Nia Archives has rightfully been crowned as the person who brought jungle back to life, but on ‘Emotional Junglist’, her superpower isn’t her breakbeats. It’s Nia’s inner world that’s brought to the forefront on her sophomore album, where the Bradford singer-songwriter expands her sonic palette and bears the rawest parts of her psyche. Armed with her distinctive earthy alto and impeccable ear for melody, ‘Emotional Junglist’ doubles down on the blend of Britpop, R&B and jungle that she pioneered, presenting Nia’s most fully realised vision to date.
‘Emotional Junglist’ excels in its narrative pacing. Nia’s whirlwind dissociation is interrupted by an equally intense relationship that rears its head on ‘Danger’. Here, Nia’s surely earned song of the summer with this litany of deliciously filthy come-ons: “You got me pussy-blushing, make it turn bright red”. But all that sexual bravado melts away to a gentility that’s been missing on Nia’s previous work; ‘Vertical’ is a swooning, lovesick ode that sees Nia croon: “You take my pain / I’m changed, I’m not the same”.
From there, Nia’s penchant for a sticky indie riff shines on ‘This Could Be…’ and ‘Dance With Me 2nite’, and she commences a run of slick but sentimental songs. ‘Get Me Down’ is slinky and melodramatic, with guest Jorja Smith’s coos and moans a perfect match for the song; ‘Train of Thought’ is gorgeously delicate and wistful, swaying like a silvery hope in the wind.
Though Nia was never a stranger to vulnerability, songs like ‘Tender’ contain some of her most exposing lyricism to date. “Pretend to embrace fears, I know I’m flawed / But I am tender-hearted in spite of it all”, she admits against a choir of Sampha’s feathery coos. Meanwhile, ‘Lover’s Grief’ finds Nia in the depths of heartbreak, as she sings plaintively: “I could go to bed, but then I gotta wake up and do this shit again”. ‘Boys In Blue’, then, is a roaring end to the record, where Nia gains a final spurt of anger to denounce an ex who called the police on her.
From the start, Nia’s artistry has fought for people to embrace their own multifaceted selves. Fans may be perplexed to hear the lack of conventional jungle on this record, but Nia has never claimed to be a traditionalist. If anything, she’s revived the genre thanks to her willingness to take jungle to new heights. On ‘Emotional Junglist’, Nia knows the thrill of her music isn’t just within the sound – it’s within her soul.
Details
- Record label: Islands Records
- Release date: July 17, 2026
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