Born and bred in Bradford, West Yorkshire, the 24 year old DJ integrated herself within the rave territory of the north after discovering her community when relocating to Manchester at sixteen. With Nia and her brother being the only black children growing up in their school, the influence of her Jamaican heritage within roots jungle held great significance over the beginning of her music career and introduction to drum and bass. Being surrounded by musicians and DJs throughout her upbringing due to her stepfather’s job as a rapper and producer, Nia’s exposure to such a flair for musicality catalysed and kickstarted her career in producing.
Since releasing her debut EP Headz Gone West in 2021, Nia has been on the rise as a star to young ravers within the UK drum and bass scene, proposing a trance-like blend of everything disco tech. Now arguably on par to acclaimed artists such as Fred Again and Peggy Gou, Nia’s frenetic breakbeats charge Gen Z’s interest back into jungle beats, informed by reggae, neo soul and Jamaican roots, a personal love letter to Nia Archives’ upbringing, where she addresses her own childhood reflections within her music. Tracks such as Forbidden Feelingz and Ode 2 Maya Angelou dwell on her childhood and Jamaican roots, paying tribute to the DJ’s Grandma Liz, featuring a sampled excerpt from the infamous 70s detective series, ‘Columbo’ as well as honouring the celebrated poet and the value of black history.
The now London-based artist has rapidly dominated young ravers’ Spotify playlists after releasing her second EP and winning Best Producer at the NME Awards last year, diffusing jungle and Jamaican influence into club tracks and DJ sets across the country, illustrating a “future classic” vibe, as Nia described her sound as in the past. After an ecstatic set at Boiler Room in October, the future is bright for Nia Archives as she embarks upon her almost sold out ‘Up Ya Archives’ tour and respected festival sets at Parklife and Primavera, further cementing her sonic archives into the music records of this generation.