Laufey may feel right at home on the iHeartRadio Z100 Jingle Ball presented by Capital One stage, but the journey that led her there was shaped by a major cultural awakening. While chatting in the Mercedes-Benz Interview Lounge backstage, the singer-songwriter reflected on how moving from Iceland to the United States completely changed the way she expresses herself — both as a person and as an artist.

When asked about the biggest culture shock she experienced after relocating, Laufey didn’t hesitate. “I was very taken aback when I moved to the States at how open people were with their emotions,” she shared. Coming from a culture where feelings are often kept private, the American habit of emotional openness was surprising — and at first, overwhelming. “How willing they were to talk about how they felt at any given moment, and also how often they ask you how you feel,” she explained.

She laughed as she recalled adjusting to that vulnerability. “At first, I was like, ‘Whoa, I didn’t need to know that you were crying. I didn’t need to know that you were crying at breakfast,’” Laufey joked. But over time, that emotional transparency became something she embraced. “Now I’m like the biggest open book and I very loudly tell everyone I was crying at breakfast.”

That shift didn’t just affect her personally — it fundamentally shaped her artistry. “I became a writer after I moved to the States,” Laufey revealed, explaining that the environment helped her feel comfortable being herself. “It really allowed me to feel comfortable in my skin.” Being surrounded by diverse communities and no longer feeling like she stood apart gave her the freedom to explore her emotions through music.

“It was my first time being around diverse people and not needing to — I wasn’t always the odd one out anymore,” she said. That sense of belonging created space for her to open up creatively, ultimately influencing her deeply personal album A Matter of Time, which she described as “like a diary.”

While sharing such honest work can feel scary, Laufey believes that emotional truth is essential. “If all the artists that I look up to were trying to hold back parts of their emotions or thoughts in their art, they wouldn’t be the great artists that we know today,” she said. For her, putting the truth into music — even when it’s uncomfortable — is healing. “It makes me feel better to put the truth out.”

Now, as Laufey takes the Jingle Ball stage and introduces new listeners to her music, that openness has become her greatest strength. What once felt like culture shock has turned into creative freedom — and a voice that makes fans around the world feel seen, heard, and understood.

To relive the holiday magic, iHeartRadio is partnering with ABC to bring the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour to even more fans across the country, as an exclusive network special will be aired on December 17th and next day on Hulu.

Toby Knapp