KUALA LUMPUR – Laufey is an anomaly.
Her music draws heavily from jazz, big band and traditional pop — genres many would consider old-fashioned in today’s music landscape. By that logic, a Laufey concert should be filled with silver-haired fans.
Instead, the crowd at Unifi Arena Bukit Jalil last night told a very different story.
The sold-out, 13,000-capacity venue was packed largely with Gen Z fans, with those over 50 very much in the minority. It marked a remarkable leap from her first Malaysian concert in 2024 at the 3,000-seat Plenary Hall at KLCC.
Dressed in outfits that reflected the whimsical themes of her songs and albums, fans sang along to every lyric and reacted with the fervour more commonly associated with a rock concert.
It was unexpected — and utterly delightful.
Equally refreshing was the show’s punctuality. In fact, it started 10 minutes before its advertised 8pm kickoff, allowing concertgoers to head home by around 10.30pm — including one young fan Laufey pointed out who had a quiz at 9am the next day.
It seems Icelanders are not only punctual; they are early.
The concert formed part of Laufey’s A Matter of Time Tour, which supports her latest album of the same name. The tour has been drawing sold-out crowds across Southeast Asia and will next head to Japan, South Korea and China before continuing to Australia, New Zealand and eventually Latin America.
Over a generous two-hour set, Laufey performed 25 songs spanning all three of her studio albums.
Casual listeners and newcomers alike would have recognised crowd favourites such as From the Start, which has surpassed one billion streams on Spotify, alongside Lover Girl and her latest hit, Madwoman.
Beyond the music, it was Laufey’s connection with the audience that stood out. Her candid stories about insecurities, heartbreak and writing songs alone in her bedroom resonated deeply with the predominantly Gen Z crowd, who responded with thunderous enthusiasm throughout the evening.
Credit must be given to the 27-year-old Icelandic sensation, whose success has helped introduce jazz and traditional pop to a new generation of listeners. A two-time Grammy winner, Laufey has managed something few artists achieve — making classic sounds feel fresh again while reigniting a love for the genre among older fans.
Laufey’s A Matter of Time Tour in Kuala Lumpur was presented by Live Nation and supported by venue host Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia. – June 3, 2026