Laufey on Making Jazz Cool Again (and the Fish That Brought Out Her Inner Rage)

Laufey on making jazz cool again has become a defining narrative in modern music. At just 27, this Icelandic artist has transformed the genre with her emotive blend of jazz and pop, challenging perceptions of what jazz can be. Her latest release, A Matter of Time, not only redefines jazz but also showcases her journey from a polished performer to someone unafraid to bare her soul. The album, launched in August 2024, is a testament to her bold creative choices, merging classical influences with contemporary sounds to create something fresh and resonant.

The Fish Scene: A Breakthrough in Emotion

Laufey on making jazz cool found a powerful visual metaphor in her music video for Mad Woman. The scene, shot in Los Angeles, depicts her channeling frustration into an impromptu act of rebellion by throwing a fish with sheer force. This moment, which she recalls as both cathartic and liberating, reveals a deeper exploration of her emotional landscape. “It was amazing to finally let go of that energy,” she says, referencing the release of her unrestrained inner turmoil onto the actor Hudson Williams, who plays the unwitting target of her rage.

“I’m not a very angry person, but it felt good to scream and shout.”

The video’s 1960s aesthetic and star-studded cast, including Olympic medalist Alyssa Liu and Katseye’s Megan Skiendiel, enhance its surreal quality. However, the red snapper at the center of the drama serves as a symbolic bridge between her past and present. Laufey on making jazz cool has often been associated with technical finesse, but this video highlights her willingness to embrace rawness. “The fish scene was a way to let my true self shine,” she adds, emphasizing how it broke the barriers of her previous work.

From Berklee to Genre Fusion

Laufey’s path to redefining jazz began during her formative years at Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, she cultivated her classical training while absorbing the storytelling nuances of pop and movie musicals. “Jazz taught me discipline, but pop gave me freedom,” she reflects. This duality is central to Laufey on making jazz cool, as her music seamlessly weaves confessional lyrics with lush orchestration. Her debut track, Street by Street, was a statement of intent, blending vulnerability with artistic ambition.

Despite her early success, Laufey on making jazz cool has often been pigeonholed into a single genre. The submission form’s requirement to classify her music posed a challenge, leading her to settle on “singer-songwriter.” Yet, she insists that this label doesn’t fully capture her essence. “I feel so lucky to be a musician nowadays because genre has never meant less,” she explains, highlighting how her artistry transcends boundaries.

“Younger audiences don’t have this bias. They just listen to what their heart wants to hear.”

Reimagining Jazz: A Matter of Time

A Matter of Time represents a pivotal chapter in Laufey on making jazz cool. Themed around the end of a relationship, the album uses a ticking clock as a recurring motif, symbolizing the relentless passage of time and the weight of self-doubt. Tracks like Silver Lining and Lover Girl showcase her versatility, from soulful ballads to vibrant Brazilian rhythms. The album’s closing track, Sabotage, is particularly striking, featuring dissonant pianos and jarring strings that reflect her internal struggle.

Laufey on making jazz cool is not just about musical innovation—it’s a movement to revive the genre’s relevance. By blending jazz with pop, she brings a modern sensibility to a traditional art form, making it accessible to new audiences. Critics have struggled to classify her work, but Laufey remains undeterred. “It doesn’t really matter,” she says. “What matters is that the music speaks to people on a personal level.” This philosophy underpins her entire approach, proving that jazz can still evolve while staying true to its roots.