Singer Laufey has been announced as the headline act for Fortnite's musical spin-off Festival, bringing her tracks, emotes, and a playable character to the game. In an interview, she discussed the unexpected partnership and her recent Coachella debut. The collaboration includes a new karaoke mode and ties into her 'A Matter Of Time' tour.
Laufey, the Icelandic-Chinese artist known for her jazz-influenced music, joined Fortnite Festival earlier this week as its latest headliner. Players can now access her songs in the rhythm game, which recently added a karaoke mode, along with emotes and cosmetics inspired by her ongoing 'A Matter Of Time' arena tour. Fans can also play as Laufey in the battle royale mode, a move she described to NME as a way to reveal her multifaceted personality. 'Running around with a gun [in Fortnite] is absolutely the best way to show that there are so many more layers to me,' she said, addressing early perceptions of her as a 'timid and soft' jazz artist. Laufey collaborated closely with her twin sister and creative director, Junia, to ensure the content reflected her 'Laufey Land' universe. She highlighted the game's fantastical elements as aligning with her romantic, expressionist style, encouraging fans to embrace their authentic selves without judgment. The partnership follows headliners like Chappell Roan, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and The Weeknd. Laufey performed at Coachella Festival for the first time last weekend and is set for weekend two this Sunday. 'Playing Coachella is such a great honour and directly aligns with my goal of bringing my music, which is steeped in older styles, to something that feels very current,' she told NME. She expressed some apprehension about fitting in after K-pop acts but emphasized authenticity over expectations. Laufey also touched on representation, noting her work with Asian artists in the 'MadWoman' video and the importance of visibility in gaming for her audience.
