By Jackie Ayala, Contributing Writer
On August 22, 2025, Icelandic singer Laufey released her third studio album, A Matter of Time, and announced her international tour of the same name to support it. The tour ranges from America all the way to her home in Iceland, starting in September of 2025 and set to end in March of 2026. I had the privilege of attending her September 16th show in Atlanta, GA at State Farm Arena.
If you aren’t sure who Laufey is, you probably know some of her most famous songs. Recently, her song “Lover Girl” has blown up on TikTok and quickly became one of her most popular tracks. Maybe you know “Falling Behind,” as its popularity came from the hundreds of people who related to the song; it became a worldwide hit after its release, as the theme of watching everyone but you fall in love does not seem widely discussed in the music world. Yet Laufey’s 2024 album Bewitched and the tour of the same name really blew up her popularity leading to her win for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album” at the 2024 Grammys. Fans are excitedly waiting to see what she could win at next year’s Grammys with this new release.
A Matter of Time Tour is Laufey’s first arena tour in her career and I can safely say it didn’t disappoint. I’ve been to concerts as big as the Taylor Swift Eras Tour and as small as Wallows Model and More, but there was something special to me about Laufey’s show – and it wasn’t just the fact I have been a fan since she published her first EP or that I can relate strongly to the songs she puts out. She truly connected with her music and fans that night (and every other night of the concert) and, even with the 15,000 concertgoers in the arena, Laufey’s personality made the show feel much more intimate than others I have been to.
Laufey’s setlist consisted of 24 songs, 13 of which from her new album. Even up in the highest level of the stadium, I was able to feel just as close to the singer as those who got floor tickets, partly because of the realism that Laufey’s music has; at all of her live shows, the music is played by an orchestra instead of a backtrack and all of her songs are sung live. Bringing in the live orchestra to back her up made her music sound almost magic.
Before Laufey made her grand entrance, she brought along Suki Waterhouse to open for her all of her shows. Her most popular song is “Good Looking Boy,” which created an uproar in trends on TikTok when it was first released in 2022. I was already a fan of Waterhouse before the concert, so my experience was different compared to some of the concert attendees who didn’t know who she was. Waterhouse isn’t just a singer, but also a mother, a model and an actress; I have to applaud her for her hard work. Even with the different vibes between her music and the headlining artist’s, I thoroughly enjoyed her as the opener.
Throughout Laufey’s section of the concert, I could tell her experience at Berklee College of Music allowed her to truly connect with every single instrument she chooses to place in her songs, as it really comes through in her concerts. The cello, the piano, and every single sound in every single track is intentional and, while some artists write songs about unrelatable, fantasy scenarios that one possibly cannot connect with, Laufey does not. She is one of those artists who write about her experiences without sugarcoating anything.
This is especially clear in songs like “Falling Behind,” where she sings about how everyone around her is in a relationship but her. It’s a song about a situation which many people end up in – watching everyone around them find a special someone while they are left alone. “Castle in Hollywood” is another example, in which she sings about a friendship breakup and how she will always miss that person because even if the friendship was better off being broken off, it still hurts and potentially always will.
Not only are her songs relatable, but they were extra powerful live. Laufey’s voice managed to bring tears to my eyes as it held tons of emotion; it’s clear she truly wrote her feelings out on paper. Even the notes she played had a deeper meaning – if you don’t play instruments, it may sound weird to hear someone say that – but it’s clear every single beat and note was intentional for each song. Think back to artists like Mozart, a composer with no lyrics in his songs; he composed his music to showcase his feelings, his anger. When Laufey’s songs are less upbeat and jazzy, she uses a lot of orchestral notes and tempos alongside her voice. Laufey stays true to her style and her experiences, which is why I can see why so many people who adore her truly resonate with her music.
After watching her perform, I can confirm my favorite song of hers live was “Snow White,” a song written about the struggles of being a girl: how there are too many expectations for us to live by and the fact that seeing others accomplish these expectations becomes painful and brings in an unwanted jealousy. Women don’t want to feel jealous; as a matter of fact, no one does. But, those feelings are hard to control in a society where everything feels like a competition for us.
