Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Guest: Laufey
Date: April 27, 2026
Theme: Identity, Discipline, and Artistic Emergence: Laufey on Music, Family, and Finding a Voice
Episode Overview
Dax Shepard and Monica Padman sit down with Laufey (joined by her identical twin sister) for a candid, lively conversation. The episode weaves through Laufey's multicultural upbringing, the peculiarities and privileges of growing up as a twin, her journey from classical cellist to Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, and the intricacies of self-discovery in both music and life. The hosts dig into the sibling dynamic, the immigrant experience, and the creative process, all with their signature mix of humor, warmth, and curiosity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Growing Up a Twin: Identity and Experimentation
(03:06–06:31)
- Dax and Monica are fascinated by twins, referencing past twin experts and studies.
- Laufey and her sister recount their unsuccessful "swap" prank in school, lamenting that modern sensitivities often prevent people from finding twin mix-ups amusing.
- Quote, Laufey: “People were too woke to laugh about getting twins mixed up.” (06:09)
- Being a twin provided a buffer against loneliness amid frequent life changes and rigorous music training.
2. Multicultural Upbringing: Iceland, China, and the U.S.
(06:35–18:23)
- Laufey’s mother is a Chinese violinist who moved to Iceland for the Symphony Orchestra; her father is Icelandic and worked at the IMF, leading to stints in Washington, D.C.
- The discussion explores the challenges and resilience of immigrants, how choice impacts attitude, and the subtle forms of racism in even progressive societies like Iceland.
- Quote, Laufey: “She never saw being Chinese or being Asian in Iceland as some sort of drawback... She just moves forward.” (13:35)
- About Iceland: “It’s a country run by women... So progressive in many ways, but there’s still so much work to be done with diversity.” (16:01)
- Laufey reflects on feeling “different but not alone” due to her twin and her minority status in homogenous Iceland.
3. The Impact of Music and Family Discipline
(18:34–25:07)
- Dax draws parallels between excellence in music and sports, highlighting the high level of discipline expected from immigrant families.
- Laufey discusses her mother’s approach, emphasizing that discipline was about cultivating good habits, not just winning.
- Quote, Laufey: “My mom’s goal was not to make me the best solo cellist in the world. It was only about teaching good habits... seeing something through.” (22:45)
- Laufey intentionally chose cello over violin to carve out a separate identity from her mother and sister.
4. The Search for Self: Adolescence, Confidence, and Twinhood
(25:25–30:09)
- Reflects on insecurities magnified by being a twin—being treated collectively rather than individually.
- Quote, Laufey: “We were referred to as the twins. We didn’t have our own names. That was my one act of rebellion: I hated being called the twins.” (29:17)
- Explains how leaving home and attending college separately allowed each twin to establish individual identities and break free from the “twin” label.
5. From Classical Cellist to Singer-Songwriter: The Berkeley Years
(34:29–43:39)
- Laufey shares how attending Berklee College of Music on scholarship was both daunting and transformative; she arrived without a clear creative identity.
- Quote, Laufey: “I absolutely did not [have an identity]. I was a classical cellist, a jazz singer, and I loved pop music.” (35:03)
- Her musical breakthrough came after experiencing heartbreak and writing her first self-authored song, “Street by Street”, marking a turning point in her sense of agency and artistic voice.
- Quote: “I wrote down the lyrics, like street by street, I'm gonna take back my life… That was like I snapped out of my depression.” (45:09)
6. Social Media as a Launchpad
(47:09–50:25)
- Laufey explains how lockdown and consistent social media engagement helped catapult her music career, building an unusually intimate bond with her fanbase.
- Quote: “It became this community… people were from all over the world... I feel so close to my fans.” (48:10)
7. Rapid Success, Sisterly Collaboration, and Navigating Fame
(50:25–53:28)
- Discussion on her meteoric rise from college student to Grammy winner; her twin sister is now her creative director, playing a vital role in her career and sometimes even in her music.
- Laufey addresses the joys and challenges of external perceptions and self-esteem in romantic and public spheres.
- Quote, Dax: “How are you updating your self-esteem? You thought no boys liked you and now… still not caught up yet?” (52:34)
- Quote, Laufey: “I’m very happy and in love right now. Working out all fine. We’ve updated ourselves.” (53:01)
8. Stage Persona and Creative Expression
(55:06–56:02)
- The conversation links Laufey’s onstage flamboyance and wardrobe with self-expression and release, in contrast with her offstage reserved personality.
