Nilüfer Yanya captivated the audience at the Basement East with an intimate yet electrifying concert. With her 2024 album release, My Method Actor, the British singer-songwriter delivers a poignant exploration of her identity and relationship with music.
The night began with supporting acts Lutalo Jones and Angelica Garcia, creating a swirl of folky indie rock and experimental pop that warmed up the crowd. Jones’ tender vocals and storytelling from his debut album, The Academy, left the audience in awe. Before Garcia began her performance, it was clear that her set would be a stand-out. As she slowly rose from the ground, she broke into a buzzing performance of upbeat Spanish songs from her third studio album Gemelo. Garcia brought the crowd from slow head bobbing to hands in the air and lively dancing as she pranced around the blank stage.
When Yanya took the stage, her intent was clear: to let the music speak for itself. Despite her gritty rock sound and expressive saxophone solos, Yanya remained close to the microphone, at times just standing and cradling her guitar. Her lack of theatrics truly showed that the performance was about her music more than anything. The songs spoke for themselves with their melodic beats and authentic lyrics, no commentary was needed.
Midway through her performance, Yanya seamlessly transitioned into several tracks from My Method Actor, characterized by dreamy melodies with delicate vocals that created an almost conversational feel. Yanya’s nonchalant stage presence was the epitome of authenticity, reminiscent of a method actor’s technique to embody a character’s inner thoughts and emotions. Yanya has stated that she doesn’t know how to be a performer. Her approach to performing is simply to be herself and play songs without messing up. She did exactly that. Akin to a method actor becoming so much of a character they are no longer acting but being, Yanya transcended the role of a musician on stage. Instead of being a musician performing, she was sharing her true self.
The concert’s mellow, reflective period took an upbeat and rhythmic turn as she performed songs from her second album PAINLESS. Tracks like “the dealer”, “stabilize”, and “rid of me”, had the audience quickly bobbing their heads and swaying. As Yanya concluded with her last song “midnight sun,” the room was left in buzzing admiration. The night was a testament to the power of authenticity and genuine artistry in music. Yanya’s stripped-back performance reached the audience in an unexpectedly profound way, leaving them with a sense of connection that lingered long after the final note.
Listen to Method Actor here: