Laufey, the Icelandic-Chinese singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has been revolutionizing the jazz scene, is celebrating her recent GRAMMY nomination in a special way. In addition to an enchanting performance on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, she has released a version of the holiday classic “Winter Wonderland” on all digital platforms. The track is described by Laufey as a tribute to the Christmas traditions of her native Iceland, and promises to capture the family and intimate essence of the festivities.
At the Tiny Desk Concert, the Icelandic-Chinese singer, accompanied by a string quartet, revealed her incredible ability to introduce jazz to a younger audience. The performance included songs such as the captivating “From The Start”, with a groove reminiscent of bossa nova, and more melancholic moments with “Let You Break My Heart Again” and “Promise”. Laufey closed the performance with “California and Me,” inspired by her new musical journey and classical influences.
The presentation ends a successful year for the artist, whose album Bewitched was nominated for a GRAMMY in the Best Traditional Pop Album category. With his unique blend of jazz and classical music with a dash of pop sensibility, Laufey has won over millions of listeners around the world. Bewitched broke global records on Spotify, achieving the biggest debut for a jazz album in the platform’s history, with nearly 6 million streams in the first 24 hours. On social media, she has over 4 million followers and 12 million monthly listeners, making her Iceland’s biggest artist in terms of streaming. This week, Laufey published on Instagram a video recorded during a visit to BBC Radio 1, in London, with a version of “Blank Space”, by Taylor Swift, showing his ability to connect classical music with the pop universe – in just one day, The video already has more than 300 thousand likes.