Live Report : Laufey brings fairytale performance to the 3arena

On Friday night, Dublin welcomed Laufey's A Matter of Time Tour.

Laufey’s concert began with Act 1, an enchanting, whimsical experience that felt like tumbling down the rabbit hole into a classic children’s fairy tale. The stage was set like an Alice in Wonderland scene, complete with a swingset and a black-and-white film reel. In a truly cinematic fashion, the entrance was heralded by a violin orchestra and trumpets, summoning Laufey to the stage like a princess. The fairytale atmosphere was cemented by her appearance in a green and white ballgown, reminiscent of Cinderella.

Since releasing her debut album in 2022, the Chinese- Icelandic singer has achieved quick success, culminating in multiple Grammy wins. Laufey has rapidly become a major force in the music industry. She is celebrated for successfully introducing retro jazz and classical music to a contemporary audience, effectively bringing jazz to a new generation. Her distinctive sound evokes the styles of artists like Sinatra and Lesley Gore, yet is presented with a modern vitality. 

Stepping into the 3Arena felt like entering a 1950’s high school prom. The audience, largely composed of young girls with their fathers, embraced a whimsical, vintage aesthetic. Attendees were dressed in full-length gowns, heels, corsages, charms, and felt crowns adorned with gems and painted names.

Alice Phoebe Lou opened for Laufey, immediately captivating the already excited audience with her ethereal vocals. Her popular tracks, including ‘Witches’ and ‘Dirty Mouth,’ charmed those in attendance.

Laufey's first act offered a masterclass in vocal agility, seamlessly navigating between the slow, orchestral pieces and high-genre pop songs from her new album, which included tracks like 'Clockwork,' 'Lover Girl,' and 'Silver Lining.' The performance was marked by this versatility, shifting from playful energy, featuring backup dancers who seemed to step out of The Nutcracker, to intimate moments at the piano.

Laufey’s concert included a delightfully interactive moment: a "best dressed guest" competition judged by Mei Mei, a bunny character from the singer's upcoming children's book, who appeared in the audience.

During the show, Laufey declared her fondness for Ireland, stating, "I love Ireland, it's so fun here. I love Irish things, I love leprechauns, Hozier, Kerrygold butter, and the movie Leap Year. I love St Patrick's Day and the colour green.”

Act 2 offers a striking change of pace, stripping the performance back to Laufey’s core: Jazz. The staging is intimate, centred around a dimly lit, impromptu jazz setup featuring a small piano, a bass guitar, and a single microphone. Dressed in a flapper girl's outfit, Laufey transports the 3arena from the 1860s fairytale of the first act to a 1920s jazz club.

Her jazzified arrangements of older tracks, including ‘Valentine’ and ‘Second Best,’ alongside an instrumental version of her breakout song ‘Like the Movies.’ Between her singing and scatting, a refreshing side of Laufey emerges. While her more recent albums embrace orchestral music, her earliest work leaned toward a bossa nova tone. A true jack of all trades, Laufey’s performance featured her 1950s vocals while expertly switching between bass, guitar, violin, and piano.

“I reimagined my older songs to make them a little more how do you say ‘jazzy’. Imagine that you are being transported to the most beautiful place you can imagine, with a glass of wine, a cigarette, and just imagine that you're sitting next to your sweetheart, but of course, none of you have that because you’re here.”

The third and final act delved into the more sensitive and emotional corners of Laufey's discography. Ballads such as 'Snow White' and 'Promise' crafted a moving soundscape, followed by the surprise inclusion of her recently released song, 'How I Get.'

“I wanted to show the world every single side of being a woman, all the good, all the bad, all the anger, all the sadness, all the delusion", said Laufey. "I grew up in Iceland, which is a very homogeneous country, and I look different from everyone else, and I sound different. In small countries, everyone will act the same. There's a status quo, and I never fit. I grew up, and it turns out I'm still feeling the same way in the music industry, and I just wanted to put the words into a song and send it out into the world.”

Laufey's performance culminated in the emotionally charged 'Letter to my 13-year-old self,' a fitting end to a magical, fairytale evening. The song's inherent sentimentality was amplified by the sight of young girls, many of them thirteen and adorned with white bows and frills, weeping as they sang along to lines like, "I wish I could go back and give her a squeeze / Myself at thirteen / And just let her know, know that she's beautiful."

Laufey provides a refreshing example of creativity and purity, setting a strong role model for her young audience. In an industry that often lacks positive figures for teenagers, her influence is particularly welcome.