First time concert is always a gamble, but seeing this British singer-songwriter live made me an even bigger fan.
I really like Nilüfer Yanya’s smoky voice and offbeat sound, a blend of 90s indie rock and modern aesthetic, often with a melancholic jazzy feel that’s both chilled and uneasy. I’ve listened to her since her 2019 debut album, so it feels weird to say that her music really clicked with me in a live setting, but it’s true. Her songs felt more muscular, expansive and visceral in a concert, and the inclusion of a saxophone player made me wish that her studio recordings would also have more of that nostalgic, bittersweet saxophone sound.
The day of the show was the kind of day where I prayed that I wasn’t dragging myself to the city for nothing, because I’d much rather spend the evening sunk into my couch, watching Winter Olympics figure skating. I also had other errands to run after work, so I arrived pretty late and caught a couple of songs from Melbourne-based opening act GAZAL. She sounds like she would be at home on Triple J, or at least my memory of Triple J from when I was still a listener. These days, radio is no longer my source of new music, I’m more likely to just crank up Smooth FM where every song is comfortable and familiar and easy on the ear.
The break between a warm-up and main act can be a drag, but I was lucky to stand next to a couple of very friendly ladies who engaged me into a chat. The three of us were decidedly on the older end of the young-looking crowd.
Nilüfer came onstage in a super-short miniskirt and mostly let the music do the talking; other than customary greetings, she commented on how warm the venue was (it was indeed very warm), and that she was feeling very jet-lagged and couldn’t really think of anything to say. I have all the sympathy for the artists and musicians who have to fly here all the way from Europe, and I’m grateful that they even bother.
Listening to Nilüfer live, I could fully appreciate what a wonderful instrument her voice is, utterly distinctive and unlike anyone else, going from sultry husky lows to a delicate falsetto. Her four-piece backing band, with a star turn from the already-mentioned saxophonist, were tight apart from one messed-up intro by the drummer that drew grins from everyone. The relatively short setlist drew mostly on Painless and My Method Actor, Nilüfer’s last two albums. I wouldn’t say that she has the song I was dying to hear live, but the sad and gorgeous Trouble was a highlight, and Binding nearly made me tear up with its beautiful, emotive build-up to the chorus.
The real surprise came at the start of the encore, with Nilüfer doing a breathtaking cover of Rid of Me, which made this hardcore PJ Harvey fan (wearing a PJ Harvey T-shirt on the night by a sheer coincidence) very happy. It highlighted that lo-fi 90s influence present in her music, while stamping it with her own style and personality, and it’s just fantastic to see younger female artists find inspiration in PJ Harvey’s music.
I put on Painless right after I got into my car on the way back, and the fresh memory of the show definitely enhances the studio records. Great gig, and another artist to put on my must-see list.
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