Nilüfer Yanya’s guitar playing has always had a raw, intimate quality, like she’s picking at a nagging itch. It draws listeners in, but often added a nervous, edgy energy to her music. Her debut album Miss Universe (2019) was bold and chaotic, but far from relaxed. On her second album, PAINLESS (2022), Yanya’s honeyed vocals intertwined with her intricate guitar lines, creating music that was alluring yet anxious, feeling like she still had something to prove. Now, with her third and best album, My Method Actor, Yanya has evolved. Her sound is more self-assured, confident, and relaxed, making the music feel effortless, like it was always there waiting to be discovered.
Though she still tackles themes like romantic turmoil, Yanya approaches them with poetic grace rather than explosive riffs or chaotic solos. Across the album’s 11 tracks, she delivers a performance that feels refined and elegant. Her signature guitar style remains, but the frantic edge has softened. Some of this newfound confidence may come from her collaboration with Wilma Archer, a songwriter and producer who co-wrote My Method Actor. This is the first time Yanya has worked with a single producer, giving the album a cohesive, polished feel that sets it apart from her previous work.
In My Method Actor, Yanya confidently explores self-critique and emotional growth. The album opener “Keep On Dancing” sets the tone with lines like, “I’m a loser first/Come on, do your worst,” a statement of resilience that echoes the kind of self-awareness found in shows like Girls. Yanya’s delivery is sharp and unapologetic, reflecting her growth and maturity.
Despite the biting lyrics, this isn’t a mean-spirited album. It’s about finding comfort in discomfort. On the single “Like I Say (I Runaway),” she sings, “The minute I’m not in control/I’m tearing up inside,” showing a mix of vulnerability and self-awareness. In the accompanying music video, Yanya plays a runaway bride, escaping not into another relationship, but into an open field—a symbol of her desire for freedom and self-determination.
Throughout the album, subtle instrumental accents like Joe Harvey-Whyte’s pedal steel guitar and Clíona Ní Choileáin’s cello add depth without overwhelming the songs. These elements, carefully placed, enhance the mood of tracks like “Mutations,” which offers a sense of release amidst its tension.
One standout track, “Binding,” exemplifies the album’s understated strength. It’s a quiet, powerful song where Yanya’s voice, barely rising above a whisper, exudes confidence. The minimalist arrangement—a simple drum line, pedal steel, and folky guitar—creates a haunting atmosphere as Yanya tells an abstract story of a car crash, intoxication, or the end of a relationship. The ambiguity of the lyrics only adds to the song’s depth.
My Method Actor isn’t just about emotional escape; it confronts the tension between soul and body. On “Made Out of Memory,” Yanya addresses this struggle head-on with some of the album’s most intense lyrics: “I’ll dig my own grave/I don’t give a fuck.” It’s a raw, fearless moment of self-acceptance, proving Yanya’s artistic growth and maturity.
In My Method Actor, Nilüfer Yanya has found her stride, creating an album that is confident, lush, and deeply introspective. It’s a triumph that shows her evolution as an artist, blending emotional depth with a sound that feels both expansive and intimate.