- Quote: “I feel like I am the prime version of myself on stage… my truest self.” (56:01)
- She deliberately explores less polished, more vulnerable musical territory to challenge public perceptions.
9. Performing at Coachella: Behind the Scenes
(63:30–68:28)
- Laufey recounts her Coachella debut and the anxieties of performing alongside major artists. Navigating festival unpredictability (weather, technical constraints) required adaptability.
- Quote: “After the second song, I was like, okay, this is fine… I love performing.” (67:14)
10. Philosophy on Career Trajectory and Longevity
(69:07–69:52)
- Rejects the notion of chasing another artist’s blueprint; instead, she focuses on authenticity and career longevity.
- Quote: “The second I stopped playing that game with myself, I started to succeed... I want longevity. I don’t want it to go away.” (69:33)
11. Children’s Book and Diversification
(69:52–70:31)
- Introduces her new children’s book, Mei Mei the Bunny, which mirrors her own experiences with stage anxiety and learning to embrace imperfection.
Notable Quotes & Highlights
“People were too woke to laugh about getting twins mixed up.”
— Laufey (06:09)
“She just moves forward… never saw being Chinese or being Asian in Iceland as some sort of drawback.”
— Laufey on her mother (13:35)
“I wouldn’t be where I am now if I didn’t leave home for college, leave my twin, and start living life.”
— Laufey (30:09)
“I was insecure as a girl, but I was not insecure as a musician.”
— Laufey (30:55)
“My show... There’s a pop portion of the show, there’s the jazz portion, there’s the more classical bit, and an arena, you can kind of morph…”
— Laufey (65:19)
“I feel like I am the prime version of myself on stage. My truest self. My most honest self.”
— Laufey (56:01)
“The second I stopped playing that game with myself, I started to succeed.”
— Laufey (69:27)
Important Timestamps
- 03:06 — Twin studies, twin pranks, and identity as “the twins”
- 06:35 — Family background: China, Iceland, and how her parents met
- 13:35 — Immigrant experiences, identity, and the psychology of choice
- 16:01 — Progressivism and invisibility of race in Iceland
- 18:34 — Rigors of classical music training and parenting
- 25:25 — Adolescence, insecurities, and fighting for individuality
- 34:29 — The uncertainty and opportunity at Berklee College of Music
- 43:39 — The moment music and heartbreak align: “Street by Street”
- 47:09 — Social media strategy and building a global fan community
- 50:25 — On rapid success, sisterly support, and creative direction
- 56:01 — Stage persona vs private self; on releasing vulnerability in performance
- 63:30 — First Coachella: nerves, logistics, musical uniqueness
- 69:07 — Rejecting comparison and focusing on authenticity
- 69:52 — Laufey’s children’s book, Mei Mei the Bunny
- 70:48 — Deluxe album A Matter of Time: The Final Hour and world tour reflections
Memorable Moments
- Laufey and her sister did a twin-swap prank at school, but “no one noticed” and people were embarrassed when they found out.
- Recounting her mother's courage moving alone from China to Iceland: “She just went with it… and makes beauty out of everything.” (13:35)
- Laufey’s self-deprecating acknowledgment of her name confusion in the U.S., and the internet joke about being confused with other half-Asian women in entertainment.
- The cathartic writing of "Street by Street" while nursing heartbreak, and how it led to her finding “her sound”.
- Coachella’s unpredictable logistics (“we gotta chain up the castle”) and Laufey’s matter-of-fact approach to risk and adaptation on stage.
Concluding Notes
The conversation is engaging, candid, and often humorous, blending deep reflections on identity, family, and artistic integrity with lighter anecdotes about twin pranks, quirky Icelandic weather, name confusions, and festival life. Laufey emerges as a multidimensional artist: disciplined yet improvisational, introverted yet exuberant, rooted in family yet determined to write her own narrative. The episode is a testament to the fluidity and messiness of self-discovery, made all the richer by the bonds—familial and communal—along the way.
For more:
- Watch Laufey’s Coachella performance (YouTube, skip the first song per Laufey! 73:09)
- Read Mei Mei the Bunny
- Listen to A Matter of Time: The Final Hour
- Learn about the realities of twinship, parental discipline, and the global journey to musical stardom—all with a dose of Dax and Monica’s signature chemistry.
