Interview Facing forwards: Nilüfer Yanya

It’s less than a week since West London newcomer Nilüfer Yanya played Brixton Academy in support of Broken Social Scene. In two days, she’s set to fly out for the second round of Athens in Transit, an art therapy/workshop scheme she runs with her sister at the Eleonas refugee camp in the Greek capital. Talk about a contrast.

For a singer so new into her career, it’s a pretty ballsy, all-encompassing entry she’s made, and it’s reflected in her ever-changing, genre-melting sound. “I didn’t want [to be a solo artist] for quite a while,” she states, winding down from a weekend of shows across the country in local Chelsea. “That’s why I was hesitant to start singing at all. I was in bands but didn’t sing. It’s very strange when it’s all about you.”

Despite presenting a series of ultra-confident singles over the past year, the idea of being the face and name of her music still doesn’t come naturally to the 22-year-old. “Sometimes I wish I [performed under a moniker] but I also never felt the need to, because my name isn’t a particularly normal one,” she begins. “If my name was Jake Smith, maybe I’d feel the need to have a stage name, but I think people will remember me anyway! Sometimes I do wish that I had another ‘thing’ so it wasn’t all just totally me, as a person and an artist. Even now when someone asks my name I’ll sort of mumble it, but I think it’s good for me, because I’m not naturally that person that says ‘HEY! IT’S ME!’