Nia Archives is the project of the English artist Dehaney Nia Lishahn Hunt, who will soon turn 27 years old. His first album ‘Silence Is Loud’ helped him make a name for himself in the British dance scene, reaching number 1 on the dance sub-chart with that release or the top 40 dance with the single ‘Baianá’. Among her influences she recognized names like Goldie, Roni Size, MIA or Ms Dynamite, something that you would immediately deduce listening to songs like ‘Forbidden Feelingz’.
This month we received their second album, ‘Emotional Junglist’, which we are going to select as Record of the Week, given the compositional strength of singles such as the rocker and finale ‘Boys In Blue’, designed for festivals; or his collaboration with Jorja Smith, ‘Get Me Down’. Even songs that have not been singles stand out, such as ‘This Could Be…’
Starting at the beginning, we choose as Song of the Day one of the main singles, specifically the one titled ‘Vertical’. It is a love song full of strength (“you build the rain, I hunt hurricanes”), in which Nia Archives states that she does not want to be “vertical” but “beneath you.” Even clearer: “the world can wait, I want to be in your bed.”
If in other songs the jungle that he has always liked so much still prevails, in ‘Vertical’ a certain dream pop air is added to that very British influence on the keyboards, which could have been contributed by Beach House. And some songs from Nia Archives point towards indie, while in tone they are closer to Lily Allen.
On Apple Music, the artist herself has pointed to other influences on this particular song: “I was really inspired by Madonna’s ‘Ray of Light’, Björk’s ‘Debut’ and Saint Etienne when I was writing this song and it has become one of my favorites on the album due to its production. There’s a dreamlike synth atmosphere that’s like the feeling of having a crush.” While waiting to identify which Saint Etienne album or stage it may refer to (‘Good Humor’?), we leave you with this and other of their great songs.
