Finding Her Voice: An Interview with Nilüfer Yanya

British singer, songwriter, and musician Nilüfer Yanya released her highly anticipated third album, My Method Actor, on Friday, September 13. With a sound that balances fragility and power, Yanya has built a reputation for blending raw emotion with textured melodies that resonate deeply with listeners. Her previous albums, Miss Universe and Painless garnered widespread praise from fans and critics alike for their genre-defying approach and introspective depth. The excitement surrounding her latest project is palpable, as listeners eagerly await what promises to be another bold artistic statement.

In an interview with TEETH, Yanya opens up about her creative evolution, reflecting on how growing up in a family filled with artistic talent shaped her understanding that art, much like any trade, requires unwavering dedication and practice. Despite early doubts about her voice and whether anyone would want to hear her sing, Yanya continued to find her sound and is preparing to embark on an international tour. And if you’re someone dissecting her latest release on Reddit? There’s a good chance Yanya is reading your hot takes and enjoying every word.

With My Method Actor, Yanya delves even deeper into themes of identity, memory, and self-expression, further solidifying her reputation as one of the most compelling voices of her generation.

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 Let’s start off by talking about your new album, My Method Actor. You started working on this album in early 2023 with your creative partner, Will Archer. Can you share your process for writing and recording this album? I know you and Will worked a bit in a “bubble.”

We had that intention from the start to work on it, just us two. To not have anybody else’s opinion until the end, until we’ve finished everything. It was a brave and brazen decision to make because we’ve worked with each other across two projects now. It was the biggest commitment. It’s like, okay, we’re ready to take this to the next stage. And that means it’s a lot more low-key in a way because it’s just us two, working on an idea— on each other’s ideas. 

It [requires] trusting each other and almost honoring each other. It’s only two of you that need to be there. You don’t want to let yourself down, but you also don’t let the other person down. It’s kind of an interesting, intense, working relationship, I’d say. 

 

Your upcoming album is noted for exploring this idea of movement from one part of your life to the next. What lessons did you carry forward from Miss Universe and Painless, and what did you consciously leave behind?

What lessons did I carry forward? Musically speaking, like un-dilution of ideas, making something stronger that’s simple, as opposed to adding so many things to it. That’s the thing— keeping the ideas strong. Keeping the focus on good writing, good songs, good writing, and strong songs. I think that’s what we’ve kept. That’s what I’ve kept with me, anyway. 

And then what I’ve left behind? I kind of gave up on things trying to make sense. 

I think I was so obsessed with — I mean, you could see it in Miss Universe— I was trying to bring together all these songs and I wanted a way for it to all make sense. So I came up with this whole ‘Miss Universe is a concept’ thing and it just made it more confusing? [Laughs.] We were like, ‘What is this? Is this an album? Or a chat line? Like, what’s going on?’

I feel with My Method Actor, I almost get why people do things like ‘Untitled’ or they don’t even give it a name. Because you’re just like, ‘What really matters here? Is it the name or is it music?’ So I just named it after one of the songs. I feel like there is a thread between music. There is a significance in the name, but it’s not everything about the album. It can’t sum up everything because there’s no point. Everyone is gonna have their own interpretations of the music, and the songs. It’s going to mean something different to everybody else. So in a way, it’s funny. The more I add to it, the less I add to it, the more it makes sense. 

 

Let’s talk about the title track. There is a grunginess and grittiness — especially towards the tail end of that song — is just magnificent. Can you talk about the approach of blending genres in this song?

I guess I don’t really think about it too much. I feel like the delivery on the vocals in “Method Actor” is quite straight and deadpan. It’s almost like you’re speaking, rather than singing a lot of the time. It was easy when I wrote it, and then hard to actually recreate it in the studio when we were doing final takes. Then there’s this sudden change because it gets very heavy rocky in the chorus. 

But I wouldn’t say it’s completely unheard of in my other stuff. I feel like there are still links between other songs. I think it’s just being prepared to be a little bit uncomfortable, like, maybe you won’t be able to pull off straight away, but you can make it work. Yeah, that’s the way I would phrase it.

