An Evening of Whimsy with Laufey

Whimsical is the word that kept coming to mind as I experienced Laufey’s “A Matter of Time Tour” at the Afterpay Arena on 8 August 2026.

From the clocks and carousel to the bows, crowns and dancers, the evening felt like stepping inside a beautifully constructed storybook. Romantic, theatrical and just a little strange. Exactly my kind of world. Experiencing it all with my friend Valeria made the night even more special.

The night began with opening act Leonie Biney, one of the evening’s loveliest surprises. There is something special about going to see an artist you already love and leaving with another one to add to your rotation. Leonie’s voice had a beautiful depth and softness that drew me in almost immediately, while her songwriting was heart-wrenching yet deeply personal, capturing complicated emotions in a way that felt intimate and instantly relatable.

Credit: gxbriellemxry and princessdianaammonia

I also loved the visual of her pink guitar (although not pictured here, as she swapped guitars for this song) matching her pink dress, framed by her long black braids. It was playful, romantic and perfectly whimsical and seeing a Black girl naturally inhabit that world felt particularly special. It was a small moment in the scheme of the evening, but one that genuinely made me smile.

I could also immediately see why Laufey chose Leonie. She felt completely at home within the whimsical world Laufey and her twin sister and creative director, Junia, have created, while still having an identity of her own. I have been listening to her music ever since.

Then came Laufey. I had missed her previous Sydney show after tickets sold out incredibly quickly, so finally seeing her live felt overdue. Part of Laufey’s appeal for me is how closely her music connects me to my younger self. Her earlier songs capture the intensity of being young and trying to understand love, the world around you and, at the same time, yourself. As she has grown, her music has grown with her, moving into more mature territory around relationships, anger, insecurity and body image.

The show opened with “Clockwork”, immediately establishing the visual language of A Matter of Time. Clocks and references to time appeared throughout the night, but I loved that Laufey used those motifs while moving through her entire discography. The concert never felt like it was simply about her latest album. Instead, time became a way of connecting the different eras of her music and showing how both she and her songwriting have evolved.

Laufey began the evening in an orange two piece, with a top and flowing skirt that moved beautifully as she performed. Against the warm tones of the orange stage, it was a striking opening look and set the visual tone for the night.

Dividing the concert into five distinct acts was a clever choice. Each had its own visual and musical identity and gave the show a sense of progression. Act II was one of my favourites. Laufey stripped everything back for a jazz set, accompanied by a cellist and pianist. Even inside an arena, it somehow felt intimate. She also gave familiar songs new life by reworking them with a stronger jazz feel. Hearing songs like “Valentine”, “Fragile” and “Let You Break My Heart Again” this way made them feel fresh without losing what I already loved about them. It is one of the things I find so interesting about Laufey. She is introducing a young generation to jazz and classical influences and making those sounds feel completely at home within contemporary music.

Act III produced one of my favourite moments. “Forget-Me-Not” is already one of my favourite songs, in large part because of the way Laufey’s voice sounds on it. The song is Laufey’s love letter to her home country of Iceland and explores leaving home to pursue her dreams while still feeling deeply connected to the place she came from. She also sings parts of it in Icelandic, which makes the song feel even more personal. There was so much emotion in her delivery, but what struck me most was the clarity, tone and depth of her voice. Every note felt controlled without losing the emotion behind it.

The dancers were another highlight throughout the night. I loved how they were incorporated into the storytelling rather than simply appearing around Laufey. They added movement and theatricality to a show that already felt incredibly visual.

The costumes worked in much the same way. Laufey’s orange two piece suited the warmth and whimsy of the earlier acts, while her later black and gold look completely changed her presence on stage. She suddenly felt almost like the ringmaster of her own slightly strange circus. Junia also appeared during “Madwoman”, which was a lovely moment, particularly knowing how closely the sisters work together creatively.

My one minor critique came during Act IV. “Snow White” is such a vulnerable song, dealing with body image and the desire to change yourself and the staging with mirrors made the performance feel even more exposed. Moving immediately from that into the upbeat “From The Start” felt slightly jarring to me. I loved both performances individually, but emotionally I wanted a little more breathing room after “Snow White”.

Then came “Sabotage”. It was easily another one of my favourite performances of the night. The romantic whimsy suddenly became darker, angrier and almost dystopian. I know this is not the message behind the song, but it gives me young adult fantasy novel energy, specifically that moment when the villainous plot twist is finally revealed.

In keeping with the whimsical theme, as I was on my way back to our seats after buying a box of salted caramel popcorn, I spotted Mei Mei the Bunny, the giant bunny mascot who has become a fan favourite and helps crown the best dressed fans on tour. Seeing this enormous bunny while casually carrying my popcorn back to my seat was so unexpected and so much fun. It somehow made complete sense within the world of the concert.

The audience had committed to the whimsy too. Bows and crowns were everywhere and I loved seeing how people had interpreted the aesthetic through their own outfits. It made the audience feel like part of the visual world rather than simply spectators.

Laufey ended the show with “Letter To My 13 Year Old Self”. It was such a heartwarming way to finish. There was something incredibly moving about watching her sing to the younger version of herself while standing in an arena filled with thousands of people who had come to see her. She had dreamed of becoming a musician and here she was not only living that dream but creating an entire musical and visual world that thousands of people had dressed up to be part of. I could not help but think that her 13-year-old self would be very proud.

Now that I have heard the songs live, they feel a little different. When I listen to Laufey, I can picture the concert in my head. The clocks, the dancers, the carousel, the costumes and the warm orange glow of the stage. The visual world she and Junia created has become attached to the music for me, giving songs I already loved another layer of life. Now, every listen feels like a small invitation back into that world.

Yours, in style and curiosity

—
Linda Mulenda