Nilüfer Yanya makes US debut at Mercury Lounge (pics, video, review)
London’s Nilüfer Yanya has deservedly gained some buzz for her early EPs and new single “Baby Luv,” her first release for ATO Records. She’s currently in the US playing her first-ever shows here, NYC’s Mercury Lounge last night (11/14) and LA’s Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Thursday (11/16).
We caught the Mercury Lounge show, a late show for the venue, which had Nilüfer giving an intimate performance in front of a rapt crowd. She began her set solo for “Angels” before welcoming her friend Jazzi Bobbi up to provide some additional vocals and saxophone on “The Florist.” The woodwind flourishes provided great embellishment to the dusky, jazzy tunes which included a cover of The Pixies’ “Hey.”
Opener Xhosa serenaded the audience for about 20 mins with her self-produced beats and songs. Her last tune was a tribute to the first time she smoked weed and she invited someone up from the crowd to dance with her. Pictures of the show are in the gallery above.
Nilüfer will be back in the US for SXSW 2018 and hopefully more shows around then.
Here’s a video and the setlist from her Mercury Lounge show:
Nilüfer Yanya 11/14/17 Setlist:
Angels
The Florist
In Your Head
Small Crimes
Thanks 4 Nothing
Golden Cage
Hey (Pixies)
Keep on Calling
Baby Luv
