NIA ARCHIVES NODS TO 90S ELECTRONICA ON NEW LOVE DRUGGED SINGLE “VERTICAL”

NIA ARCHIVES NODS TO 90S ELECTRONICA ON NEW LOVE DRUGGED SINGLE “VERTICAL”

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EMOTIONAL JUNGLIST COMING FRIDAY 17TH JULY - PRE-ORDER NOW

Today, the darling of jungle Nia Archives returns with the third single from her forthcoming new album Emotional Junglist called “Vertical”, where skittering hi-hats underscore a honeymoon period of romantic infatuation. Continuing to play with genre around her singular, alt-jungle sound- she cites Madonna’s Ray of Light era and Björk as inspiration for the reduced BPM and nods to Nineties electronica. The accompanying video by Dylan Gee shot at night time in New York City visually mirrors that hazy, loved up and raw post rave, new love experience - lush with strobe lights, blue lights and superimposition as she makes her way home.

Speaking on the single, she shares:

“There’s this one synth that kind of beeps, and it just makes you feel a bit dissociative. That’s what I enjoy about production – how can you say something without the lyrics? I wanted it to feel like December in London.”

If it’s not yet apparent by the release of earlier singles including the flirtatious and X-rated “Danger” and subversive take on the culmination of a relationship “Boys In Blue”, Emotional Junglist promises an album about love – but not just the shimmering romantic parts. Written throughout 2025 – a year that saw Nia fall in, and horrifically back out of, love – each track will encompass something of the experience. Marking her biggest sonic leap to date, her alt-jungle sound honed alongside James Ford (Arctic Monkey’s, Blur), Ethan P. Flynn (FKA Twigs, David Byrne) and Julia Michaels (Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter), will see her flirt with everything from dewy-eyed indie pop and nineties electronica, underscored by the syncopated beats and thudding basslines of her jungle roots with a tracklist that features Jorja Smith and Sampha. The motif for the album is a shell – tough on the outside, but through pressure, maturation and resilience, something precious is built within. Nodding to the female form, the spiral chamber also symbolizes growth and self-development.

Last month, Nia took her debut live show on a run of exclusive, sold-out intimate show dates in Leeds, London and NYC and this past weekend taking the set up to Forbidden Fruits Festival in Dublin. These shows have received a raucous reception from fans new and old, as this exciting new era begins to unfold IRL. You can catch Nia Archives at All Points East this Summer alongside Jorja Smith and Tems.

As part of the activations around “The Music Is Black: A British Story” exhibition, co-curated with Rendezvous Projects, Up Ya Archives took over V&A East. The programme explored jungle’s evolution and the East London communities, pirate radio stations, record shops and DIY infrastructures that shaped it. Featuring Tim Reaper, DJ Flight, NAINA and SELECTACEE, the event took place across a variety of DJ sets, talks, workshops and screenings.

About Nia Archives

Bradford born, Leeds raised, ever since releasing her debut single “Sober Feels” in 2020 (self-funded by her student loan), Nia has become a poster girl for jungle’s revival. Growing up in Leeds, her musical indoctrination was a family affair with introductions to production software, gospel at church, and soon discovering everything from jungle to R&B on local pirate radio. From her pre-teen years, Nia would geek out over breakbeats in her bedroom, but as an artist she pushed the mould by bringing an unexpected vulnerability to the bangers. With a slew of critically acclaimed EPs under her belt - Headz Gone West, Forbidden Feelingz and Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall - and most recently her epoch-making debut album Silence Is Loud, her rise has been nothing short of colossal. Alongside support from The Guardian, PItchfork, British Vogue, The Fader, Crack, Mixmag, The Face, British GQ (Man Of The Year honoree 2024) and many more, she has multiple MOBO and BRIT Award nominations (she made history as the first jungle artist to earn three career BRIT Award nominations, securing nods for Artist of the Year and Best Dance Act at the 2025 BRIT Awards, following a 2023 "Rising Star" nomination), has opened for Beyonce on her Renaissance World Tour and remixed Jorja Smith, Fred Again and Jamie XX. A CP Company and Chopova Lowena favourite, she’s also worked with brands like Burberry, Dior, Nike, Corteiz and Apple.