Purple and pink lights washed over a castle-like set as jazz-inspired pop singer Laufey Jin Bing climbed the stairway of a tower and peered out over a sea of phone lights. Dancers spun below in soft synchronized patterns, and the crowd held its breath in anticipation of the artist’s first arena-sized tour.
Performing in Oakland on Sept. 29 as part of her first all-arena world tour, “A Matter of Time,” the 26-year-old Icelandic singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist built the night around a five-act arc — four acts and an encore– that moved with clockwork precision. The setlist leaned on her new album A Matter of Time while weaving in favorites from her past album Bewitched, keeping the momentum high through orchestral swells, mixed strings, piano and steady drums.
English singer-songwriter Suki Waterhouse opened with moody standouts like “Good Looking,” setting a cinematic tone that Laufey amplified tenfold. Her whimsical storybook stage featured turrets, an overhead swing and a luminous clock face that shifted the lighting palette from rose gold to deep indigo as the night progressed.
Laufey’s voice was smooth and steady with soft, low notes and bright, high notes. Between songs, Laufey addressed the crowd with warmth, thanking fans for following her journey from intimate clubs to arenas, and returning repeatedly to her theme of finding silver linings in uncertainty (a reference to her song “Silver Lining”). Opportunities for direct fan engagement were sparse, though a “best dressed” interlude that brought one excited fan onstage offered a charming glimpse of the community she’s built, making the cavernous room feel intimate again. Otherwise, the show favored tightly cued transitions over spontaneity.
As the hour mark passed, Laufey offered unhurried goodbyes before leaving the stage to a chorus of chants. She soon returned for an encore and tied the night together with new songs and old ones.
The live band, small orchestra and her velvety voice often made the night feel special, but the steady mid-tempo and similar beats caused the set to blur together. Even with five parts and frequent scene changes, much of the music sounded alike. The brief “best dressed” moment was cute, but it was a private exchange on a big stage with the winner never speaking into the mic, just nodding and smiling.
Since A Matter of Time is her first arena tour, Laufey seemed to play it safe with the big crowd, with less improvisation and sticking to a strict program. But in the end, the concert was a magical experience, and we walked out with a little more whimsy than we brought in.
A Matter of Time setlist, Oakland Arena, September 29, 2025:
Act 1
“Clockwork”
“Lover Girl”
“Dreamer”
“Falling Behind”
“Silver Lining”
“Bored”
“Bewitched”
Act 2
“Seems Like Old Times”
“Valentine”
“Fragile”
“While You Were Sleeping”
“Let You Break My Heart Again”
Act 3
“Carousel”
“Forget-me-not”
“Cuckoo Ballet”
Act 4
“Mr.Eclectic”
“Castle in Hollywood”
“Promise”
“Goddess”
“Tough Luck”
“Snow White”
“From the Start”
“Sabotage”
Encore
“I Wish You Love”
“Letter to My 13-year-old Self”
