,” with both revealing how Laufey strived to be as perfect as Snow White and Magnolia, but never succeeded. “They include details that aren’t very generic,” new Laufey fan, Freshman Misha Jha remarks. “But it makes the song so much more interesting to listen to.”
Fans of Laufey enjoyed A Matter of Time almost immediately after its release. “I think, actually, it’s her best one yet,” says Sen. “She’s really poetic.” Old fans of Laufey noticed that this album is more pop-centered than her past work. However, many believe that A Matter of Time has entirely new aspects that make it more compelling than any of her previous works. “She has a really wide variety of voices – not really voices, but styles on her music, and it’s so satisfying to see all of that variety packed together in one consecutive album,” Jha says.A Matter of Time bears Laufey’s heart to the world. Her combination of beautiful lyricism and captivating vocals adds to the sense of mystique surrounding the album. Just like her previous albums, A Matter of Time is proving to be a success. As more and more people discover her music, A Matter of Time will only continue to grow.
Samantha Li is a freshman at Washington High School, and this is her first year at The Hatchet. She was born in Milpitas, but was raised in Fremont. She is excited to cover news on school life and student opinions around campus. She likes to read, crochet, listen to music, and play with her dog in her free time. She is a member of the marching band at Washington. Samantha wants to work in the medical field one day, and hopes to attend a university after graduation.