Laufey is no longer content with just being a narrator of love and longing. She’s now telling her own story, with all the messiness, doubt, and strength that comes with it. Laufey’s new album, A Matter of Time, has seen a shift with many songs taking a more vulnerable approach. In this collection, we see everything from whimsical fairytale-like stories to revenge and anger.
Clockwork opens the album in her traditional smooth, jazzy style. The surface is beautiful and calm, but hiding beneath are feelings of sadness and regret. This sets the tone for the rest of the album, giving Laufey’s music a more mature feel than her previous albums.
Lover Girl brings a classic bossa nova feel, different from her usual jazz, and what appears to be an open, honest assessment of herself falling in love. The singer-songwriter talks about the rush of falling in love and what our minds can come up with, comparing it to a “reckless fever.” Laufey admits in this song how she never saw herself as the starry-eyed girl, a new perspective from her usual awareness of love.
In Snow White, Laufey pulls away from the idea of falling in love and focuses on beauty, comparison, and self worth. This is the song that is set apart from all the others; the lyrics really open up and become vulnerable. In the fairy tale, “Snow White,” the Evil Queen has an obsession with mirrors and struggles with self-image. Laufey beautifully expresses these challenges through lyrics: “But mirrors tell lies to me, my mind just plays along.” This is one of the most heartbreaking songs on the track, showing a major shift in the singer’s writing, from storytelling to emotional honesty.
Tough Luck shows a different kind of shift in Laufey’s music: incorporating acoustic guitar and drums within the traditional orchestra. This is a truly strong and direct piece, so unlike the quiet sorrow of past breakup songs. Lyrics such as “You demoralized, effaced me just to feed your ego” show the strength she has gained and also the pent up frustration at always having to gracefully accept the loss.
The album closes with Sabotage, a track that feels both light and heavy. It starts out with an airy quality, but soon grows into something angrier, more intense. The line, “a matter of time,” draws the listeners back to the beginning for a full circle moment. Laufey’s music usually ends with closure, but not this time. The song cuts off suddenly, as if there is more, leaving the audience to wonder what happens next.
Laufey describes her album as “an honest portrait of myself,” and that honesty shines through in every word she sings. Musically, her jazz-pop foundation remains, with some unique bits here and there to add personality. Laufey’s shift isn’t just about sounding different, it’s about being different and being okay to share these imperfections. By letting down her guard and becoming vulnerable, she’s created a body of work that’s not only beautiful, but brave.
