Laufey, the Grammy-winning artist who has become a Gen Z icon by blending classical music with confessional songwriting, headlined the first of two sold-out shows at London's O2 Arena on Sunday night. Despite initial doubts about filling such a large venue, the performance proved a resounding success.
Fans embraced the 'Laufeycore' dress code, wearing handmade felt crowns, and a giant white bunny mascot named Mei Mei awarded the best dressed guest to someone who spent three months crocheting their own Laufey-inspired outfit. The gig itself was playfully whimsical, split into five acts that championed the gleeful melodrama of her tales of love and loss.
Laufey performed songs from her third album, A Matter Of Time, showcasing a different side to her usual soft-spoken jazz style. There was venomous anger behind 'Tough Luck', the piano-led 'Sabotage' channelled glam rock decadence, and the tender 'Snow White' turned insecurities into communal catharsis. She also played the cello while four dancers performed ballet.
Despite praising recent O2 Arena gigs by Paul McCartney and Radiohead, Laufey poked fun at the scale of the evening. During 'Bored', she ran along the front row greeting fans, joking about the cardio. A video interlude saw her arguing with her sister about a costume change, with Laufey dressed as a giant clock.
Laufey ended the main set with her biggest pop hit, 'From The Start', accompanied by confetti and dancing, before finishing with the delicate 'Letter To My 13 Year Old Self'. She encouraged the mostly young female audience: 'Chase your dreams and believe in yourself. If I can do it from a floating rock in the middle of the Atlantic, you can certainly do it from London.'
