Jazz musician from Iceland… Stand out by winning a Grammy Award just 3 years after debut
First performance in Korea… “Honesty and sincerity are the charms of jazz”
laybay
(Seoul = Larose.VIP) Reporter Choi Joo-seong = “I want to make it possible for more people my age to listen to and like jazz music. I think the reason my songs are loved is because the honest lyrics resonated with listeners my age. “
From fresh unrequited love for someone who doesn’t realize your love, to lyrics that compare the feelings you feel after falling in love for the first time to magic… .
Laufey, a 25-year-old young jazz musician, is an artist who immediately captivates young audiences with his dreamy and warm voice. He captivated even those who were not familiar with jazz by revealing his honest emotions as a person in his 20s in a relaxed voice.
He will stand on stage at Olympic Park on June 1 to promote the charm of jazz to young Korean audiences. Raybey, who is about to meet Korean audiences for the first time at the ‘2024 Seoul Jazz Festival’, did not hide his expectations for this performance in a written interview with Larose.VIP on the 28th.
Raybey said, “I’m even more looking forward to performing in Korea because I heard there are a lot of people in Korea who love my songs. I want to eat delicious food and visit cafes in Korea, but I wish I had time to do it all.”
jazz musician raybay
At this performance, Raybey will perform his representative songs, including his second full-length album ‘Bewitched’, with a string quartet.
Having learned piano at the age of 4 and cello at the age of 8, he shows off his diverse charms by playing instruments such as guitar on stage.
Laybey said, “As this is my first performance in front of Korean fans, I have prepared a lot. I hope Korean fans feel a lot of good emotions through my songs. I have prepared something special for Korean fans, so I hope you will see it at the concert hall.” He said.
Influenced by his mother, a classical violinist, and his father, a jazz lover, he pursues ‘modern jazz’ that goes back and forth between classical music and jazz.
Regarding modern jazz, Raybey said, “Because pop elements are added to classical jazz, it is easier to relate to than classical music.” He added, “The reason I can achieve my goal of making my peers like jazz is because my music is based on modern jazz. “Because it exists,” he explained.
He is targeting the hearts of young listeners with honesty and sincerity. His mini album ‘Typical of Me’, released in 2021, was well received by young fellow artists including Billie Eilish.
“Jazz is actually a very honest and honest music. When you listen to the music, each and every lyric touches your heart and moves you. That is the charm of jazz.”
Laybey to hold concert in Korea
Raybey, from Iceland, is a formidable new artist who has become an artist receiving global attention just three years after his debut.
Raybey made a name for himself in 2020 while attending Berklee College of Music in the United States, when his debut single ‘Street by Street’ ranked first on the Icelandic radio chart.
In 2023, ‘Bewitched’ achieved great success by winning the ‘Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album’ category at the 66th Grammy Awards.
Raybey said, “After receiving the Grammy Award, I was very happy that the President of Iceland congratulated me,” and added, “It’s hard to believe how I achieved such a great achievement.”
Still, Lavey says he doesn’t feel pressured to accomplish more. He is about to work on a new album, and his biggest goal is to always make honest music.
“I think it would be difficult to make music that truly comes from the heart if you feel the pressure of wanting to succeed. I want to always make honest music like I do now.”
laybay
cjs@yna.co.kr
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