Snow White

Album: A Matter of Time (2025)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Snow White" is Laufey's wry, bruised valentine to every impossible standard of beauty she's ever been held up against. It's not, strictly speaking, about the fairy-tale princess, but about what she represents: the perfect girl, fair-skinned, slim and delicate. Against this template, Laufey finds herself perpetually wanting.
  • The song is frank to the point of stinging. "I don't think I'm pretty, it's not up for debate," Laufey sings, before skewering the idea that "a woman's best currency is her body, not her brain."

    The sentiment is part personal confession, part social commentary, and part exasperated sigh into the void.
  • Laufey told BBC Radio 1's Jack Saunders the track is "about the never-ending chase for perfection that comes with being a woman." Growing up in Iceland, she was often the only Asian person in the room - or the entire postal code - and that difference only sharpened her sense of not fitting the mold.

    There's also a historical quirk here: the original animated Snow White, she points out, was based on an Icelandic woman, adding another layer of irony to her personal disconnect from the archetype.
  • The track is not an optimistic listen. Laufey warns you not to press play expecting a pep talk, but it is oddly consoling. "I still to this day, when I'm having a bad day, I listen to 'Snow White,' and it kind of consoles me in a weird way, because I'm like, Okay, those are my feelings, and it doesn't have to overtake my whole life," she said. "It can just exist in the bubble of this song for now and hopefully serve as a comfort for somebody else."
  • Written solo and produced with longtime collaborator Spencer Stewart, "Snow White" was released as the fourth single from A Matter of Time, an album marking Laufey's gradual step away from jazz preservation toward a more emotionally exposed, self-searching style. "Snow White" sits alongside its preceding singles "Silver Lining," "Tough Luck," and "Lover Girl" as part of Laufey's multi-song exploration of womanhood, imperfection, and the sheer gall of being human.
  • Junia Lin, Laufey's twin sister and creative director, directed the music video for "Snow White." It features stunning shots of Iceland's natural beauty. She also directed the video for "Lover Girl."
  • Laufey first performed "Snow White" at the Union Chapel in London on June 30, 2025, as part of her "Laufey's Serenades" shows. "Snow White" was premiered live on piano alongside other new songs from A Matter of Time.
  • Disney released a widely panned live-action remake of Snow White a few months before this song came out, but there's no tie-in. The original movie is from 1937 but is based on a story by The Brothers Grimm that dates back to 1812.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Joe Jackson

Joe JacksonSongwriter Interviews

Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Lori McKenna

Lori McKennaSongwriter Interviews

Lori's songs have been recorded by Faith Hill and Sara Evans. She's performed on the CMAs and on Oprah. She also has five kids.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?