Q&a / Laufey on jazz, Chanel and her roots: the Grammy-winning artist discusses her genre-bending music, the iconic fashion house’s enduring influence, and her multicultural upbringing

Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir, known as just Laufey, has built a loyal following thanks to her genre-bending music, which combines her first love, jazz, with pop and influences from classical music.

The 26-year-old’s first album, Bewitched, broke the all-time record for the biggest debut for a jazz album on Spotify and won a Grammy in 2024 in the Traditional Pop Vocal Album category.

What’s your first memory of Chanel?

Well, my mum and my poh-poh [grandma] both love Chanel. My first memory is probably when my mum got a black flap bag. And my poh-poh had one as well. And I remember my mum and my grandma were like, “One day these will be yours.” I have a twin sister, so they were like, “You get one and the other gets the other.”

How has it been to work with the house?

It’s so amazing. I really can’t believe it. I still am very star-struck every time I get to come here. I remember the first time they reached out and I got to wear Chanel for a concert. I was so excited. I couldn’t believe it. I kind of felt like I’d made it. It was really up there with the Grammy. And then I got to win a Grammy in Chanel. So it was all very perfect.

Is there anything you discovered about the maison that really surprised you?

I feel like I’ve learned so much about how much Chanel always goes back to the symbolism of the founder. I went and looked at the apartment and there were so many things to learn. Even down to the wheat [a Chanel symbol], the sofa and everything. And now I see it in everything. I think, as an artist, I so value and so respect how they stay true to their core values but still continue to innovate. That’s exactly how I want to be as a musician as well – staying true to my core values, but innovating.