Ones2Watch Home

Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter Laufey continues to introduce jazz to new generations with the release of her latest single, "From The Start." The breezy single is a chipper yet forlorn piece that tells an all too relatable tale of unrequited love laced with mellow soundscapes and rich vocals.

"From The Start" opens with minimalistic and summery guitar strumming, leaving room for Laufey's decadent vocals to breathe and shine the sonic space she's actively crafting. When the soft, foot-tap-inducing percussion and bass lines chime in, she shares how awkwardly quiet she gets when her crush is around, confessing that their nonverbal communication doesn't make her feel much better. She begs, "Don't you dare look at me that way / I don't need reminders of how you don't feel the same." In the catchy chorus, Laufey declares herself wounded by Cupid's arrow and wonders whether she's "a loon" to think there might be some connection between her and the person who holds her heart captive.

In the final verse, Laufey finds herself lying in bed and resolves to "get this off my chest, I'm telling you today." Despite what could happen, she concludes that honesty is better than torturing herself by holding her feelings inside. "'From The Start' is a bossa nova-inspired song about being in love with your best friend… who is in love with someone else," said the songstress about the track. "I wrote the song to create a playful mix of old sounds with modern lyrics."

The track marks the first taste of new music to come from Laufey this year, following last year's A Night At The Symphony, which she recorded with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and her acclaimed 2022 debut album, Everything I Know About Love. She also recently announced a headlining performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra this fall, and her entire summer tour in Australia and Asia sold out in just minutes. She will also appear at various festivals this summer, including Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Ottawa Jazz Festival, and THING Festival.

Listen to "From the Start" below: