Laufey

Laufey, a two-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter of Icelandic-Chinese heritage, shares her path from a disciplined classical music childhood to blending jazz, pop, and strings in arena-filling shows. Recorded between her Coachella performances with her identical twin sister Junia, the conversation covers family influences, identity struggles, and music evolution.

Family Background and Twin Life

Laufey's mother, a violinist from China, joined Iceland's symphony orchestra, meeting her Icelandic father in the small, homogenous country. The family moved to Washington, D.C., for her father's IMF work when Laufey was 7-9, exposing her to diverse international schoolmates, then returned amid Iceland's 2008 financial crisis. Summers in China built pride in her heritage, though she felt "different" growing up—half-Asian in mostly blonde, blue-eyed Iceland—yet buoyed by Junia. Twins share insecurities amplified together, like high school rebellion against being called "the twins," but pranks like class-swapping flopped due to no one noticing. Junia, the "naughtier" one, now serves as Laufey's creative director, joining her tour life to combat loneliness.