On May 14, Laufey announced her upcoming album, A Matter of Time, along with an announcement of her new song “Tough Luck,” which was released at midnight on May 15. This will be her third full-length album, with her prior ones being “Bewitched,” released in 2023, and “Everything I Know About Love,” released in 2022, both being known for their gentle and romantic tones and lyrics.
While Laufey had previously teased her new album with the release of her song “Silver Lining” on April 3, May 14 was the first time she officially announced the full project. “Silver Lining” had already hinted at being different from Laufey’s other works with an emotionally charged tone and lyrics like “When you go to hell, I’ll go there with you too” and “And when we’re punished for being so cruel.” Now with the release of “Tough Luck,” it’s clear that A Matter of Time will have a more confrontational and sharp mood.
This new single, “Tough Luck,” breaks that kind of quiet gentleness that has been associated with Laufey’s style of jazz/pop. While it has the same silky jazz sound and upbeat tone of her previous works, the lyrics are a harsh contrast. With lines like, “I’ve had enough of waiting ’til you lie and cheat,” sung over the smooth, jazz-esque instrumental of strings and percussion, this song follows the same style Laufey’s known for, while taking a turn into a bolder, angrier tone of songwriting, a far cry from the lovesick feel of her past work.
Combined with her similarly intense lyrics from her previous song “Silver Lining,” these recent releases seem to suggest that A Matter of Time will have a more emotionally complex and rage-filled theme than her previous works, marking this album as a shift from the dream-like softness of her past albums. A Matter of Time is set to be released on August 22, and you can presave it here.