For all the accolades and acclaim given to successful method actors, there are just as many or more stories of nightmarish conditions on set and the strain it can put on the actors and those around them.
British singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya sees parallels between her life as a musician and method acting.
"When you're performing, you're still trying to invoke the energy and emotion of when you first wrote it, in that moment," she said. "It definitely feels like you're having to recreate or step into that headspace."
The comparison is part of a larger discussion about what it means to be a full-time musician in her late 20s, something Yanya explores throughout her new album, My Method Actor. Since releasing her debut in 2019, Yanya has received praise for her seamless fusing of alt-rock, R&B, trip-hop and more with jazzy and ethereal vocals.
The new album is her best yet, showcasing her wide array of influences but carrying a cohesive sound and direction throughout. Part of that might be due to the singer slimming down her creative circle to just herself and producer Wilma Archer. Yanya's songs have always carried an element of unease and anxiety, and the pair hone in on the tension with sparse instrumentals, skittering drums and ominous basslines.
At times, the muted moods are shocked with stabs of guitar, like the almost-title track "Method Actor." During the verses, it's as if Yanya is dissociating and watching herself from afar, with lines like, "I love to dance in my new costume. Watchin' the crowd kick in my jaw." The crunch of the guitar that runs throughout the chorus goes hand in hand with Yanya pulling back the distance and letting her anger shine through.
Lead single "Like I Say (I runaway)" works in similar territory, this time with the singer describing loss of control. It's unclear if it's losing control of her creative process or broader feelings of losing control of her life — perhaps a little bit of both.
Beyond the production of the album, the anchor of Yanya's music is the range and expressiveness of her primary instrument, her voice. There are few singers who can carry the weight she does while singing in hushed vocals, like the breathtaking chorus of "Call It Love." Over simple guitar and basslines running counterpoint to each other, it's her take on the classic question of love or lust.
Other highlights on My Method Actor are "Mutations," recalling the post-dubstep sounds of artists like James Blake and Mount Kimbie, "Faith's Late," with its sweeping strings and modern R&B vocals and the electro-acoustic fusion of "Just A Western."
The full album shows an extremely talented musician continuing to grow her sound, using her music to navigate her place in the world and being unafraid to honestly discuss the pitfalls of being a performer.
Must listens
- "Like I Say (I runaway)"
- "Method Actor"
- "Mutations"
- "Call It Love"
- "Faith's Late"
- "Made Out Of Memory"
- "Just A Western"
