It’s been a hard week with capricious rain showers and blistering heatwaves descending all over Manila, but Laufey was the refreshing breeze we all needed. Enchanting the crowd with her sincerity, endearing anecdotes, and melodious vocals, the Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter found her way into our hearts as she welcomed us into her jazz-soundtracked world. 

Presented by Karpos Live, Laufey opened her first-ever Asia tour with a sold-out show in Manila’s The Filinvest Tent. The moment you walked through the doors, it felt comforting and familiar even in the moments before the ‘Magnolia’ singer emerged on stage. 

As everyone warmed up with a pre-show playlist full of jazz hits and pop favourites (which, of course, we all sang too) and as Laufey fuels herself up with Filipino snacks we gifted her during our interview (coming out soon!), you couldn’t help but notice the diverse crowd that filled all corners of the venue, from parents who went to join their kids to teenagers excitedly buzzing with their friends. Laufey has always made it her mission to introduce jazz to young audiences and this crowd was a testament she was doing a great job.

Laufey began the show with the ever-so delicate ‘Fragile’ and heartwarming ‘Valentine’, wasting no time to captivate the crowd. Within seconds, you’re instantly in awe at her ability to command and move a vast room with just her red electric guitar and breathtaking vocals. 

Her opening performances were soon followed by a charming welcome, as she greeted everyone with the story of how she took a 24-hour flight, lost her luggage containing her carefully chosen outfits and makeup, and had to borrow clothes from her twin sister, Junia. It was a tiring journey, she admits, but one that was absolutely worth it. 

“I’m not going to lie, this is the biggest concert I’ve ever played and I’m so honoured to have this special moment in the Philippines. This is so mind-blowing,” she expressed with bright eyes, thanking the over 2,000-strong crowd for being there. 

The concert continued with favourites like ‘James’, ‘Dear Soulmate’, ‘I Wish You Love’, ‘Let You Break My Heart Again’, ‘Like The Movies, ‘Beautiful Stranger’, and ‘Falling Behind’, each introduced with a story that inspired the track. Whether it was an unbeknownst stranger on the train she imagined a whole future with or taking back a city from a guy who broke her heart, each introduction was a cherished interlude that brought the crowd further into Laufey’s world. 

In here, it’s okay to cry-laugh over failed dates, mourn broken hearts, yearn for love while also being scared of it, and give into a romance you never thought you deserved. Her songs are an invitation to feel your feelings, even the most complicated and uncomfortable ones, and as she performs them live, she engulfs everyone in a safe space where you can simply be. 

As she moves between each song, she gradually reveals what she calls: “the story of her life through music”. Every chapter she sings is a candid recount of her many adventures backed by smooth vocals that send tingles down your spine. 

Bandwagon Doodles: Laufey talks her first Asia tour, maturing as a songwriter, and her upcoming album

Laufey continued her story with snippets of two unreleased songs from her upcoming sophomore album, filling everyone with excitement and glee, before concluding her concert with her newly released ‘From The Start’ and the undeniable staple ‘Magnolia’. 

Before exiting the stage, the singer-songwriter—who is set to embark on the rest of her sold-out Asia and Australia tour—sincerely thanks the crowd for showing up and promises to return.

“I’ve never thought I would see young people sing and listen to jazz music. [...] You guys have given me an audience I could have never ever dreamed of, you have been so kind and so welcoming,” she said, bidding farewell.

As the crowds of people make their way back to the outside world, Manila was still hot and humid but now, there’s just a little more magic and romance in the air.