Laufey Lín Jónsdottír or more commonly just Laufey is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and musician, she is currently based in Los Angeles. I’ve been making my way through her discography, and today I will be reviewing her debut EP ‘Typical of Me’ which was released on the 30th April 2021.
‘Street by Street’ opens with a sort of ambient energy to it, and soft acoustic melodic pieces interwoven beneath Laufey’s voice, which is just sensational. This is a very smooth and natural opening to the EP, it’s just so subtle and flowing, and it’s just so pure that you just get caught up in the energy of the track. This is an older track, and it was actually the first track I heard by the artist, and hearing it as part of the broader composition was really cool.
‘Magnolia’ features graceful acoustic strings that enrich the track, even as Laufey’s voice just steals the show. I recall saying in a previous view that she has a voice for performing, filling up concert halls, and I’ve only become more certain of that as I’ve listened to more of her music. Her voice is just transcendent and deep and rich, and it just comforts you. She has an audible quality similar to the singers of those old standards, like Ella Fitzgerald singing Dream a Little Dream, or Audrey Hepburn singing ‘Moon River’ in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She just has a voice that’s timeless and pure.
‘Like the Movies’ captures that vibe I was just talking about, timeless and with a quality to just fill up a room, the horns especially in this track really complimented the feel. I recently reviewed James Darren, as he covered a variety of classics and he likewise just embodied that type of music and melody, simplicity and complexity in perfect harmony.
‘I Wish You Love’ is soft but with a little more energy than the previous track, I think the subtle percussive undertones help to give it just a little bit more vibrancy, that and the almost jaunty strings which just blend into a luscious richness and harmony that just make for sure an engaging and heartfelt track.
‘James’ flows really well, the lyrics as well as the vocals are the true star of this track, not to discount the melody and instrumentals, which are also strong, but the weight and intensity of this track, and well as the lightness and almost whimsy are largely engineered by the lyrics and vocals. It’s a very strong track, and I think maybe my favourite on the entire EP, which is saying something is this has been a superb musical journey that Laufey has taken us on.
‘Someone New’ is soft and low and melancholic, and yet has a nice internal energy that keeps it from dropping too low. It’s a really strong track, especially as we close into the final track on the EP, it’s a track that builds throughout, never quite getting high energy or upbeat or even up tempo but the melody picks up and adds to the vibrancy of the track.
‘Best Friend’ closes things out on a high note, another soft and beautiful track, but again much like a few tracks it has a heavier overtone, the percussion on this add some weight and texture to the melody, but again the true highlight of this track has been Laufey’s sensational vocals.
So that’s what I thought of Laufey’s EP ‘Typical of Me’ and if you want to check that out for yourself then head on over to Spotify. While you’re at it, make sure and check out her website, and don’t forget to support the artist by following them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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