Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall
nia archives.
© Hijinxx / Island, 2023
The third solo EP from jungle wonder Nia Archives is her most elevated body of work yet. Equal parts explosive and personal, Sunrise tears down the walls between Nia as an artist and as a person.
Less than a year after her breakout 2022 EP Forbidden Feelingz, Nia Archives is back with a potent addition to her catalog of new-age, reflective jungle with Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall. Through her enigmatic live sets and now-three EPs, she’s garnered countless praise, even leading to several award nods from the acclaimed likes of DJ Mag and NME. And when you consider her first Spotify release came just weeks after the pandemic began, her meteoric rise becomes all the more extraordinary.
An extended rollout saw the release of singles “Baianá,” “So Tell Me…” and “Conveniency,” all excellent stand-alone tracks that work just as well in the context of the EP. She brings all the makings of a summer festival circuit smash hit with “Baianá,” as the vital introductory track to the work. The sampling feels like a potent nod to the Brazilian ensemble piece, known for the literal viscerality of their work in the sounds they create from their own bodies. It recalls those intensely euphoric yet bittersweet moments at the rave, sun just beginning to rise as the set reaches a fever pitch with the DJ upping the tempo one last time.
From that vigorous peak begins a descent as the music slows and the thoughts speed up. Where do we go from here? Nia’s honey-tinged vocals reemerge in “That’s Tha Way Life Goes,” which gently ebbs and flows as she outlines the thoughts bouncing around her brain. No longer engulfed in the music and the surround, indecision and overanalysis plague her. Irish-born R&B singer Maverick Sabre makes an appearance on “No Need 2 Be Sorry, Call Me?,” bringing an intriguing, gruff contrast to the otherwise featureless EP.
Tracks like “So Tell Me…” and “Conveniency” find Nia, again, in a state of vulnerability. Among her more delicate and introspective tracks on the record, she opts to let her vocals shine through–simultaneously letting the percussion take a backseat. In spite of an estranged relationship and feeling like a last resort, she courageously chooses herself. And in the final, titular track, she shakes it off. Lets the thoughts bleed away. A purgative force of distorted breakbeats that erupt over the modest piano backing. Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall.
“That feeling when you’ve been at an afters & you’re in somebody’s kitchen, all these thoughts running through your head, the sun comes up and it’s the most disgusting feeling ever with an element of bliss at the same time!”
In this way, Sunrise feels like an EP of opposites–beginning and ending with a cathartic explosion underlined by a soft, melancholic underbelly. Harp notes embracing abrasive percussion. The party and the after-party. A push-and-pull between two sides of Nia Archives. The youthful feeling of bursting at the seams and the inevitable consequences of doing so. Her relatability is so striking. Maybe that’s what has garnered her such widespread appeal in these past couple of years–the tender disparity between her delicate, heartfelt lyrics and the nearly-clobbering breakbeats. Or her exuberant personality ever-present among the chaos.
Forbidden Feelingz features a patchwork album cover showcasing some of her favorite albums, childhood photos, and more distinctively personal memorabilia–she clearly wears both her heart and soul on her sleeve. Weighing that against Sunrise’s collage of self-portraits, one can see a marked acceptance of this vulnerability, which adds an extra layer of understanding to the EP.
Her youthful, spirited flair makes her such a compelling figure in the electronic scene and an unparalleled suit for a jungle resurgence. For that purpose, Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall is a particularly resonant addition to Nia’s catalog. It’s beautiful to see her share both her humanity and effervescent takes on contemporary jungle–sure to propel the genre in new directions as she continues to craft her own space as an artist, all while tastefully summoning its roots. It’s clear she’ll be a bright light for generations of ravers and junglists alike to come.
Make sure to check her out on her April 7 tour date at Elsewhere. Buy tickets here.
- Connor
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