Nilüfer Yanya unveils her latest single, “Mutations,” a track that showcases her distinctive vocal prowess with its refreshing, breezy quality reminiscent of a summer’s day. However, while Yanya’s voice delivers an invigorating experience, the incessant drum pattern tends to wear thin over time. The rhythm, though initially engaging, ultimately fails to sustain its appeal throughout the track. Entertainment World
Today, Nilüfer Yanya shares “Mutations,” the latest single from her album My Method Actor due September 13th via Ninja Tune. “Mutations” sees Nilüfer recounting experiences that have subtly transformed and shaped her. The single comes alongside a new video directed by Nilüfer’s sister, Molly Daniel, and shot along the streets and beaches of Spain. Speaking on the track Nilüfer shares: “‘Mutations’ deals with change brought about by circumstance. This is not the phoenix rising from the ashes but the subtle change that happens constantly as millions of tiny decisions and actions shape your being. It’s kind of like survival, for me. Less of a transformation and more something that’s born out of your environment and surroundings, that you need to do to survive. Mutation is just something you have to go through- you have to evolve.”
“Mutations” follows Nilüfer’s previous singles “Call It Love,” which NPR highlighted in their ‘songs they can’t stop playing’ podcast, title track “Method Actor,” which The FADER described as “stellar” and “Like I Say (I runaway),” which The New York Times depicted as “reveling in contrasting textures,” landing a spot on their 40 Best Songs of 2024 list. “Like I Say (I runaway)” has also hit the top 50 at AAA radio in the US, is A listed at BBC 6 Music, and was added to the playlist at BBC Radio 1.
Nilüfer will be heading on her world tour this Fall following the album’s release. The tour begins with North America starting in Philadelphia on September 28th and continuing on with stops including New York, Toronto, Atlanta, Seattle and Los Angeles. Full tour routing can be found below.
On the forthcoming album songs bloomed into being in unexpected ways helping Yanya make sense of her world and the ways it’s changing as she enters her late twenties and grapples with what it means to be an established musician. “For me, writing is definitely problem-solving – in the way they say that dreaming is like problem-solving. You’re like, oh, that sounds good. That looks good. That makes sense. But you don’t really know why. You’re kind of using that part of your creative brain that doesn’t have to make sense.” Her lyrics are specific and hazy at once, and sometimes surreal: she talks about the songs as though she’s trying to decipher the person she was when she wrote them.
My Method Actor follows Nilüfer’s previous albums PAINLESS and Miss Universe, both of which were met with an overwhelming amount of critical praise, ranking among the year’s best by The New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork with a Best New Music stamp, Vulture and more. Nilüfer performed celebrated singles on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Stephen Colbert, Later with Jools Holland and NPR’s legendary Tiny Desk concert series. She’s supported Adele, the XX and Mitski on tour, headlined London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire and sold out shows across Europe, Australia, Japan and the USA. Yanya has also been remixed by Sampha, King Krule and Little Dragon and has collaborated with Bombay Bicycle Club and Liss. Nilüfer is a founding member of the community project Artists In Transit which takes creative workshops and other support to displaced communities and people in times of hardship. Pre-save/order My Method Actor and listen to “Mutations” above, find fall touring details below and stay tuned for more from Nilüfer coming soon.