Believe it or not, 2025 marked two years since songstress Laufey landed on everybody’s radar. The landmark, critically acclaimed release of 2023’s Bewitched intoxicated the world with the artist’s moody, hazy, jazzy approach to the modern soul revival, and spawned an instrumental and deluxe version of the modern monster. Laufey’s 2022 debut and her breakthrough sophomore effort are lined with emotional outpourings over tender jazz, allowing the artist to carve a unique lane that cuts the paths between nostalgia and modern tropes in two, leaving nothing but an open road for the promising multi-hyphenate. Massive tours, a cult following, and a deep love from critics have set Laufey up to be a shining, refreshing star. The only thing left for the artist to do is seize the moment.
Laufey looks to continue her inevitable rise to modern music royalty with A Matter of Time, the artist’s third album and first collection of new music since Bewitched launched her into the hearts of jazz and pop enthusiasts. Across 14 spellbinding songs, Laufey finds herself exploring her pop influences while keeping one foot in the door of her jazz ballad roots. This sprawling effort proves that the artist is a far cry from another member of a soul revival, something different than an alt-pop star, and more than an artist with the ability to spin her feelings into jazzy tropes. A Matter of Time breaks the mold Laufey, or more so, the critics and fans, put her in after the runaway success of Bewitched, leaving behind an expansive, restless effort that seemingly captures the whirlwind that the artist was thrown into.
A Matter of Time is not the consistently jazzy sound of Laufey’s past work; this is a spiritual breakthrough from an artist who refuses labels and genres. What the album lacks in sonic consistency, as the tracklist leaps from pop anthems to nostalgic soul balladry, it makes up for in raw passion and artistic experimentation. Laufey seems to be testing herself almost as much as she is testing the people who would hope the artist would stick to a singular sound, although to call A Matter of Time a challenging listen would be horribly unjust. The tracklist boasts sentimental, slow-burning outputs like “Forget-Me-Not” and “Too Little, Too Late,” and emotional pop infectiousness on highlights like “Hollywood Castle” and “Tough Luck.” All the while, Laufey never forgets her roots as she slides back into her old self on moments like the breezy album opener, “Clockwork,” and the danceable “Mr. Eclectic.”
Laufey isn’t just evolving musically either. As a songwriter, the artist uses the attention garnered to reintroduce herself as more than just a heartbroken poet. Across this tracklist, Laufey proudly totes her prowess as her emotions become more complex and detailed, as seen in the single “Lover Girl” or the soft ballad “Carousel.” A Matter of Time was not created by the same Laufey we’re used to; this artist is more daring and honest. The artist’s third LP successfully proves that Laufey is far from a one-trick pony, as these 14 songs stretch the nuances of Laufey’s approach and allow each intricacy to shine.
