Despite the whirlwind of Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo that the world has been swept into, everyone can still recognize the classic melody and chords of Ode To Joy by Ludwig Van Beethoven or the harsh tones of Winter by Antonio Vivaldi, yet many cannot name the pieces or composers.
Over the last couple decades, classical music has seen a decline in popularity, being replaced by new pop tunes. This pattern has diverged, though, with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra finding that 55% of 18-25 year olds today listen to orchestral music. This sudden resurgence of classical music can be attributed to the rise of a new ‘pop’ star: Laufey.
Following her debut album “Everything I Know About Love” in 2020, Laufey has continued to rise up the charts with hit singles like “Valentine” and “From The Start.” With over 100 million streams on Spotify for both songs, Laufey has risen to fame alongside pop stars such as Sabrina Carpenter or Billie Eilish. There is a stark difference between Laufey’s music and the music of her peers, though.
“I realized as I grew older that going to orchestra concerts is very far from people who aren’t born into that world,” Laufey said in an interview with Classic FM. “I hope to be somewhat of a gateway to classical music for new audiences.”
Laufey’s music, which often includes string and woodwind instruments in the backtrack, utilizes the classical music’s characteristics while still using captivating lyrics that her audience can relate to. Her music goes beyond just helping make classical music more accessible, though.
In USC’s study on classical music, they found that classical music helps students study better by reducing stress and increasing sleep, allowing them to retain materials learned in class. This impact of classical music on students shows how its importance still reigns through to today.
Through her efforts to make this music more accessible, Laufey has begun a rise in today’s society for classical music’s comeback. Inspiring audiences and musicians across the world, classical music continues to become more common and will, hopefully, grow further through Laufey’s new releases.
