We threw a rave in a pub with Nia Archives

Last night, The Sebright Arms – a classic East London boozer – was transformed for The Face’s Issue 18 launch party. Tables and chairs were pushed aside to make space for ravers, paper cups were poured with Wray’s Rum Punch by Wray & Nephew and there was a huge union jack flag hoisted behind the decks, emblazoned with the slogan ​‘Up Ya Archives’.

We threw this intimate pub party to celebrate our new cover star, the one-and-only Nia Archives. We opened up the guestlist to Nia’s hardcore fans, and so despite the rain, there were new gen junglists queuing around the corner well before doors opened. Once inside, they warmed up by whining and dancing to DJ sets from Cesta and Izzy Bossy, who brought hip-hop and classic bashment tunes to the floor that even security couldn’t stop themselves from tapping their feet to.

And then, it was Nia’s turn on the decks. Raising the energy levels to 100 with a set of jungle and d’n’b anthems, she dropped fan faves like Forbidden Feelingz and her remix of Jorja Smith’s Little Things, as well as Crowded Roomz and Silence Is Loud from her upcoming debut album. Nia’s friends and fellow DJs Clipz and Kettama then kept the party going until we all got kicked out after last orders.

Big thanks to Wray & Nephew for keeping the drinks flowing. And if you didn’t manage to grab a copy of The Face from the bar, you can always get one here.