Song You Need: Nia Archives brings post-rock to the jungle on “So Tell Me...”

The FADER’s “Songs You Need” are the tracks we can’t stop playing. Check back every day for new music and follow along on our Spotify playlist.

Nia Archives has never been the kind of artist to stay stuck in the good old days. Perhaps the key reason for this is her formidable skill set: her vocals, steeped in reggae and soul tradition, brought the pirate radio-primed broadcasts of this year’s Forbidden Feelingz EP into exciting new territory. It’s an approach that’s earned Nia Archives a bunch of “Best New” plaudits, a Boiler Room set, and an unmistakable aura of “It Girl” status.

“So Tell Me…,” the newest Nia Archives single, pushes even further forward. Its biggest shift is the post-rock guitar lines reminiscent of Explosions In The Sky, the plaintive notes floating over jungle beats and Nia’s anxious, lovesick crooning. The song aims to be an anthem for stressed, internet-sick Gen Zs everywhere; with this spirit, Nia shares a potency with Jim Legxacy (who ripped midwest emo for “dj“) and PinkPantheress, who taps bands like Linkin Park in between her standbys of classic garage and 2-step songs. Nia Archives has never had a problem catching her own particular vibes, though, and “So Tell Me…” is a thrilling indication that they may be more numerous than we ever imagined.