Indie Light

Laufey Lín Bing Jónsdóttir known mononymously as Laufey is an Icelandic singer/songwriter and musician. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, as are several of the people we’ve reviewed before. She’s phenomenally talented and I’ve had the good fortune to review her previously which if you’re interested you can check out here. Today, I’ll be reviewing her album ‘Bewitched’ which was released on September 8th 2023. 

‘Dreamer’ opens with glorious and harmonious vocals. I’ve often thought that Laufey has an old world quality to her voice, like the crooners of the 20s and 30s, and this song really reinforces that notion. The stripped back melody really gives her voice a chance to shine, and boy is it sensational. The track is playful and yet melancholic, a bittersweetness and flows over you as you listen. It’s an incredibly strong opening track to what I’m sure is going to be a showstopper of an album. I’m particularly taken by the balance of vocal delivery, the more staccato beats juxtaposed with the more melodic sections. 

‘Second Best’ kicks off with warm acoustic guitars that flutter forward, enriching the deep and soulful vocals of Laufey. I’ve reviewed her a few times now, and each time I’m just taken aback by the resonant pleasing tones of her voice. I strongly feel she’s an artist who will continue to grow to new heights, embolden and experienced by each release. I first tuned into them in late 2019/early 2020 and each new song has been an enriching performance, and in the handful of years since that first experience I’ve been an eager fan, but this track is jam packed full of songs that speak to the development and exploration of her raw talent. 

‘Haunted’ has a building of strings, their rich melody boosting Laufey’s voice even further, the balance between her and the delicate melodies are a poetry in and of themselves, it’s so careful, the harmony and blending between her hauntingly beautiful voice, and the complex instrumental backing. I came back to this one a few times while writing the review, and it just really stuck with me, it’s a solid track, and it just absolutely absorbs you as you listen, and for a few minutes things just fall away. 

‘Must Be Love’ opens with soft acoustic guitars, and a different side to Laufey’s voice than we’ve seen so far, the previous few entries on the album have been more deep and smoky, but the delivery of this track is lighter and brighter, the hopefulness and sincerity come through cleanly in the performance. Once again I need to mention the interplay between the quiet but poignant delivery and the delicate instrumentals, it doesn’t make its point with sheer power or force of delivery, instead it wraps around you and is just an experience. 

‘While You Were Sleeping’ is a slightly more energetic acoustic guitar, smooth and vibrant beneath the singing, Laufey once again changes up her delivery, this is somewhere between the two points, melodic and lighter, but with more weight and texture to her voice. It’s impressive how much range she has. I really struggled with this one, but I think that this song takes the top slot, as my personal favourite on the album as it’s truly sensational. 

‘Lovesick’ has a really nice rhythm to it, the beat of the strings, almost percussive, create a solid backdrop, and Laufey truly builds throughout this track, more emotion, more intensity, and you just fall deeply into the performance. I mentioned above that it was really hard to pick a favourite, and with non-stop hits on this album that’s fair enough, I am certain that right on the heels of the above entry, this is my second favourite on the entire album. 

‘California and Me’ kicks up with sumptuous piano chords, creating a light but energetic melody that really supports Laufey’s vocals. Seriously though, I cannot get over how amazing she sounds, she’s like a fairytale princess, her voice resplendent and pure. I’m just drawn in by her vulnerability and honesty, and the beauty of the orchestral accompaniment make this a superb track. 

‘Nocturne (Interlude)’ opens with energetic piano chords, they build and deepen, creating a rich and harmonious melody, a core melody builds and is expanded upon but the same thread continues throughout, sometimes gentle and soft, high notes dancing like snowflakes, followed, chased almost by deeper notes that just create something truly beautiful. I’ve always been a sucker for an instrumental interlude and this one was breathtaking. 

‘Promise’ builds slowly, truly beautiful. I know they’ve collaborated before which might inform this a little but this vocally and tonally really reminds me of Dodie, another crazy talented musician, who I strongly suggest you check out. I also want to say that evoking Dodie is a massive complement, but regardless it’s a soft and slow piano melody that builds and falls around Laufey’s heartbreakingly emotional vocals. 

‘From the Start’ is an energetic acoustic guitar melody, and this prior to actively checking out the album was the only song I’d heard, as it popped up on social media. It’s got a nice energy to it, a playful back and forth that works incredibly well. 

‘Misty’ opens with a smooth piano melody, creating a rich backdrop, and similar to the piano, Laufey has an almost jazz infused note to her performance in this song, smooth and melodic, this song also has an old world quality to it. That is to say that Laufey has a timelessness to her voice and music which would allow it to stand the test of time. 

‘Serendipity’ kicks things off with delicate piano chords, and Laufey’s voice joins in quickly, creating a soulful and deep melody that carries us forward, and for the 3 minutes and 39 seconds the track plays you’re only aware of the song, the world fading around you. I love songs like this, one’s which don’t demand your attention, but nonetheless are absolutely captivating. 

‘Letter to My 13 Year Old Self’ is a gentle and even guitar melody, as Laufey sings, you feel her honest and the authenticity of her message throughout this song, she lays bare her adolescent vulnerabilities, and as the album comes to a close it’s a truly touching song that really reached me as a listener. That in essence also sums up the message and vibe of the entire album, her vulnerability, love and heartbreaks, it helps us to engage with her, and you just feel each emotion with her, a capacity that not every musician can master. Sharing your feelings is easy, but sharing them in a way that truly registers with the listener is hard, and Laufey manages if deftly. 

‘Bewitched’ closes out the album on a strong note, after an initial orchestral flourish, soft guitars guide us forward, Laufey’s uplifting melody is transcendent and I for sure am ‘Bewitched’ as the song had me hitting the replay button for a solid hour. I leave you with this last note, I’ve fallen deeply in love with Laufey’s performance, she’s a spectacular talent, and if you do absolutely anything on my recommendation, then I urge you to check out this album. 

So that’s what I thought of Laufey’s album ‘Bewitched’ 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.