When creating her new single "Vertical," the third from her forthcoming album Emotional Junglist, Nia Archives thought about how production can evoke feeling, something beyond words. “There’s this one synth that kind of beeps, and it just makes you feel a bit dissociative," she shared in a press release. That’s what I enjoy about production – how can you say something without the lyrics? I wanted it to feel like December in London."
Like most of Archives' tracks, "Vertical" is hypnotizing. But I could see how the urgent synths and icy, blurry backing sounds could evoke a cold winter night. And even though Archives commented about the potency that comes from the lack of lyrics, there are some potent lyrics here: "You make the rain/ I chase Your hurricanes/ You take my pain/ I’m changed," she sings on the opening line.
Below, watch the visual directed by Dylan Gee, where Nia Archives wanders the night streets of NYC.
Emotional Junglist is out 7/24 via HIJINXX/Island. Pre-order it here.