 

Can you share more about how you struggled to translate parts of the song “Method Actor” in the recording studio? That’s just such an interesting note…

It was so weird because you’re using a different part of the voice that wasn’t necessarily singing. It’s like getting it to sound almost dry. Like, you’re not trying too hard. It’s really hard to do that. You hit all these different nuances in your tone, and the words and the phrase that you can kind of get away with more when you’re singing like [vocalizes la la]. But when it’s just your voice, there’s no prettiness necessarily around it, so it’s just your voice. 

But that’s always been a part of my voice that I’ve liked exploring because I didn’t even think I could sing when I was younger. Because I didn’t have a [vocalizes la] nice voice like that. It sounded like me, singing. I was like, ‘Nobody wants to listen to that.’ 

I think most people can sing, they just don’t try it, you know?

As you prepare for this latest album release, what is the biggest compliment you could receive from listeners?

When people say like they ‘get it.’ [When] they’re like, ‘Yes, I get this’ or ‘Yes, I love that it’s subdued,’ or ‘I love that you’re keeping the guitar.’ I like it when people feel kind of all on the same level about it. There’s an unspoken understanding of why it’s good. I think that’s the best compliment.

 

You are getting ready to embark on an international tour. In Austin, Texas, you’re playing the Mohawk — which is my favorite venue in the city. What can new and old fans expect to see from you?

We’re bringing together a set of the new songs, but also some of the older songs. A nice blend showcasing my full band’s talent. 

Yeah, I hope it’s just a smooth show because that’s what I’m aiming for this time. No weird stops and starts. That’s what I wanna achieve. [Laughs.]

 

They’ve also had the opportunity to tour with incredible artists like Adele and Mitski. What is a lesson you’ve learned from touring with these artists that have stayed with you?

You know, I would say my favorite band to support was Sharon Van Etten. That was 10 out of 10, the best time we had. We were doing like five weeks in North America, like 2019 I believe. The weather was disgusting, like snow everywhere. We were driving in this little van, trying to keep up with the tour bus. So we were [driving] like hours and hours every day, just trying to get to the venues. But that was just like the best. 

We got to see them play every night, and they were just complete rock stars. All of them. And Sharon was doing her first tour without playing guitar the whole time, which was really interesting. I was seeing her, like, step into a different part of her artistry and performance. They were such an amazing band. I’m still friends with them. We used to hang out and that was the best tour man, yeah.

 

Was that tour just before the pandemic? 

I was lucky because we did that at the beginning of the year 2019, and then we did our own tour afterward. [We spent] on and off, most of the year touring because the album was out, Miss Universe. When I kind of wrapped it up, then COVID started. 

I was really lucky because I managed to get in my first album just before that. Friends released their albums that year [2020] and it was just like a bit of a mess, I think.

The music video for your song “Mutation” was directed by your sister, Molly Daniel. How does working with family influence your creative process?

It kind of is my creative process, because Molly has made all my videos to date. And she does most of my photography, I’ve used most of her photography for my last records. We worked together a lot. Also, my mum does a lot of set design. She’s an artist, as well. I always ask her opinion. And my younger sister is an artist, so she’s always doing styling or something with set design. We just always have worked together. I think it’s because I just grew up close with them. I think it is my process.

 

Where are you in birth order? 

So me and my brother are like the middle. Molly’s the oldest, and then I’m next. Then my brother — he’s like 18 months younger than me. And then my younger sister was like a few years behind.

I did know your parents were artists. I didn’t know your entire family was drenched in talent. What were you like as a child, and how did this creative household help shape the confidence you have today?

I was quite shy, quite reserved. I think I am still quite reserved and quite shy. I was always like the narrator in a school play, I wasn’t a character. I wasn’t acting. I was good at reading, so I’d be the narrator. [Laughs.]

I did music from a young age, so I did piano. I was always practicing piano, and everyone was telling me to shut up. [Laughs.] We were always drawing, making things. I’m really so grateful to my parents for supporting us, and encouraging us, and also being a bit harsh on us. Being like, ‘No, you have to practice’ or ‘No, you have to do your work’ or whatever it is. 

