With a second album in the very early stages of development, and playing live remaining a distant prospect ("livestreams I don't really find that fun," she confesses),
Nilüfer Yanya has been exploring other outlets for her creative talents.
Amongst them - art lessons with her dad, delivering art supplies with the Artists In Transit project she started with her sister a few years ago, and a new EP. Her latest three-track effort, out in December, is led by first single '
Crash', which came together during the singer's brief stay in New York last year working alongside Brooklyn-based musician Nick Hakim. The first taste of what's in store, it lays out the groundwork of what promises to be a captivating new chapter.
Tell us a bit more about 'Crash' – what it's about?I feel like I've been writing it for a while. I had the idea, but it really came together when I went to New York last September. I recorded it in a couple of days. It was really cool to work with Nick; I've been a big fan of his for the past few years.
How long were you in New York for?I was there for about a week playing a show for Fashion Week.
Was it just 'Crash' you wrote then?We wrote another song, had two songs on the go. They were finished just before lockdown. Nick came over to London in March, and we had a couple of days then.
Are you writing a lot with other people?At the moment, yeah, I'm working with a couple of people – it's quite nice.
Did you manage to write much during lockdown?Not much, no. I kind of finished things, but in terms of like being creative and coming up with ideas for music, I didn't get very far.
Another new track of yours is 'Day 7' - can you tell us a bit about that one?Yeah, that will be part of an EP I'm putting out in December – just three tracks, 'Crash', 'Day 7' and 'Toned Down Luck?'.
Is the EP going to be a preview of what's to expect on the next album?I don't know, actually. I need to get my head into album mode. They're [the songs on the EP] all quite different, but I think they sit together quite well.
