Nia Archives Reveals New LP ‘Emotional Junglist’ With Jorja Smith and More

Nia Archives is stepping into a bold new chapter as she reveals her upcoming album Emotional Junglist, set for release on July 24 through Island Records.

After making a striking return earlier this year with the playful and provocative single “Danger,” the Bradford, England-raised producer and alt-jungle artist has now shared more details about her second project. The announcement arrived alongside her new track “Boys In Blue,” which dropped on Wednesday April 29.

As outlined in the official press release, “Boys In Blue” is framed as a defiant anthem, written in the aftermath of a breakup the artist experienced in 2025. The release also comes with a visual directed by Iris Luz, filmed across London at night, drawing inspiration from the raw and emotionally intense style associated with PJ Harvey and Fiona Apple.

The album brings together a strong list of collaborators, including producer James Ford, known for work with Arctic Monkeys and Blur. Additional contributors include Ethan P. Flynn and songwriter Julia Michaels, whose credits span artists like Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter. The project also features appearances from Jorja Smith and Sampha.

According to the press materials, Emotional Junglist is shaped by themes of pressure, growth and resilience, exploring personal evolution and self-discovery. It follows her 2024 debut Silence Is Loud, which earned the 26-year-old a place on that year’s Mercury Prize shortlist.

To introduce the new era, Archives will play a series of intimate shows across England, including Leeds and London, as well as a stop in New York City this May, all of which are already sold out. She is also scheduled to appear at major summer festivals such as Movement Detroit and Lightning in a Bottle in California, before heading to Boardmasters in Newquay, England in August. More tour details are available through her official website.

A nominee across both the MOBO and BRIT Awards, Archives made history as the first jungle artist to receive three BRIT nominations, including artist of the year and best dance act at the 2025 ceremony, building on her earlier Rising Star nomination in 2023. Her momentum has also included supporting Beyoncé in London and creating remixes for Fred again.. and Jamie xx.

Speaking with Billboard U.K. in late 2024, Archives reflected on the impact of her debut album. “If I have done anything in my life, I have made this album and it’s told the world about who I am, what my story is, and what I am interested in,” she said. “Album one had to be really real to me: It had to represent who I am and where I come from, and I felt like I only had one chance to do that.”

Listen to Archives’ new song “Boys in Blue” below: