Just like “Clockwork,” Laufey, an Icelandic-Chinese singer, released her third studio album “A Matter of Time” on August 22, 2025, telling a captivating story of magic, romance and identity of being a “Lover Girl”.
Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir had always been surrounded by music growing up, whether it was her and her twin sister, Junia, playing duets on the piano and violin, or her family members, who had deep musical backgrounds in orchestra.
Her mother was a classical violinist who played in local symphonies, and Laufey’s grandfather, Lin Yaoji, taught at the Central Conservatory of Music in China as a violin educator. Throughout her songs, Laufey weaves classical jazz elements with orchestral arrangements, creating a unique blend of the two genres with hints of modern influences.
Two years after releasing “Bewitched,” her second studio album that enchanted audiences worldwide with over 1.7 billion streams on Spotify and even earning a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Laufey decided to make her third album more centered on introspection and timeless storytelling.
She aims to highlight a powerful message of embracing self-expression, discovery and change. To her, no matter how chaotic or lovestruck life may be, what matters most is living in the moment and not being afraid of fleeting time.
Clicking play on the opening track, “Clockwork,” listeners are greeted by the faint chimes of bells, resembling the steady rhythm of a ticking grandfather clock and creating a soft and timeless ambience as if the world itself had paused for a moment. The light percussion and subtle cymbal brushes reminded me of the gentle swings of classic jazz, while the piano left a playful tone as Laufey dreamily sings about falling in love. This starts off the album with a lighthearted invitation into Laufey’s world, drawing the listeners in with intrigue and setting the stage for a narrative centered around time.
“Snow White” is a track worth listening to with its soft, calming guitar strums that set an emotional and self-reflective tone. Laufey tells a story about a woman’s self-identity, as she looks into the mirror, wondering if she could ever look like Snow White, struggling with the “pretty” and “skinny” features that society idolizes. She makes a distinct contrast to the original fairytale dilemma of the Evil Queen. Instead of the modern woman in the song feeling resent towards Snow White, she feels pressured to conform to beauty standards in the pursuit of being acknowledged as “fair,” let alone being considered the “fairest of them all.”
Laufey criticizes the obsession with superficial beauty and how this trend could negatively impact women’s mental health and self-image. The repeated lines, “the people want beauty, skinny always wins, and I don’t have enough of it,” the narrator’s internal dissatisfaction and insecurity as she compares herself to other “Snow Whites” as it’s “all that [she] can think of.”
Additionally, Laufey utilizes the lyric, “a woman’s best currency is in her body, not her brain,” to powerfully illustrate the negative aspects of society that value women primarily for their appearance rather than for who they truly are. From this, Laufey encourages her listeners who may feel insecure to recognize that it’s okay to not look like Snow White because others will never be satisfied, so prioritizing personal well-being and positivity is essential for taking care of oneself.
Overall, this album is definitely softer and more elegant than her previous works, featuring sophisticated and slower songs about romance and identity. I would give this album a 9/10 and would definitely recommend it to those interested in exploring deeper themes of love and self-discovery. Additionally, people who enjoy listening to jazz, classical music or modern pop may find this album enjoyable to listen to.
In conclusion, Laufey’s album is an amazing compilation of stories and valuable lessons to learn about yourself as a listener and how time is always a key factor in changing directions in someone’s life.
