Nia Archives Is Bringing Samba To The Streets

Photocredit: Cosmo Webber

Nia Archives, with her latest track, showcases her incredible ingenuity sampling Barbatuqeus' infectious sound of ‘Baiana’ with her own UK garage twist in a single that is sure to send the spirit of Brazil through every raver across the country. The Bradford-born artists latest release has become a firm staple in all of her sets throughout the summer, with highlights including gigs across the world in LA, New York and Rio De Janeiro, to playing All Points East and the world renowned Glastonbury. ‘Baiana’ is a vibrant, high-octane track that immerses every listener in the spirit of what it means to be a raver, and the clearest sign yet that Nia Archives is firmly establishing herself as one of the hottest prospects within the electronic music scene right now.

Shot and directed by Nia and Delphino in Rio De Janeiro, with the cinematography featuring Nia’s now trademark fast-paced, lo-fi VHS styled visuals, through her docu-style aesthetics, you always gain an incredible insight into how Nia views the world. The music video features breath-taking views on a stunning journey through the historic city, breezing past Christ the Redeemer, a blissful dip in the waters of the Copacabana, crate digging for some rare Samba, Bossa Nova and Baile Funk records, and of course a trip to Brazil wouldn’t be complete without playing some football in the Rocina favela with the locals. The video and the track compliment each other so incredibly well. With Rio De Janeiro being so well known for its captivating energy, and Nia now bearing the same reputation, talking on the track, she explains:

“I’ve always been a massive fan of Samba Music, Bossa Nova Music and Brazilian culture and had been a fan of the Barbatuques for a while. When I was looking through my samba / bossa playlist and thinking about songs to sample, “Baianá” was the one that stood out for me. When I started making it, the original version was quite bouncy which I wanted to make harder… so I flipped it into this crazy amen break roller with a Reese bass line. I feel like this one really showcases my work and style as a producer.”

As a proud young British black woman who grew up in a predominantly white area, Nia expresses herself and her cultural heritage through the Jungle genre, a style of music that strongly represents Jamaican roots. What's more, alongside her exceptional musical talent, Nia is constantly working tirelessly on building opportunities for those that come after her to ensure they too have a pathway for musical success. It’s incredible to see how quickly Nia Archives has risen to the top of the game, but it really doesn’t come as much surprise when you factor in her creativity and originality when it comes to producing new music.

Watch 'Baiana' below: