Nick Ward – Year of the Snake

Growing up rarely happens in a straight line – and on his second album, Year of the Snake, Australian singer-songwriter Nick Ward doesn’t shy away from the uncertainty that comes with it. Exploring the ups and downs of his mid-20s (more specifically, the past year), Ward moves between moments of clarity, periods of doubt and the uncomfortable realisation that the life they’ve been working towards no longer fits. The result? An eclectic collection of songs about losing one’s footing and finding one’s way again.

Where 2024’s House with the Blue Door was mostly created in the confines of his bedroom studio, its follow-up sees Ward taking a little bit of a different approach. Folk, indie-rock, electronic and classical influences collide, often within the same song, while mellow piano passages, hazy synths and understated guitar lines give the softer tracks their own character.

The opener Making Time sets that tone, gradually building from delicate piano chords into a dreamy soundscape of chiming guitars. From there, the experimental Piano completely hijacks the mood. It sounds brilliantly unhinged, with clashing electronic effects against classical loops. The song plays with the tension between the urge to create and the longing to run away, although its upbeat energy suggests Ward has made his mind up already. It makes the transition into the warm, 70s soft-rock of Jenny feel even more satisfying – offering a sweet, unrequited pop fantasy that drops right when a breather is needed.

Things take a dark turn with the surreal Orpheus introducing some of the album’s more unsettling themes, when it uses unusual guitar and synth textures to create a sense of isolation, but The Boy Who’s Seen It All is a particular highlight. Following the album’s explorations of heartbreak and uncertainty, Ward takes a step back to reflect on everything he’s been through, his vocals really shining through while he does so. Its cinematic production, blending elegant strings with psychedelic flourishes, gives the track a grand, almost theatrical feel.

The aura of gaining a fresh point of view continues into Tell Me How You Are (featuring Phoebe Go), which is a more intimate conversation anchored by the simple question: “How’s your head and your heart?” The way Go’s gentle vocals intertwine with Ward’s acoustic picking makes the song feel incredibly raw, fading out perfectly to let the title track bring the album to its reflective end.

Its atmospheric production and increasingly urgent spoken repetitions leave a sense of acceptance, even if not everything has been resolved. There’s no denying that the project can sometimes feel overwhelmed by its own maximalist ideas, but that excess is also part of its appeal. Ward’s ambition ultimately pays off in an introspective record that embraces the messiness of adulthood and becoming someone new.

Dionysia Afolabi
Image: Joe Brennan

Year of the Snake is released on 13^th November 2026. For further information or to order the album, visit Nick Ward’s website here.

Watch the video for Piano here: