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.”
On the forthcoming album, songs bloomed into being through unexpected ways which helped Nilüfer make better sense of her world and the ways it’s changing as she enters her late twenties; grappling 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.
As a whole, Nilüfer Yanya’s third album asks questions with no easy answers. It is a supple, expansive body of work that peers into the crevices of life. Exploring them with comforting strings, skittering beats, soul-tinged melodies and swooning harmonies. The album brings up questions for the ever-growing minds of listeners to ponder upon, like “Who are we?” “Why do we follow the paths we follow?” “What is at the heart of it all?”.
“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 landed a spot in The New York Times’ 40 Best Songs of 2024 list, 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. Don’t forget to pre-save/order ‘My Method Actor’, listen to “Mutations”, watch the brand new music video, and stay tuned for more from Nilüfer coming soon.
