Sensational and Inspirational: Laufey Shines in Sold-Out Chicago Performance [REVIEW]

Sensational and Inspirational: Laufey Shines in Sold-Out Chicago Performance [REVIEW]

Review by: Dennis M. Kelly – Photos by: Nicole Mago

Twenty-five-year-old Icelandic-Chinese composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and Grammy winner Laufey brought her Goddess Tour to a sold-out 3,600 seat Chicago Theatre Sunday night. Supporting her on this leg of the tour was London band, Wasia Project, good friends of hers who did an incredible job opening up the show for her.

The excitement was palpable as a backdrop of lights representing stars pierced the darkness while the familiar piano notes of “While You Were Sleeping” filled the auditorium. Cymbal swells and dreamy keyboards escalated the anticipation further, immediately followed by the sudden moment as Laufey made her way to center stage with the crash of cymbals and radiant purple lights filling the once-dark stage with beautiful color and light. The music was drowned out by the excited screams of fans as she reached the microphone.

Wearing an exquisite dress that flowed elegantly from her waist, she encapsulated a natural charm and radiance that outshined the stage lights, and then, in that moment, she sang the first words of the song. Immediately, the audience quieted to soak in her soothing yet fluttery voice, singing the words straight from her heart.

Seven large white lights illuminated to full brightness behind the band yet stayed dim enough to give the appearance of distant suns, adding to the ambiance of the stage. When she gracefully moved away from the center stage, the fans screamed with excitement as she spun around and reached out to hold one lucky fan’s hand, just as the lyrics of the song described. Laufey felt the love from Chicago as the audience erupted again by the song’s end.

The evening turned ‘jazzy’ as she performed “Valentine” and “Second Best” with the audience quietly singing along. Followed up by the drummer and upright bassist performing a beautiful, yet intricate jazz interlude, and then the song, “Dreamer;” concluding it with a curtsy.

Laufey kept a comfortable balance throughout the set, periodically switching from guitar to piano to cello and then singing exclusively, freeing her up to be close to her fans. But she is not just a beautiful and intelligent woman with a lot of musical talent, she also has a sharp and candid comedic disposition displayed many times throughout the evening.

Her most endearing quality is her authenticity and willingness to share moments of her life that many wouldn’t dream of.

One case in point was opening up about having a ‘cultural experience’ while trying deep-dish pizza and how it didn’t agree with her stomach. Though she thoroughly enjoyed it, it became a point of distraction later when attempting to sing “Goddess.” One light-hearted comparison between the song and her experience eating the pizza led to her inability to stop laughing until she took a moment to regain composure. The fans loved it, yelling out their support and admiration for her, identifying with her in how ‘human’ the moment ended up becoming. The result was the most moving and emotionally impacting point in the concert for many in the audience.

The band was backlit by lights reminiscent of sunlight filtered through foliage. Two heavenly spotlights focused on her as she played the piano on a lighted riser making the overall stage setup majestic and glorious.

The thunderous build-up of the song swept fans through the current of her emotions that she sang for all to experience with her. It was a moment of chills, understanding, and magic when performer and audience met through music in a historic venue and in a place undefined by our limited human existence; it was truly breathtaking!

The musicianship of the band was impeccable and accentuated by her string quartet which uplifted the emotional impact of her music. One cover song she performed on cello was “I Wish You Love” by Charles Trenet, but she was also inspired by Sam Cooke’s version. Another inspiration of Laufey’s is Ella Fitzgerald, and I believe she is as timeless as Ella Fitzgerald already, especially in today’s musical landscape.

There were so many notable and magical moments throughout the evening, including the performance of “Bored” from the recently released, ‘Bewitched: The Goddess Edition,’ to “Lovesick,” and “From The Start,” which featured her twin sister, Junia playing violin on the song.

For the encore, she performed “Letter To My 13 Year Old Self,” an encouraging song that can reach anyone at any age. It was inspirational and a wonderful way to send everyone off on a hopeful note for the night. Laufey is an incredible role model for young girls, smart, talented, witty, confident, and determined, and it’s great to see how more young people are inspired to listen to Jazz as a result.

The whole performance was an inspiration to take in as one woman shared her life in truth through music for all to experience, and collectively, lovingly support each other with them. There are few artists out there who share this much of themselves with their fans, and for those that do, they tend to have the strongest emotional connection with. If you missed this top-tier event, you will be able to see her again this year at Lollapalooza with the Chicago Philharmonic!

Bewitched: The Goddess Edition is out now and includes 4 additional songs! You can purchase it here!

Read more reviews here!

Biography:

“As a musician, my goal is to bring jazz and classical music to my generation through a more accessible road,” declares the composer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Laufey. In 2022, the Icelandic-Chinese artist’s trailblazing approach paid off, with a performance on Jimmy Kimmel LIVE! in support of her first full-length Everything I Know About Love, sold out tours of North America, Asia, and Australia, and she was the most streamed jazz artist of the year on Spotify.

The Los Angeles-based Laufey (pronounced lāy-vāy) continued her story by writing and recording Bewitched, her second album. Inspired by jazz greats and classical masters while possessing a point of view that could only be conveyed by a 21st-century twenty-something, Bewitched represents an expansion of Laufey’s sonic palette. Tracks like the breezy bossa nova cut “From the Start” and the smoldering string-assisted ballad “Promise” have classic songcraft and intricate arrangements that make them feel instantly timeless, while Laufey’s conversational lyrics give her music a relatability to the next generation of jazz and classical aficionados.