I think you need that in your life, like if you don’t have someone there like in your corner it’s really hard to get the willpower to do it yourself when you’re younger. I didn’t give up piano because I knew my mum would be really angry at me. [Laughs.] Not necessarily, because I loved practicing. I hated practicing, but I’m so glad that I had those years and that helped me get into music at school. [It] helped me take my practice seriously when I was ready to write. Music and art is a creative thing, but it’s still just as serious as other work, other jobs. You still need to put in the same amount of time, the amount of hours. It’s not just gonna fall out of the sky and then come to you.

 

If you were to describe yourself on stage and then in the privacy of your own bedroom, would those descriptions overlap or be vastly different?

I think it overlaps. I’ve been talking about why I called that one song ‘Method Actor’ and that’s kind of why I related to the theory behind method acting, cause it’s like you’re stepping in so much the character’s shoes that you’re not acting. You’re just being. 

I think when I’m on stage, I don’t know how to become a bigger person. I don’t really know how to be a performer. All I can do is be myself, and try and play the songs without messing up. That’s kind of it. I just have to be myself and it’s almost, like, scarier. I wish I did have something to step into sometimes. 

I mean, I don’t know if it’s scarier, but it would be nice to be like, ‘OK, this is the Stage Me,’ but there was no Stage Me.

 

I know you’re a founding member of the organization Artists in Transit. How has this creative community grown over the past few years? 

Our community has grown because we’re a creative Community Arts project. We started out working with children and families from refugee backgrounds. We used to go to Athens and Greece quite a bit to do workshops there. But since COVID, we’ve started doing that in London a lot more. At the moment, we’re doing art workshops during the summer holidays for kids to take part in, and we’re trying to get other art facilitators involved. 

We’re in this period of sustaining, keep going. Trying to evaluate what it is that we do best and how we can keep going forward.

 

When do you find yourself doing your best work?

I think when I am a little bit focused. Time really helps. Like, if I have a space to go to. Yeah, I think anything where you treat it like it’s a regular job, in a way.

I mean, there’s always the assumption that’s like, oh, if you have a beautiful studio, then you’ll be able to make loads of work. If you go to this really big studio, you imagine the things you can actually make, but you’re just so in awe of being there.  

It’s like when you go on holiday, sometimes you forget to relax and have fun because you’re just surprised by everything. [Laughs.] So yeah, so whether at home or if I have my own studio space — which I don’t have like a long-term space myself. A lot of the time I do write at home, Or just at Will’s studio. It’s just having a place like that I can go to, and focus, and you can like shut everything out a little bit. 

Yeah, it doesn’t happen when I’m on my phone, that’s for sure. [Laughs.]

 

Phones are interfering with all of our great loves, all the time.

Yeah, but I will say, if I can, I put something on in the background. This is the thing— it doesn’t really work with music. This is why I’m envious of anybody who does painting, anything like that. Because you could just play something and work to it. And that’s all.

 

Wait, now I have to ask if you were going to play something, what would be in the background?

A podcast, or audiobook. Or even to take breaks to — like if you’re working on something and just put back on your next chapter, and you’re back in the book.

 

Do you have a favorite podcast?

You know, I listen to a lot of Glennon Doyle’s “We Can Do Hard Things” podcast. It’s kind of like a mum podcast. It’s not just a mom podcast, but they’re all kind of older and they have different, completely different lives. But they talk about really interesting things, and they always have really interesting speakers.

 

When are you happiest?

Probably with my family, with my sisters. Cycling — cycling and singing, that’s like such a nice thing to do. When you’re getting somewhere and the weather’s nice, that’s a nice feeling.

 

Is there anything you wish fans knew that no one has asked you?

I don’t think so. I think I’m quite a private person.

I have read my subreddit thread, I guess a couple of times I do. Sometimes I just do it. When it’s a release, like an album? I do go, ‘Oh, let’s see what they’re saying on Reddit.’ So I see you guys! [Laughs.] 

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Listen to Nilüfer Yanya’s full album, My Method Actor, below and follow her on tour via Instagram and her website.