Is She Jazz? Is She Pop? She's Laufey, and She's a Phenomenon.
The genre-defying musician makes retro earworms infused with the second guessings of a Gen Z diarist. Her third album, 'A Matter of Time,' is due in August.
www.nytimes.comHere’s the latest on Laufey’s music genre as of 2026:
- Laufey continues to defy a single genre, blending jazz, pop, classical, and retro-inspired influences. Recent interviews and coverage highlight her movement across jazz-pop with orchestral textures, while insisting the core is pop at heart. This cross-genre approach has become a hallmark of her identity as an artist, not a strict label.[2][3][8]
- Her 2023 album Bewitched anchored her in jazzy, vintage-inspired pop, and her 2024–2026 work expanded into more intricate arrangements and a broader palette, including orchestral elements and sophisticated chord progressions typical of jazz and classical music.[3][4][2]
- Industry coverage in 2025–2026 emphasizes that “Is it jazz? Is it pop?” is less a question than Laufey’s ongoing project of blending moods and eras. Her third album, A Matter of Time, is framed as a genre-defying release that leans into jazz-pop with classical strings but remains firmly rooted in contemporary pop storytelling.[4][6][3]
- Public narrative around her music emphasizes that she crafts a personal sound rather than fitting into a single category, drawing on Icelandic-Chinese heritage and a wide range of musical influences, from Norah Jones-like crooning to vintage musical theater textures.[2][3][4]
- In 2026, through major features and her own statements, Laufey positions her music as genre-fluid and mood-driven, focusing on what fits the song rather than a fixed label, with ongoing projects and live performances illustrating this approach.[6][3]
Illustration: If you’re exploring her sound, listen to Bewitched for the jazz-pop blend, then sample A Matter of Time to hear the expansion into orchestral textures and more complex harmonies, all while maintaining pop accessibility.[3][4][2]
Citations:
- Laufey’s genre-blurring jazz-pop with classical influences described in NPR interview and Guardian profile.[1][2]
- NYTimes profile framing her as a genre-defying artist with a pop core and retro influences.[3]
- Wikipedia and official sources noting later releases and artistic direction toward a multi-genre, mood-driven approach.[5][4]