Nia Archives: the artist at the front of the drum and bass revival

Every generation of a genre needs new voices. In the early 2020s, one of the most prominent in jungle and drum and bass has been Nia Archives, a young producer, DJ, singer and songwriter whose records have brought many new listeners to the sound.

Who she is

Wikipedia says Dehaney Nia Lishahn Hunt, who performs as Nia Archives, was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in September 1999. She moved to Leeds at the age of seven and later to Greater Manchester. During that time, she was inspired by jungle documentaries and the women within them. She later moved to Hackney Wick for university.

The self released years

She attracted attention for three self released EPs: Headz Gone West in 2021, Forbidden Feelingz in 2022 and Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against the Wall in 2023. The last of these topped the UK Dance Albums Chart. Releasing music independently and finding an audience in this way is a pattern common in the recent history of the scene.

The debut album

In 2024 she released her debut album, Silence Is Loud, through Island, and it peaked at number 16 on the UK Albums Chart. For a record rooted in jungle, that is a considerable chart position.

Wikipedia says she is generally regarded as being at the forefront of the drum and bass revival after 2020. Her records combine breakbeats and basslines with singing and songwriting, which gives the music a different feel from the instrumental tracks that dominate many nights.

The bigger picture

The revival she is associated with involves a new generation of artists who draw on the 1990s jungle sound, often with a more personal and vocal approach. It has brought younger audiences to nights and festivals and has made the history of the genre feel current.

As we reported earlier in the autumn, she has a UK tour on the calendar, in which her live show takes the records to rooms across the country.

How to start

If you are new to her work, begin with the EPs and then move to the album, listening for how the jungle drums sit with the voice. Then follow the references back to the classic records, such as Original Nuttah and Timeless, and you will hear where many of the ideas come from.