Laufey enchants audiences with the A Matter of Time tour

By A&E Editor Navya Chitlur and News Editor Jennifer Li

Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter Laufey Lin Bing Jonsdottir, more commonly known as Laufey, has embarked on her A Matter of Time Tour — a global set of concerts to showcase her third studio album. The tour, following her Bewitched Tour in 2023-24, marks her first all-arena tour, holding up to 30,000 people in sold-out concerts. On September 29, thousands of fans crowded around a music note-shaped stage adorned by carousels and clocks in Oakland Arena, ecstatic to finally greet Laufey. 

For context, the A Matter of Time Tour spans North America and Europe, featuring model, actress, and singer-songwriter Suki Waterhouse as an opening artist, along with several special guests, including Katseye in Los Angeles and Benson Boone in Arizona. Through ticket sales, the tour raises funds for the Laufey Foundation, a charity that supports young musicians to access resources and education, having raised over $275,000 as of August.

From the start of the Oakland Arena concert, the crowd was captivated by the hard drums, melodious voice, and ethereal stage presence in Waterhouse’s opening act. Large, bright green plants decorated the set design as radiant pink and blue lights illuminated the audience, perfectly embodying the aesthetic of her latest album, Memoir of a Sparklemuffin. During the slow songs of Waterhouse’s set, such as “Model, Actress, Whatever,” the crowd sang along and waved flashlights. The drums and loud vocals set a rock-like mood in the crowd, contrasting the lyrical and jazz-style characteristic of Laufey’s music, but energizing the atmosphere all the same. Hard beats and scattered, heavy lighting during songs like “Big Love” and “OMG,” as well as impressive vocals during others, like “Johanna,” established Waterhouse as a mesmerizing opening act.

Between the opener and main act, a preshow playlist entertained the audience, who sang and danced along to songs by Clairo and Katseye. A wave began and spread across the audience countless times as flashlight chains bloomed, establishing a sense of community and intimacy amidst the crowd before the headlining concert even began.

Laufey’s shows have been consistently filled with traditions embodying the set design and show theme, such as handmade crowns or dark blue and pale costumes speckled with bows. The concert followed a unique structure, mirroring that of a theater performance, comprising four distinct acts that each showcased a facet of her musical style.  To begin, the stage flashed with dazzling imagery and the lights flashed rapidly throughout the crowd, while background music emulating clock sounds introduced the tour’s respective album. A silver sword appeared on screen over a red background, soon replaced by the words Act I in black and white Roaring ‘20s-esque imagery, setting the scene for a jazz act. Above the stage, a circular light structure speckled the stadium in carnival colors and patterns; on stage, two connected arched staircases centered around a swing created a homey set design. The dancers, matching the bunny theme of the tour, entered with tutus and bunny ears, and the screen shifted to a breathtaking fairy castle during the song “Dreamer.” Laufey’s setlist and persona matched the set design in an impressive and beautifully elegant display. 

In the second act, the show shifted toward an intimate, minimalist atmosphere in what Laufey endearingly called a “jazz club” segment. The singer, accompanied by a jazz quartet, performed on a small, circular, extended platform, shaping the tail of the music-note stage, isolated in the music without any props, special lighting, or effects. The segment featured songs like “Old Times” and “Valentine” with an emphasis on the swinging melody and accelerated rhythm, highlighting Laufey’s jazz influences through old-timey jazz. The cozy atmosphere contrasted with the flashy opening in Act I as the audience audibly sang along to classic favorites.

The show progressed into its third act, which consisted of dramatic ballads accompanied by the piano. In dim lighting, Laufey performed fan favorites, such as “Promise” and “Goddess,” completely solo. The section’s stage design reintroduced the dramatic lighting effects present in the first act, as well as the return of the castle.

Finally, Act 4 notably featured a dazzling performance of “Sabotage,” the final track from A Matter of Time. The performance was brought to life by invigorating effects, including flashing lights during the iconically chaotic instrumental and even a huge light fixture dropping as she exited the stage in what seemed like a finale. Despite this, Laufey once again returned to the stage to sing an intimate, acoustic rendition of classic fan-favorites “I Wish You Love” and “Letter to my 13 year old Self,” which she referred to as “lullabies” to bid farewell to the audience.

Throughout the show, Laufey incorporated several special portions to provide variation and engage the audience. Namely, there was a dance interlude to the song “Cuckoo Ballet” performed by two background dancers, as well as a humorous video Laufey and her sister, Junia, had filmed to entertain fans as she briefly left for a costume change. Additionally, Laufey directed the spotlight toward one special audience member during the “Best Dressed Guest” segment, in which she selected a young girl who wore an intricately handmade dress adorned with the iconic Laufey symbol Mei Mei the Bunny and a necklace with the A Matter of Time album cover on it. These parts felt intentional and thoughtful, allowing the artist to take a break from performing while keeping the audience entertained and involved.

The concert carried an exceptionally intimate and vulnerable vibe throughout, as Laufey often paused between songs to speak candidly to her audience, whether to offer her gratitude for their support or to provide context to an upcoming number. For instance, before performing “Snow White,” Laufey opened up about the song being contrived from her insecurities growing up as a Chinese girl in Iceland and how she always felt inferior to imposed standards of beauty and behavior. In another moment, she confided in the audience that she was quite nervous to embark o n her first-ever arena tour, expressing shock and gratitude for the opportunity. These snippets felt like a peek into Laufey’s personable nature, which is reflected in her relatable lyrics, contributing to widespread praise and success.

Overall, the concert was a beautiful experience, with spectacular effects, highly talented performers, and a uniquely intimate atmosphere, painting an image of the prolific artist that Laufey has become.