‘A Matter of Time’ is Laufey’s Own Whimsical Wonderland of Romance and Self-reflection
On ‘A Matter of Time,’ Laufey reaches for a familiar blend of jazz, pop, Bossa nova, and classical elements, but she finds plenty of space to experiment and spread her wings. With fairytale-worthy lyrics, effervescent instrumentals, playfully mesmerizing storytelling, Laufey passionately ponders her love affairs and friendships while navigating what it means to be a hopeless romantic.
Laufey spins into a love-struck frenzy on “Lover Girl,” her voice charming and cheeky, matching a bubbling blend of jazz instrumentals. A similarly charming ticking clock and sing-song vocals in “Clockwork” invite you into a fairytale like no other. Pattering drums and intimate piano instrumentals mimic a heartbeat, sweeping you away into the fantasy of romance: “But good God, I think he fell in love/Tick, tock, and I fell in love too/Like clockwork, I fell in love with you.” The ever-elusive phenomenon of time not only serves as a consistent sonic and visual detail throughout the album but also transforms into a key for Laufey to unlock her harbored self-doubts, regrets, and wishes.
“Lover Girl” Official Music Video Directed by Junia Lin
A lonely piano accompanies Laufey’s sorrowful vocals in “Too Little, Too Late” as the music swells into each chorus and through the bridge. Laufey’s vocals grow more raw and impatient as heavy drums march and create a robust atmosphere where she sadly discovers that the chance to share her feelings has already passed her by: “I'll toast outside your wedding day/Whisper vows I'll never say to you/‘Cause it's too little, all too late.” Although she has come to this heartbreaking conclusion, the graceful yet mournful violin instrumental confirms that not enough time has yet passed for Laufey to be at peace. On the other hand, “Tough Luck” is set against a background of sharp and tense instrumentals, like a match striking a rock; a ticking time bomb ready to explode. She finally breaks free in the bridge as instrumentals grow stronger: “I should congratulate thee/For so nearly convincing me/I’m not quite as smart as I seem/That I'm a loud-mouthed nobody/My accent and music are dumb/Your tattoos are no better, hun/The proof says you're tragic as fuck.”
“A Cautionary Tale” continues the time motif as Laufey equates love to an hourglass, or a sweeping fairy tale, or a steady heartbeat that eventually comes to an end and goes silent. Quaint and eager instrumentals build in speed and intensity as Laufey peels back the layers of her heart, unraveling the complex and emotional back and forth of a painful breakup before its inevitable conclusion: “I wanted to please you, this performance of a lifetime/My heart to you handed, you took it for granted/And made me the villain, all alone.” Laufey reflects on her tendency to fall in love completely, without reservations, even though she has experienced heartbreak before. Similarly, on “Carousel,” Laufey compares her life and emotions to a never-ending rollercoaster that she is convinced no one will want to buy a ticket for: “You signed up for one hell of a/One man show/Tangled in ribbons.” Charming backing vocals that mimic the rhythmic pattern of a clock or heartbeat make you feel like you are on a theme park ride, reflecting how, despite Laufey’s best efforts to shield her emotions, for fear of more heartbreak, we as listeners have already fallen under her mystical spell. More somber piano notes, sporadically broken by a scratchy instrumental glitch, create a peaceful illusion on “Sabotage,” reflecting Laufey’s unwavering belief that she is incapable of finding unconditional love: “I swear that one day, I'll marry you/I'll get in the way, just like I always do/You assure me you love me/Your message won't go through/Why won't it go through?”
Laufey’s introspection throughout ‘A Matter of Time’ sends her down different avenues as she begins to reflect on friendships and life as a woman. “Castle in Hollywood” compares a childhood friendship to a make-believe land of fairytales; a mirage that Laufey knows she will never experience again, although she continues to hope for a miracle: “I thought that lilies died by winter, then they bloomed again in spring/It’s a heartbreak/Marked the end of our girlhood/We’ll never go back to our castle in Hollywood.” Seasons represent another iteration of time as Laufey learns that nothing in life is guaranteed or permanent. This theme is echoed in “Forget-Me-Not” as Laufey reflects on leaving Iceland to pursue her musical dreams: “I miss the wind, stone cold kiss on my cheeks/Bends in your body, the hope of your spring/Millions now hear my soliloquy/I'm still that child on a black sand beach.” Sometimes, the small, seemingly insignificant moments of the quotidian are what we take for granted, and later realize just how much they made us feel at peace. Laufey sings a portion of the chorus in Icelandic, showcasing that despite leaving home, she will forever carry a piece of Iceland with her.
“Snow White” marks the album’s most painful chapter as Laufey sits with her feelings about beauty and body standards: “Sometimes I see her, she looks like Snow Whitе/She's everything I am, but my wrongs arе turned to rights/Her body is smaller, skin is so fair/She's achieved everything I've dreamed of/And it's all that I can think of.” Laufey is, all at once, comparing herself to someone entirely different, and also possibly comparing her present self to a version of herself that only exists in her mind, but that, regardless, is painted by society’s impossible standards. Pulling from a children’s fairytale, Laufey laments how society puts a certain image of womanhood on a pedestal and refuses to accept anything else.
“Snow White” Official Music Video Directed by Junia Lin
Despite the more somber themes throughout ‘A Matter of Time,’ Laufey emerges with some semblance of peace and understanding. “Silver Lining” blends more groovy instrumentals with sultry vocals, and “Mr. Eclectic” pokes fun at a pretentious ex-lover: “Bet you think you're so poetic/Quoting epics and ancient prose.” The instrumentals are light and playful, allowing Laufey to let loose. Finally, with “Clean Air,” Laufey takes a much-needed deep breath. A rustic combination of acoustic guitar and tambourine instrumentals creates a cozy, steady, and soothing rhythm. Laufey’s vocals are like a lullaby as she begins to find the confidence to move forward and find herself again: “Went through an X-ray/Doctor said therе's nothing left to see now/Nothing weird or scary, although somehow/Your hеart turned back to gold.” Despite her heartbreak, Laufey discovers that she always has the strength to find who she has always been. She can always find home again, even when she is miles away.
Don’t be afraid to lose yourself and find yourself once again, as you listen to ‘A Matter of Time,’ and be sure to catch Laufey on her A Matter of Time Tour this fall!
