Moderating Laufey’s Keynote at Iceland Airwaves Conference
The most exciting part of Iceland Airwaves 2022 for me personally was having the privilege of moderating a fireside chat with Laufey and her manager Max Gredinger, focused on her explosive rise as one of the most exciting new voices in music.
The session was entirely dedicated to how Laufey and her team executed a clear, compelling artistic vision:
“Bringing jazz to Gen Z with transportative songs about young love and self-discovery.”
We dove into the journey behind her chart-topping debut album Everything I Know About Love, her sold-out world tour, and the strategies that helped her build a global fanbase—blending timeless jazz sensibilities with a modern, highly engaged audience.
Discussion highlights included:
Laufey’s creative vision and jazz-rooted storytelling
Strategic planning behind her sold-out tour
Artist development in the age of TikTok and streaming
Cross-cultural identity and global resonance
The artist–manager relationship and collaborative branding
It was an inspiring, thoughtful conversation about authenticity, ambition, and the power of staying true to your voice—musically and professionally.
The latest hit-maker from Iceland is the 23-year-old Laufey who first caught the eyes of contemporaries like Billie Eilish and V of BTS and now has the #1 Jazz song on Spotify with her debut album debuting at #10 in the US and UK on Spotify and a sold out North American and UK/European tour.
In this fireside chat Habbi from Iceland Music will have a conversation with Laufey and her manager, Max Gredinger, about how they translated Laufey’s vision of transportative jazz songs about young love and self-discovery into one of the brightest stars coming out of Iceland, ever.
