Laufey’s third album, A Matter of Time, seems like both an end and a new beginning. Since her big break in 2021, Laufey has mastered a type of nostalgic jazz-pop that seemed out of place in the modern age, yet still connected with millions of people. With this album, however, she showcases new sides of her art. A Matter of Time is amazingly rich and deeply emotional, appearing much more vulnerable than her other albums. Particularly, it combines the softness from her debut with more bold production choices, resulting in a nuanced listening experience.
The overarching theme of A Matter of Time is dealing with vulnerability. Laufey has always written from the point of view of someone who understands struggles, but in A Matter of Time, she puts those feelings front and center rather than hiding behind irony or romanticized aesthetics. This album tells a story: a young woman who is falling apart as she deals with heartbreak, and the process it takes to find herself,
One of the recurring ideas is time: how it heals, how it hurts, and how it reshapes relationships. Laufey often uses the passage of time as a metaphor in songs about lost love, fleeting happiness, and the inevitability of change, ultimately making the record feel like a cohesive story and providing an emotional appeal to listeners.
A Matter of Time combines Laufey’s jazz style with parts of classical and modern pop music. There are orchestral arrangements that build up over several tracks, achieving a movie-like quality. There are also hints of bossa nova and chamber pop, helping to make the album feel bigger and bolder than her last, Bewitched, which had a dreamy polish. As always, her singing is warm and clear, but in A Matter of Time, it has a more pronounced emotional edge. Instead of keeping a calm, velvety distance, she allows moments of stress, playfulness, or even bite to slip into her delivery. This makes the songs feel more authentic and entertaining to listen to, as if she cares more about expressing herself than about being perfect.
The first song, “Clockwork,” sets the mood with fun, abstract, almost fairy-tale harmonies. The layered vocals and upbeat tempo give the song a childlike quality, somewhat contrary to the deeper worries in the lyrics.
“Silver Lining” shows off Laufey’s ability to mix romance with irony. The lyrics hint at devotion, but they also show a hint of defiance, which makes what could have been a sweet ballad into something more complex and sneaky. Specifically, the growing instrumentals reflect the song’s emotional ups and downs.
One of the most memorable songs on the album is “Tough Luck.” Orchestral pop surrounds a sharp story about a breakup, and Laufey’s voice conveys a quiet rage that is refreshing, coming from a singer who is usually known for being soft. The song’s edge shows that she is willing to make her persona more complicated, and that she can express anger just as well as sadness.
“Lover Girl” has a breezy bossa nova feel, complete with handclaps and a syncopated rhythm. Due to its fun, self-aware, and lighter tone, listeners can understand Laufey’s vulnerability and why she finds comfort in unserious moments.
“Snow White,” potentially the most introspective song on the album, describes her journey through societal beauty standards and her own identity in a way that highlights her vulnerability. The simple instrumentation allows her voice to shine through, effectively deepening the emotional impact.
Most notably, however, A Matter of Time has a uniquely effective flow. Each song has its own personality, but the order of the songs is crucial to its clear story arc. The record begins with silly hope, then undergoes a painful heartbreak and self-reflection, finally ending with thoughtful acceptance, creating a realistic emotional journey. What makes A Matter of Time so special and well-made, however, is that it displays an artist who is fully herself: confident enough to recognize flaws, ambitious enough to deepen her sound and production, and open enough to share her vulnerable side.
In summary, A Matter of Time is Laufey’s most personal and ambitious album to date. It takes listeners on an emotional journey where nostalgia meets raw confession, lush orchestration, and simple intimacy. It’s a record that you should listen to from start to finish, not just because each song is beautiful, but also because the entire track works together to tell a story. A Matter of Time captures the excitement of seeing an artist grow into herself: timeless, open, and very human.
