Laufey‘s “Lover Girl” distills bossa nova warmth, jazz harmony, and pop instinct into under three minutes, and it’s a key reason why she’s just won her second Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album and is now set to receive the ASCAP Creative Voice Award on April 30th. In the six years since her debut single, “Street by Street,” Laufey has built a sound that earned her recognition as only the third woman to win multiple Grammys in the category, following Natalie Cole and Lady Gaga, Billboard reports.
“A Matter of Time” has just been re-released in a deluxe edition with four new songs. The album, which features the standout hit “Lover Girl,” furthers Laufey’s balance of vintage style and modern aesthetic. It’s this timeless blend that has also earned her recognition from The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which will present her with the ASCAP Creative Voice Award on April 30th. The honor is given to members whose “significant career achievements are informed by both their creative spirit and their contributions to the role that a creator can play in the community,” the association writes.
“Few artists are reshaping the musical landscape quite like Laufey,” ASCAP president and chairman Paul Williams said in a statement. “Through her elegant fusion of pop, jazz and classical influences, Laufey bridges genres and generations with a sound that has captivated audiences around the world. Just as impressive is her dedication to empowering other aspiring young creators through her charitable work. It is a privilege to celebrate her trailblazing artistry and remarkable impact with the ASCAP Creative Voice Award.”
“Lover Girl” distills much of her diverse interests into two minutes and forty-four seconds. The song is a lush bossa nova, padded with strings for a sweeter soundscape.
Laufey wrote the song during a tour in Tokyo. The lyrics describe pining for a distant lover, but with a twist.
“I was in the beginning of a tour and feeling sad for being away from a certain someone,” she said on the Tape Notes Podcast. “I remember thinking, ‘How have I become this lover girl? I used to make fun of people like this who were in distress because they weren’t with their boyfriends.'”
Musically, she kept her audience in mind while writing “Lover Girl.” It begins with a syncopated rhythm played by the full orchestration that’s then repeated with just claps. “My audience is so passionate, and they’re all very musical,” she said in a Variety Behind the Song interview. “I wanted to give them some sort of call and response, something to do. These claps were the perfect solution.”
Laufey and her producer Spencer Stewart got creative with the arrangement by using a clave pattern that repeats every three beats against the song’s 4/4 meter. “It repeats every three beats, where the rest of the band repeats every four beats,” Stewart explains. “That tension adds to the swirl of your mind [in the lyrics].”
The duo performed all the instruments on the track, sans woodwinds, and all string parts were played by Laufey on the cello. Get deeper into the full arrangement as they open the session and analyze each part.
“Lover Girl” is just another example of Laufey’s “elegant fusion” that makes her music special. Hear it on “A Matter Of Time: The Final Hour” and play along with the score.
