It turns out, Kiwis don’t mess about when it comes to Icelandic superstar Laufey. Walking into to Spark Arena last night, I had to take a moment to appreciate the spectacle. A sea of lights, ribbons, and stunning colours. Many of the fray appeared to be glamorously taken from the pages of Alice in Wonderland. Complete with wizards, princesses, ballerinas, and one guy dressed as a banana.
A famous part of Laufey’s shows is the ‘Best Dressed Guest’ award, which was in hot contention amongst the sold out Auckland crowd. The spectacle didn’t stop there, with intricate and delicate set dressing adorning the stage, it was set to be a whimsical night. The Laufey trivia and donation links to The Laufey Foundation were an equally nice touch. Raising funds for young musicians and orchestras around the globe.
Walking out to stage with twirls and amidst an uproar of cheers was U.K. rising star Leonie Biney and band. Quickly making the stage her home, it’s immediately clear what an excellent compliment she will be to the evening’s headliner. Leonie’s bubbly personality was shining through with her gliding vocals, slipping in and out of falsetto with ease. By her second track, it was clear she was having fun.
This show has been both Leonie and Laufey’s first time in Aotearoa. The former making a point to compliment our thrift shops and show off the shoes she picked up the day prior. It appeared to be an emotional evening for both artists. Especially with this being the final show of the Australasian leg of the A Matter of Time tour, and one of the last shows globally. That didn’t slow down the phenomenal musicianship on display.
If U Leave Me was up next, Biney commenting that she grew to hate the song, until she and her band morphed it into a piece befitting Animal Crossing. The Bossa Nova swing of the new live arrangement compelled more than a few dance moves across the audience. Taking the time to end her set with a group hug amongst bandmates and a final bow, it was a touching moment.
As the curtains lifted and the full stage design was revealed for Laufey’s set, it became clear that this was to be a massive production. A Chet Baker and string quartet intro set the mood with an old Hollywood film reel and crew credits to welcome her to the stage. Laufey walked out to a thunderous crowd (my ears are still ringing from that).
The juxtaposition of Laufey’s soft vocals to the cheers of the crowd was powerful, skating over the cacophony seemingly effortlessly. The ethereal riffs and and control were world class. It was easy to see why Laufey has become such a global sensation. As with Biney’s opening set, Laufey’s warm and genuine personality shone through. Taking moments to as she put it “ramble.” Commenting on the similarities with Aotearoa and her home country, although making the point that the crowd was “basically the entire population of Iceland, and you’re not all related!” Adding “I don’t know why they gave me a microphone.”
Act II may have been my favourite of the evening, “Welcome to the Jazz Club.” Prompting the question “So… ya like jazz?” Now, while I’m not familiar with Laufey’s grasp of 2000’s animated films about bees, her grasp of jazz music was plain to be seen. Laufey succeeded in her desire to make the stadium size space feel intimate “well… like a jazz club.” Putting a kiwi spin on her iconic track Valentine was a stellar addition. Act II also included the bestowing of the coveted prize of ‘Best Dressed Guest’, with the matching four piece of Royce, Abi, Christina, and Joe taking the glory.
Act IV also saw a highlight of the evening, with a medley of hits Mr.Eclectic and Madwoman. Including a sweet moment with Laufey skipping over to join her twin sister Junia Lin for a cello and violin duet. Junia Lin also works as Laufey’s creative director and has directed many of the singer’s acclaimed music videos.
All in all, the night was one of precision, A Matter of Time is a well oiled machine that ran like clockwork (pun intended), with each member from dancer to double bassist being at the top of their game. Not surprising after the ensemble has been on the road for a year at this point. Not many artists could make ripping your heart out with songs like Let You Break My heart Again, Snow White, and Falling Behind such a pleasurable experience. The Lover Girl really is one of the best in the business.
