A Match Made in the Rotunda
Laufey has never been one to do things halfway. The Icelandic-Chinese singer, songwriter, and cellist has built her career by blending timeless jazz influences with modern pop sensibilities. She’s created a sound that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly new. Now, she’s elevating her artistry even further with two breathtaking live performance videos, filmed after hours inside the iconic rotunda of New York City’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
The first two installments in a four-part series, “Lover Girl” and “Clockwork,” were released today and immediately set a new bar for what a performance video can be. Directed by Gus Black, both pieces feature Laufey performing selections from her latest album A Matter of Time, while flanked by some of the world’s most celebrated ballet dancers.
Lover Girl: Romance in Motion
“Lover Girl” pairs Laufey’s silky vocals and sweeping instrumentation with the artistry of New York City Ballet principals Indiana Woodward and Joseph Gordon, alongside American Ballet Theatre’s Zimmi Coker and choreographer Gabe Stone Shayer. The result is a performance that feels both intimate and cinematic. The dancers’ movements echo the song’s themes of romance, yearning, and vulnerability. Watching pirouettes and pas de deux unfold beneath the Guggenheim’s spiraling architecture transforms the track into something larger than life, a love story painted in motion.
Clockwork: Time as Choreography
“Clockwork,” meanwhile, takes a more intricate and layered approach. Here, Woodward and Gordon return, joined by New York City Ballet soloist Alexa Maxwell and former soloist Megan LeCrone. Choreographed by Shayer and former dancer Stephanie Gotch, the piece leans into the song’s ticking urgency and cyclical nature, with the dancers moving in interlocking patterns that mirror the precision of Laufey’s vocal phrasing. The performance captures the bittersweet passage of time, making the rotunda feel like both a stage and a timepiece.
Fashion Meets Performance
Fashion and beauty play their own roles in this series. Laufey and the dancers are outfitted in custom looks by Polo Ralph Lauren, their flowing lines and sharp tailoring adding to the sense of timeless elegance. Makeup by Valentino Beauty completes the vision, striking a balance between classic and contemporary aesthetics that matches Laufey’s music perfectly.
A Cultural Convergence
There’s also something powerful about the choice of venue. The Guggenheim, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is one of New York’s most recognizable cultural landmarks. Seeing it repurposed as a space for music and movement makes the performances feel like an artistic meeting of worlds. Jazz-pop, ballet, architecture, and fashion converge in a way that underscores Laufey’s mission. To prove that timeless forms of expression can still feel modern, urgent, and alive.
To Be Continued
These two videos are just the beginning. Laufey has confirmed that the final two installments in this series will arrive next Wednesday, September 17. These round out a visual project that feels destined to become one of her defining artistic statements. If “Lover Girl” and “Clockwork” are any indication, fans can expect a continuation of this lush, cinematic approach. Each video adds new layers to her already rich musical world.
For an artist whose career is built on bridging eras and genres, these Guggenheim performances feel like the perfect next step. Laufey has always invited listeners to slow down and savor music with the intimacy of a bygone era. Now, she’s inviting us to see it too, through dance, fashion, and the quiet majesty of one of New York’s most hallowed spaces.
