동그랗게 모여있는 바이올린, 비올라, 첼로 연주자들 앞에 레이베이(Laufey)는 기타를 메고 선다. 레이베이가 중저음으로 시작해 고음에 이르기까지, 미끄러지듯 우아하게 노래하기 시작하자 어느순간 나는 길모퉁이에 있는 재즈바에 도착한다. 감미롭게 흔들리는 촛불을 앞에 둔 채 이 멜로디를 거쳐 저 멜로디로 옮겨가다보면 어느새 몇 시간이 훌쩍 흘러있기도.
아침 일찍 일어나서 악기 연습하는 아이였으면 좋았을텐데, 저는 눈뜨면 바로 학교 가는 아이였어요. 학교 끝나면 두 시간 정도 악기 연습을 하고 밤에는 실내악이나 오케스트라 리허설이나 레슨 가곤 했어요. 나머지 시간에는 책도 많이 읽었지만 정말 즐겼던 건 유튜버나 가수들의 영상을 보는 거였어요. 그런 저의 취미가 지금의 저를 만들어준 것 같아요.
둘 다 공연 때문에 벨기에에 있었는데 그때 노라가 출연한 팟캐스트에 저를 초대줬어요. 그날 만나서 크리스마스 송을 같이 해보자는 얘기를 나눴어요. 노라 존스의 엄청난 팬으로서 꿈만 같은 얘기였죠! 어려서부터 듣고 자라며 기억했던 목소리가 실제로 완전히 똑같았어요.
9. [RSK] 2023년에 발매된 두번째 앨범 [Bewitched]에서는 1집 [Everything I Know About Love](2022)보다는 재즈에 가까운 음악을 선보이셨어요. 그래서 Laufey의 다음 행보는 어떨지 궁금해졌어요. 지향하거나 도전하고 싶은 사운드가 있다면 무엇인가요?
기다려보시면 알게 되실 거예요.
10. [RSK] 6월에 서울 재즈 페스티벌 무대에 오를 예정인데요. Laufey를 기다리는 많은 한국 관객들에게 두 곡을 추천해 주시겠어요?
<Falling Behind>와 <Goddess>를 추천합니다.
Photographs by Gemma Warren
Midnight in Paris with Laufey’s voice
Laufey stands with her guitar in front of a circle of violin, viola, and cello players. As Laufey begins to sing, gliding and graceful, from the lowest notes to the highest, suddenly we arrive at a jazz bar on a street corner. With the candlelight swaying softly in front of us, we move from one melody to the next, and before you know it, hours have passed already.
Inspired by orchestral music and using string sweeping (a technique that involves playing a series of notes in a smooth, flowing manner), Laufey's music is heavily romanticized, and her ethereal voice takes you to a different place every time you hear it. Like in Woody Allen's movie “Midnight in Paris”. As darkness falls over the city, Laufey's music transports you back in time.
1. [RSK] I heard that you were raised by your mother who was a classical violinist and your father who was a jazz lover. After hearing this story, there was one thing that made me curious. How did Laufey's day usually go as a child?
I wish I was one of those kids that got up early to practice, but I would typically roll out of bed and straight to school. After school, I’d typically practice for a couple of hours, followed by whatever chamber music or orchestra rehearsals or lessons I’d have at night. Most of my free time as a kid was spent reading but I always loved watching videos online of youtubers and singers, so i think all of my hobbies amounted to me.
2. [RSK] Looking through Laufey's life, it seems that music has always been with you. I heard that you learned piano at age 4, cello at age 8, and vocal music in college. During this process, I wonder when you decided to become a singer-songwriter.
I always loved singing, but lacked the courage and life experience I found necessary to pursue songwriting. When I got to college, I experienced my first heartbreak, my first bout of loneliness, and my first time living alone in a city. These experiences really forced me to journal my feelings, which later turned into my first songs.
3. [RSK] Laufey's music combines various genres such as jazz pop, bedroom pop, and modern jazz. How would you describe your music in color?
It depends on the song. For examples, my song “Fragile” is cold and blue. For other songs like California and Me, I think of warm oranges.
4. [RSK] You are making music that has the classic romanticism of old jazz. The younger generation who listen to Laufey’s music say it’s like ‘Disney’ music. What is the secret behind the romantic atmosphere in Laufey's music? (in terms of instruments, directing, etc.)
I take a lot of inspiration from orchestral music and include a lot of sweeping strings which really lends to the romantic vibe. I also think the lyrics support the romantic vibe.
5. [RSK] Besides singer-songwriter Laufey, what does human Laufey like other than music?
Human Laufey loves to read, try out new recipes, and go for long walks!
6. [RSK] I heard that the important identity in the album <Bewitched>, which won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, was ‘love’. Why did you choose love as a theme in this album?
Love is something that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. It is something that everyone relates to.
7. [RSK] I wonder what words ‘love’ might be made of in your mind too.
Love, to me, is not only romantic love. Love comes in the form of your friendships, interacting with your family, and any good gestures or deeds.
8. [RSK] You also released a collaboration single with Norah Jones on Christmas. What was the story that led you to work together, and are there any memorable episodes from the collaboration process?
We were both playing at a festival in Belgium and she invited me to be on her podcast and we decided to write a christmas song together. I’ve always been such a fan so it was an absolute dream! She sounds exactly the same as she did in the recordings I was so familiar with growing up.
9. [RSK] In your second album ‘Bewitched’, you presented music closer to jazz than your first album ‘Everything I Know About Love’ (2022). So I was curious to see what Laufey's next move would be. Is there a sound you would like to aim for or challenge?
You’ll have to wait and see.
10. [RSK] You will be performing on stage at the Seoul Jazz Festival in June. Would you recommend two of your songs for the many Korean audiences waiting for Laufey?
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