Jen Fosnaught | For The Post
The end of August is a busy week for pop music, with artists like Sombr, Sabrina Carpenter and Laufey all releasing new albums back to back.
Despite all the noise, Laufey’s newest album, “A Matter of Time,” which was released last Friday, manages to stick out, attracting fans to the new songs.
Laufey’s newest album adheres to her typical formula, a formula that sets her apart from most other pop singers. “A Matter of Time,” as well as her other albums, combines a mix of pop influences with classical music, jazz and bossa nova, resulting in a harmonious blend between the new and old music styles.
“A Matter of Time” switches things up with its theming and lyrics, offering new insight into Laufey’s adventures in love and fame. Laufey classically sings mostly about love and romance, with all of her top five most popular songs on Spotify as of August 26 being about romance.
“A Matter of Time” gives the audience more insight into her journey. Laufey described the piece as being more serious than her previous albums.
“This one is a lot more introspective and mature,” Laufey stated in an interview with Time Magazine.
The album leaves the audience hesitant about love and understanding the difficulties it can bring. Laufey allows herself to be vulnerable about the times she’s been hurt or the times she’s failed at love.
“Tough Luck,” the second single released for the album, features Laufey scolding an ex-lover for his rude, manipulative attitude. The music begins slowly and ramps up as the song progresses, beginning calm and hurt but ending proud and confident.
Laufey’s abilities to switch moods, tempos and vibes during a song shine through in this album, making many songs feel like they tell a story during their duration. The song “Sabotage,” the last song on the album, starts slow as well, then is cut by jarring, harsh noises to allude to Laufey’s love life being sabotaged. The album ends on a cautious note as a result of the mood switch.
“Sabotage” took fans by surprise, shocking them with the sudden turn and its deeper meaning. “You don’t understand how much this scared me at 12:30 a.m. FULL volume in the dark,” wrote TikTok user makayl4spam on a video with over 2.3 million views.
A commenter goes on to write, “the song talks about how she sabotages herself and her relationships, and she then sabotaged her own sweet melody… like Laufey wow.”
Overall, the album is filled with musical excellence on every front. Laufey’s piano work, as well as accompanying string instruments, creates a magical world. Her deep, flowery voice paints melancholy pictures that make “A Matter of Time” feel alive.
In the track “Lover Girl,” Laufey blends strings, piano, maracas and vocals for an orchestral masterpiece.
In the song “Forget-Me-Not,” Laufey brings her Icelandic heritage into her music by singing verses in Icelandic. She grieves her home and the distance she has to keep from it to pursue her career as a singer, giving listeners a view into both her culture and her grief.
“Love you forever, don’t let go of me / I’ll die if I wither in your memory,” sings Laufey in a heartbreaking ballad.
Laufey’s previous album, “Bewitched,” saw critical acclaim, winning the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2024. “A Matter of Time” has seen similarly high praise from others, with publications like Time MagazineBillboard Pitchfork and Vogue commenting on the release.
“That’s sort of Laufey’s MO – carving out her own space in the universe, becoming the sort of icon young girls place on moodboards,” Vogue wrote. “The sort of icon that makes her fans feel less alone.”
Laufey wanted the album to feel relatable to people struggling through the same things she was. In her song “Snow White,” she criticizes the pressure women go through when dating and how they’re often measured for their looks as opposed to other qualities.
“I'm aware of my words being listened to by young women, but I realized that sometimes feeling seen or relating to someone is the best feeling,” Laufey said in an interview with Time Magazine.
Laufey was listed in Forbes’ music-based 30 under 30 list, as well as named one of Time’s 2025 women of the year. Combined with her Grammy, it’s clear that many are fans of her work, and she’s made a large name for herself.
Laufey’s currently on tour until the end of October, with tickets available across America.
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