Laufey is launching a foundation to “make music accessible to all”, in the hope of helping other young musicians break onto the scene.
- READ MORE: The Cover – Laufey is here to stay
Called The Laufey Foundation, the scheme aims to make music education programmes, especially orchestral ones, more accessible and available to young people. Inaugural grants have been given to the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, LA Phil’s YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) scheme, The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, and two of Carnegie Hall’s national youth ensembles (NYO2 and NYO Jazz).
The Laufey Foundation aims to give more grants worldwide in the future. The Icelandic-Chinese jazz musician herself started playing music in youth orchestra programs before receiving a Presidential Scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music.
Announcing the news on Instagram, Laufey wrote: “The support and scholarships I received as a child have directly led to the career I have now. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to provide the next generation with the same support and opportunities which is why I’m honored to launch [The Laufey Foundation].”
AWAL, AEG Presents and Steinway & Sons were announced as the founding partners of The Laufey Foundation, alongside the singer herself. Additionally, Warner Chappell, Catbird, and Gibson are benefactor partners.
Earlier this month, Laufey returned with a dreamy new love song, ‘Silver Living’. Speaking about the track, she said: “‘Silver Lining’ is a love song about being able to set your true personality free when you fall in love. Your inner child comes out and you are emboldened by lust. Even if it takes you to hell, at least you’re with your partner.”
It is her first new bit of music since her 2023 album ‘Bewitched’, for which she took home the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
In a five-star review of the record, NME described it as “confident and musically ambitious, melding jazz, pop and modern classical composition”.
“The Icelandic-Chinese star’s second record ‘Bewitched’ enchants in its own beautiful, unique way,” it read. “Richly detailed orchestral arrangements and her masterful musicality – the multi-hyphenate is an acclaimed cellist, and studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston – support her thoroughly Gen Z ripostes.”
Speaking to NME for The Cover in 2023, Laufey spoke about breaking out on TikTok and her dream to bring jazz music to the masses. She said: “I always said to my mom, I remember when I was 11 in the car, ‘I want to do for jazz music what Taylor Swift did for country music’,” she told us. “With every day, with every little achievement, I feel like I’m getting closer to that goal of bringing jazz back to my generation.”
She also spoke about bonding with NME’s inaugural The Cover star D4vd over their similar music tastes. “I had heard his music all over TikTok, and I was like, ‘This kid is so talented’,” she recalls.
