Nia Archives @ SWG3, Glasgow, 30 Oct

Multi-award-winning DJ, producer, and singer Nia Archives brings an energetic performance to Glasgow’s SWG3 with her unique brand of UK jungle. Although relatively early in her career as an artist, releasing her first EP Headz Gone West in 2021, Nia has gone on to release a plethora of critically-acclaimed EPs and singles over the last four years. Following the release of her first album Silence Is Loud earlier this year, Nia is performing her work across the globe. 

Bouncing onto the stage like a character from Jet Set Radio, Nia effortlessly whips the crowd up into a fervour, blasting through her catalogue at a breakneck pace. Each track comes with themed visuals and lighting displayed behind Nia’s decks, a detail often neglected by other artists – I’m looking at you Azealia Banks, with that 480p Scottish flag video loop. Strobing lights and flickering graphics accompany glitchy tracks like Off Wiv Ya Headz while tunes like Cards On the Table give the crowd a momentary breather before being thrown back into Nia’s 170bpm bangers. 

Nia seamlessly mixes her tracks together, occasionally interspersing vocals on tracks like Forbidden Feelingz and Headz Gone West, always knowing when to ease off and when to put her foot on the gas. Both the start and end of the 75-minute set serve as a testament to Nia’s skills and versatility as a DJ, producer, and vocalist, however the show’s midpoint occasionally dips in variety with the crowd waiting for a change of pace. 

The occasional drop in excitement only speaks to the high bar set by Nia’s otherwise flawless performance. So rarely does an artist so early in their career perform as if they have been at it for decades.