By Ashley Ragone
Staff Writer
Laufey, the singer who has taken the music world by storm with her unique fusion of classical jazz and pop, has once again wowed audiences with her latest project, “Laufey’s A Night At The Symphony: Hollywood Bowl.”
The Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter first rose to prominence in 2021, following the release of her debut EP “Typical of Me.” Her blend of classic jazz, indie and pop sound pairs beautifully with her hauntingly poetic lyrics and ethereal tone.
Her 2023 album “Bewitched” marked a milestone in her career, with the Symphony’s concert film serving as an extension of her discography evolution. The film premiered on Dec. 6, bringing the magic of her sold-out tour to the big screen.
The movie not only showcases Laufey’s musical prowess, but offers an immersive experience into her creative world — both intimate, behind-the-scenes moments with her sister as well as the grandeur of concerts with crowds of thousands. She even popped up for a message of gratitude before the film began, and offered a round of trivia regarding her career and musical information.
Director Sam Wrench, whose credits include Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Nonsense Christmas,” has struck a balance between the personal and grandiose for this film. One of the most memorable moments involves the intermission break, where Laufey drives down Sunset Boulevard in a vintage car, reflecting on the work that brought her to the heart of Los Angeles. The Hollywood Bowl, an open-air venue that seats over 17,000 people, marks a career-defining achievement for her.
In conversation with Variety, she shared that the accompanying film was “really surreal” and she was “so honored to get to do it so early on in [her] career.”
From the first notes of “Above the Chinese Restaurant,” Laufey’s palpable nervous energy and excitement are matched by her clear talent. Her twin sister and creative director, Junia, makes an appearance playing the violin during “Best Friend,” and her first set concludes with her nostalgic “Letter to My 13 Year Old Self.”
With the opening of the second set, Laufey stuns in a bright pink dress, as featured in the movie’s official poster, matching the simplistic and graceful elegance of her music. With the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra accompanying her, she opens with the confident “Dreamer.”
She is then bittersweet and forlorn with “Falling Behind” and “Promise,” but smitten and sweet with “Valentine” and “While You Were Sleeping.” Her emotional versatility shines through, and she reaches her most powerful form in stand-out “Goddess,” a song of self-actualization and feminine power.
Laufey closes the evening with her hit “From The Start,” a record that has garnered over a billion streams across various platforms, and the audience is left satisfied and amazed.
Laufey’s songs are elevated by the orchestral composition, adding a cinematic quality to each performance. Her adolescence, marked by classical training in several instruments and performances with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, is reflected in the integration of these elements. Laufey herself incorporated not only stunning vocals, but her own guitar, cello and piano accompaniment into the set. She noted on Instagram that there is “truly nothing that compares with singing with an orchestra.”
Laufey’s “Night At The Symphony” is more than just an average concert film, but rather a celebration of an artist honing her craft with a bright future ahead of her. It showcases her musical talent, as well as her connection with her audience (or Lauvers, as she calls her fans). As Laufey continues to grow her discography and expand her career, this film serves as a poignant record of her immense talent and skill in genre-bending music.
