Nick Mulvey – Dark Harvest (Pt 1)
English singer-songwriter Nick Mulvey has come a long way since his debut in 2014 with First Mind; although he has experimented with genre over the years, folk has remained a constant. His upcoming record, Dark Harvest (Pt 1) proves that he has found his footing as he takes the intricate, yet most powerful elements of folk and uses them as an outlet to express grief and healing.
The sweet, minimalist fingerpicking of Solastalgia begins this new chapter for Mulvey with poignancy. The singer is down-to-earth as he provides his past self advice, but there is an undercurrent of mystery as to what Mulvey has experienced in order to reach this level of self-realisation. That ambiguity lingers into the moody Dark Harvest, where an allusion to Greek mythology takes the place of explanation; Mulvey has long tied philosophy into his lyricism, and in Dark Harvest, the story of Persephone and Hades is woven into his own descent into a dark, destructive mental state. Radical Tenderness, however, takes a sonic turn, straying from pure folk to embrace a rich arrangement of woodwinds, horns, bass and a hint of electric guitar – it is almost as though this more playful style has whisked Mulvey away from his dreary mentality from Dark Harvest as he attempts to make peace while mourning a loved one.
Hey How Was Your Day may be a simple voice note, but it signifies a tonal shift as Mulvey’s spirituality is introduced. River to the Real provides listeners a glimpse into how Mulvey’s relationship with God has shaped his healing process, but through the lens of doubt. Where River to the Real creates poetic webs, Holy Days is blatant in its message as Mulvey finally becomes more specific regarding what has been troubling him. My Maker returns to similar haunting tones from Dark Harvest, but its tone is more devotional than philosophical; the singer expresses gratitude towards his faith as it has carried him through his most trying times.
No More I Love Yous is perhaps the most cathartic moment on the album, as it feels written as much for personal healing as for others struggling with loss. Mulvey moves from how religion has assisted his healing journey to address how loss is still felt in waves.
Glowed is the album’s shortest track, but it stands out as the classical guitar frames densely poetic lyrics that invite multiple interpretations, whether it be creative or existential. Although Glowed leaves listeners on a cliffhanger, Nothing Lasts Forever provides a resolution as Mulvey ties together the record’s emotional and philosophical threads into a final, reflective message.
Overall, Dark Harvest (Pt 1) is a graceful exploration of grief grounded in spirituality. Nick Mulvey offers more than just a collection of songs – he transforms pain into poetry and invites listeners into his healing process to perhaps aid in theirs through poetic lyricism and particular production, proving that creativity can support emotional recovery during the intense grieving process.
Taryn Crowley
Image: Liam Maxwell
Dark Harvest (Pt 1) is released on 6th June 2025. For further information or to order the album, visit Nick Mulvey’s website here.
Watch the video for the single here:
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