Jazz from Iceland and China: Laufey’s Global Rise
Laufey, a rising star in modern jazz, has captured international attention with her 2023 album Bewitched. The Icelandic-Chinese cellist, singer, and songwriter has become a standout figure in the genre, blending influences from her diverse cultural heritage.
Her breakthrough came with the Bossa Nova track From The Start, a composition she wrote herself. The song made waves by reaching a million plays on the very first day of its release. On Bewitched, Laufey also pays tribute to jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald with a soulful cover of Misty. Laufey has cited Fitzgerald as one of her key influences, sharing that all musicians should transcribe their favourite solos—her own choice being Ella’s iconic Bebop scat solos.
Laufey’s musical journey began early, influenced by her mother, a violinist, and her grandfather, a violin teacher. Growing up in Iceland, she competed in the country’s top talent shows—Iceland’s Got Talent and The Voice—reaching the finals of both.
After gaining recognition in Iceland, Laufey moved to Boston to attend the Berklee College of Music. Following her graduation, she released her debut single, Street by Street (2020), which saw success in Iceland. This was followed by her well-received EP, Typical of Me (2021), which garnered praise from Billie Eilish. Her debut album, Everything I Know About Love, dropped in 2022, followed by a live album, A Night at The Symphony (2023), and her latest release, Bewitched.
With a wealth of talent and a growing fanbase, Laufey is certainly one to watch, and I can’t wait to see where her musical journey takes her next.
Laufey Tunes | Related Pages
Misty | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Misty by Ella Fitzgerald using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Bbmaj7 | Fm7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 |
Look at me, I’m as helpless as a kitten up a tree…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Misty. (Ella Fitzgerald) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Laufey on the web
