Nia Archives – Emotional Junglist
Nia Archives' second full-length album is a post-rave emotional exploration of a turbulent 2025, as she fell in and then dramatically out of love
“To be an Emotional Junglist is to feel everything and nothing all at once,” says Nia Archives. “It’s to be calm yet chaotic, sane yet manic – up, down and sideways.” Her second full-length album is a post-rave emotional exploration of a turbulent 2025, as she fell in and then dramatically out of love. It builds on an alt-jungle and indie-pop fusion fans first heard on her debut, 2024’s Silence Is Loud, with new influence from Arctic Monkeys’ producer James Ford.
At its best, this sound is absolutely electric. Standout tracks Boys In Blue and Around Tha Bend show the potential, combining Archives' sharp writing with classic breakbeats and thumping guitar. But there's too much filler on the 15-track release, with only a Jorja Smith feature to hold up the middle. The bedroom pop sound can become a little repetitive, and it would have been nice to hear her delve into different genres as she has in the past. All said, Emotional Junglist feels like music Nia Archives wants to make. And when you’re talking about one of the most talented artists the UK has to offer, that’s no bad thing.
Listen to: Boys In Blue, Around Tha Bend, Get Me Down (feat. Jorja Smith)