Laufey Took Over the Guggenheim Museum for a Stunning Spotify Pop-Up Show
Laufey has graced the stages of iconic cultural landmarks around the world, from the Hollywood Bowl in L.A. to the Sydney Opera House in Australia, to the Harpa Concert Hall in her home country, Iceland. On Wednesday afternoon, she added an unexpected venue to that list: The Guggenheim.
The singer hosted a pop-up show on the ground floor of the spiral-shaped museum in New York, in partnership with Spotify, less than two weeks before the August 22 release of her new album, A Matter of Time.
Wearing a black dress and a matching bow in her hair, she performed some of her beloved hits, like “From the Start” and “Falling Behind”; recent singles like “Silver Lining”; a jazz arrangement of “Tough Luck”; and a few unreleased songs from her new album, including the opening track “Clockwork” and the snarky “Mr. Eclectic.” It was her first time performing both songs live.
The iconic museum was the perfect match for Laufey’s jazz- and classical-inspired repertoire. “I’m so excited to be here at the Guggenheim, I feel like I used to walk around...this one giant hall and dream about a rom-com,” Laufey told the crowd at the beginning of her 10-song set.
Devout Laufey fans (“a.k.a. Lauvers”) gathered in the atrium to watch the singer up-close, while unknowing tourists, toting backpacks and baseball caps, leaned over the gallery railings to take in the surprise performance.
On a small stage on the ground floor, Laufey was accompanied by a bassist, a string quartet, pianist, and drummer, while she sang at the mic with her signature red guitar. She also took her turn at the piano for her latest single, “Snow White.”
Before her final song, she gave the audience a little more detail about A Matter of Time, which follows her 2023 record, Bewitched.
“I really, really poured my heart into this album,” she said. “It’s definitely a little eclectic, but it feels like every single part of me is in it. My thesis for this album is, really, that we have a lot of emotions and a lot of layers within us. And we should feel confident to show the world every single part of ourselves. You guys are here for every single part of me just as I am here for every single part of you.”
Speaking to ELLE earlier this year, Laufey teased what to expect on the new LP.
“With this album, I’ve experienced a lot more life. I think we all present a very pretty version of ourselves to the world. This starts there, and then starts to dig in and show the darker thoughts and things that are within a woman,” she said. “It’s about this constant fight with keeping the outside pretty and the inside organized.
“As I’ve grown into this success, I really see how much of a role model I am for people, young women especially,” she added, “and I never want to gaslight any young woman into thinking that everything is just so perfect.”
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