Laufey delivers Piano Room performance on Vernon Kay’s Radio 2 show

Laufey performed live in Radio 2’s Piano Room today with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

The Grammy Award-winning Icelandic singer appeared on BBC Radio 2 during Vernon Kay’s mid-morning programme, with the special session also made available for listeners via BBC Sounds shortly after broadcast.

Broadcast from Maida Vale Studios, the performance paired Laufey’s orchestral pop sound with the full backing of the BBC Concert Orchestra, continuing Radio 2’s tradition of reimagining contemporary artists alongside classical musicians.

During the session, Laufey delivered a stripped-back orchestral interpretation of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now, a song widely recognised for its appearance in the film Love Actually, bringing a quieter and more intimate tone to the Piano Room setting.

Listeners also heard a performance of her fan favourite Lover Girl, before Laufey introduced her latest single How I Get, giving Radio 2 audiences an early opportunity to hear new material in a live orchestral arrangement.

Speaking during the programme, Laufey reflected on growing up in Iceland within a classical music household, explaining how early exposure to orchestras and traditional performance shaped the musical direction she continues to explore today.

She also discussed winning her second Grammy Award earlier this month for Traditional Pop Vocal Album, describing the moment as a milestone following a year that has seen her audience expand through touring, streaming and radio exposure.

Conversation across the broadcast moved between her recent arena tour experiences and the realities of adapting vintage jazz and orchestral influences for younger audiences discovering her.

Listen back to Laufey’s Piano Room performance and interview here on BBC Sounds. You can watch her full performance on BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room YouTube playlist here and BBC iPlayer (available from 6pm today).