Nia Archives is likely one of the youngest in cost on the subject of dance music. At simply 24 years outdated, she has put jungle on her again and skyrocketed the style again into the mainstream. By way of her unifying and enthralling sound, her ethos of bringing folks collectively by way of music has gotten her to this point. Her earlier upbeat club-friendly tunes just like the 2022 singles ‘Mash up the Dance’ with Watch The Experience and the baile funk-inspired ‘Baìana’ had competition fields up and down the nation breaking out right into a well-earned skank.
But on her third EP – 2023’s ‘Dawn Bang Ur Head In opposition to Tha Wall’ – the Bradford star took a beat, sharing six “much less ravey” tracks that mirrored an “trustworthy and actual” model of herself. And the artistic polymath’s debut album, ‘Silence Is Loud’, is a fleshed-out extension of this. Nia has mentioned the album is one you may have “to sit down and take heed to” – and while you do, you hear a set of tranquil tracks that showcase her means to craft intricate songs past a hedonistic floorfiller. Throughout the album, she expands on each her new laid-back manufacturing fashion and angsty songwriting to create candid, bittersweet gems that sum up the eccentricities of life.
Together with her uniquely spell-binding lilt, she sings about loneliness, household struggles and despair over understated melodies boosted with the jungle aptitude she’s synonymous with. Her earnest songwriting shines on tracks similar to ‘F A M I L Y’ and ‘Crowded Roomz’; on the latter, a whining electrical guitar riff highlights Nia’s easy story of feeling alone in crowded rooms: “It’s a facade, a persona, my costume / Nobody to show to, they don’t perceive my blues”.
‘Playing cards On The Desk’ and ‘Out Of Choices’ are different standout tracks that includes the identical comfortable and atmospheric guitar sounds. However on the similar time, they’re energised by zingy chimes that cushion the pensive lyrics. Clearly, Nia hasn’t forgotten the fun-loving nature of dance music. Elsewhere, the opening title monitor upholds the frenetic vibe of jungle music and reminds us why she received Finest Producer on the NME Awards in 2022 as she expertly combines fizzy synths, a thumping bassline and nostalgic samples
But, ‘Silence Is Loud (Reprise)’ is the most important spotlight. Right here, Nia rests her trusted jungle bassline and opts for nothing however piano and siren-style synths encourage her to belt her coronary heart out – it’s actually essentially the most weak second in Nia’s discography. She exudes confidence and not hides her voice behind her depraved manufacturing expertise – which she instructed NME she solely developed as a result of different producers “had been messing her round”.
With every mission, Nia waters the seeds of concepts and ideas she has planted all through her discography. And, on her debut album, all of them blossomed right into a wealthy, self-reflective document that reveals the artist past the beats. If ‘Silence Is Loud (Reprise)’ is something to go by, let’s hope Nia makes use of her voice much more sooner or later. In spite of everything, what’s going to the subsequent era of ravers take heed to once they simply must be nonetheless?
Particulars
- Launch date: April 12, 2024
- Document label: HIJNXX/Island