I’m usually not a crier at concerts but Laufey’s vulnerability was so clear in the emphasis of the lyrics in comparison to the recorded version. Her facial expressions showcased the pain and difficulty she felt while singing the song. While there may be several songs out there with a similar theme, “Snow White” truly spoke to me at that moment; it’s a window to how girlhood truly is for most of us. Even now, it’s difficult to hold back tears when it plays as I drive.
Visually, one of the best songs in the set was “Sabotage.” Just like the name describes, the song features jumpscares of noisy instrumental screeches to symbolize a conflictive mindset and warning the listener to never know what to expect. When the flashes and loud noises happened live it was enough for my heart to leap out of my skin, even though I was familiar with the song. When it comes to the funniest song to watch, I would have to say seeing Laufey perform “Mr. Eclectic” brought a smile to my face. The song is a reference to the “Performative Male” trend that has been going around on social media and it’s safe to say I noticed several guys in the merch line holding onto their vinyls and Laufey hoodies.
When Laufey talked to her audience between songs, I noticed she talked like a normal person – which sounds weird, right? She is a person, of course she’ll talk like one. However, concert performers often have a specific tone when they speak to their fans; it’s obviously performed, purposely sounding energetic and animated. It makes sense when you think about it: they have an audience to keep entertained for over an hour. Singers are performers, that part is obvious. Fans can’t be surprised when artists have a persona for their fans. Chappell Roan, for instance, is not her onstage Chappell persona in her everyday life.
At most concerts, there’s a pattern in how it usually will go. They enter with a song, and between the setlist they would say a few words about it to further emphasize each song’s meaning. Throughout the show, they mention how grateful they are for the fans so they know how much the artist appreciates them. That being said, the pattern doesn’t mean their words are artificial and a script; I’m positive several of these artists mean every word they say.
Laufey’s concert felt different from this ordinary pattern. When she spoke, it felt human. She wasn’t putting on a facade as many artists do and instead laughed and cracked jokes with her audience, relating to the fans in a way that was very refreshing to experience.
Not only that, but she further included her fans in her concert by hosting a costume contest. Every show, her team scouts for the best dressed around the stadium and the person who wins is given a special crown from their spot on the floor by Laufey and Mei Mei the bunny – her mascot and companion at these concerts to further connect with her fans. It shows how she understands her demographic audience is filled with artists of all kinds and gives them a chance to shine for a few moments.
Not only was Laufey’s interaction with her fans remarkable, but her humor was too. In the middle of the five acts she has in the show, she has a costume change which requires her to go backstage for a while. What did the concertgoers do? The screens played a skit between Laufey and her twin sister Junia, showing Laufey trying on different outfits and showcasing them to Junia. The costumes she tried on in the video ranged from a bumblebee costume and a clock costume (probably to put in some clever clock puns to go along with her show) and fans enjoyed how she managed to feature her twin sister at her concerts even when she isn’t actually there.
Recently, Laufey’s concerts have been growing in quality. She has added special guests to her setlists (some including Benson Boone, KATSEYE, Lin Manuel Miranda, and many other big names). Her setlist has also had a recent addition, or several, as every show now has a different surprise song for the audience, possibly inspired by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour (which did boost a lot of concert trends). I will admit I am slightly jealous of the fans who got these surprise songs; Atlanta’s show didn’t get one, as it was the second show in the entire tour. What are the chances you see Alexander Hamilton in the same room as Laufey? Apparently, the odds weren’t impossible if you attended her New York City concert.
Even without a surprise song or special guest, this concert was a dream come true for me and my best friend. Not only did the show feature one of our favorite artists, but it was an artist we both connected with immensely and brought the two of us closer together. The journey also was something to remember for us; from fighting for presale tickets in the Knoxville airport, figuring out outfits, realizing we would just barely make it to the State Farm Arena in time, and walking back with slight fear of the downtown area, it was a trip that won’t soon be forgotten. Especially with the two of us rushing through our homework on the drive there so we wouldn’t have to worry about it the rest of the night!
It seems impossible to go to a concert the same day you have school, but if the opportunity is available to attend a concert of an artist you’ve always dreamed of seeing, isn’t it worth it? We all only have one life; it’s one we have to use wisely. Concerts are a once in a lifetime event for most people, and to share it with someone you are close with is truly remarkable.