Laufey’s self-assured musicianship and deeply felt lyrics take the idea of “classic” music, whether it’s slotted as classical or jazz—or even chart-topping pop—and humanize it, creating a deep-seated connection with listeners that goes deeper than hitting “play” on a streaming service. “There are very few examples of artists who are onstage with an orchestra one day and making TikToks the next,” she notes dryly. Laufey’s straddling of those two worlds has put her in a singular place across music, and with Bewitched, she’s ready to ascend to the next level.

Video:

Audio:

Tour:

APR 25, 2024 – The Anthem – Washington, DC – Sold Out // with Wasia Project

APR 26, 2024 – The Anthem – Washington, DC – Sold Out // with Wasia Project

APR 28, 2024 – The Chicago Theatre – Chicago, IL – Sold Out // with Wasia Project

APR 30, 2024 – Massey Hall – Toronto, ON – Sold Out // with Wasia Project

MAY 1, 2024 – Massey Hall – Toronto, ON – Sold Out // with Wasia Project

MAY 3, 2024 – Radio City Music Hall – New York, NY – Sold Out // with Wasia Project

MAY 4, 2024 – Radio City Music Hall – New York, NY – Sold Out // with Wasia Project

MAY 7, 2024 – Boch Center Wang Theatre – Boston, MA – Sold Out // with Wasia Project

MAY 8, 2024 – Boch Center Wang Theatre – Boston, MA – Sold Out // with Wasia Project

MAY 10, 2024 – The Met – Philadelphia, PA – Sold Out // with Wasia Project

MAY 16, 2024 – Royal Albert Hall – London, UK – Sold Out // with Matilda Mann

MAY 25, 2024 – Java Jazz Festival – Jakarta

MAY 28, 2024 – PICC Plenary Hall – Manila // performing with The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra – SOLD OUT

MAY 28, 2024 – PICC Plenary Hall – Manila, Philippines

MAY 29, 2024 – PICC Plenary Hall – Manila // performing with The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra – SOLD OUT

JUN 1, 2024 – Seoul Jazz Festival – Seoul

JUN 21, 2024 – Gallivan Center – Salt Lake City, UT – with Grace Enger & Anna Beck

JUN 23, 2024 – Virginia Arts Festival – Williamsburg, VA

JUN 24, 2024 – Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts – Pittsburgh, PA – Sold Out

JUN 25, 2024 – Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts – Pittsburgh, PA – Sold Out

JUN 26, 2024 – Rochester International Jazz Festival – Rochester, NY – Sold Out

JUN 28, 2024 – Ottawa Jazz Festival – Ottawa, ON

JUN 29, 2024 – Montreal International Jazz Festival – Montreal, QC – Matinee

JUN 29, 2024 – Montreal International Jazz Festival – Montreal, QC – Sold Out

JUN 30, 2024 – Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival – Saratoga Springs, NY

JUL 12, 2024 – North Sea Jazz – Rotterdam, Netherlands

JUL 13, 2024 – Gent Jazz Festival – Ghent, Belgium

JUL 15, 2024 – Noches del Botánico – Madrid, Spain

JUL 16, 2024 – 56 Voll-Damm Festival de Jazz 2024 – Barcelona, Spain

JUL 18, 2024 – Umbria Jazz – Perugia, Italy

JUL 19, 2024 – Montreux Jazz Festival – Montreux, Switzerland

JUL 20, 2024 – Tener-a-mente – Gardone Riviera, Italy

JUL 21, 2024 – Luzern Live Festival – Lucerne, Switzerland

JUL 23, 2024 – Jazz in Marciac – Marciac, France – with Meshell Ndegeocello

AUG 1, 2024 – AUG 4, 2024 – Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL – performing with The Chicago Philharmonic

AUG 3, 2024 – The Montauk Point Lighthouse – Montauk, NY

AUG 4, 2024 – Newport Jazz Festival – Newport, RI

AUG 7, 2024 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA – Sold Out // with The Los Angeles Philharmonic

AUG 17, 2024 – SUMMERSONIC – Tokyo

AUG 18, 2024 – SUMMERSONIC – Osaka

AUG 24, 2024 – AUG 25, 2024 – SUMMERSONIC – Bangkok

AUG 27, 2024 – Plenary Hall, KL Convention Centre – Kuala Lumpur

AUG 29, 2024 – AsiaWorld-Expo, Hall 10 – Hong Kong

AUG 31, 2024 – TICC – Taipei

SEP 2, 2024 – SM Mall of Asia Arena – Manila

SEP 4, 2024 – Singapore EXPO – Singapore

SEP 6, 2024 – Palais Theatre – Melbourne, VIC

SEP 7, 2024 – Palais Theatre – Melbourne, VIC

SEP 9, 2024 – Palais Theatre – Melbourne, VIC

SEP 11, 2024 – Concert Hall, QPAC – Brisbane, QLD

SEP 13, 2024 – Sydney Opera House Concert Hall – Sydney, NSW

SEP 14, 2024 – ICC Sydney Theatre – Sydney, NSW

SEP 17, 2024 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO – with Mitski

SEP 18, 2024 – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre – Denver, CO – with Mitski

SEP 21, 2024 – Moda Center – Portland, OR – with Mitski

SEP 28, 2024 – All Things Go Music Festival – Columbia, MD – performing with The Kennedy Center Orchestra

Links:

Official: https://www.laufeymusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laufeymusic
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/laufey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laufey