Nív – Mitchell’s Blue (2025)
With obscure vocals, moving melodies, and odd comparison to artists like The Cranberries and Joni Mitchell – not necessarily completely sonic, but with a tinge of the dramatic flair and evocative content – singer-songwriter Nív is known for solid, confident performances entwined with tender emotion. We came across Nív a couple of months ago with her first release in four years – ‘God Knows’. Today, we take a listen to her single, ‘Mitchell’s Blue’.
The second single from her debut four-track EP, ‘Mitchell’s Blue’ taps its hat at the iconic Joni Mitchell who, with her simplistic tunes and lyrics, captured the core of the human spirit with delicacy. Nív explains:
“I was sitting at my piano one day, trying to look for inspiration. My Mam had bought me this beautiful book of Joni Mitchell’s songs, poetry and art and I had it sitting on top of my piano. I looked through this book and then started playing, and ‘Mitchell’s Blue’ came out.”
Joined by producer Matt Winston and guitarist Stephen Doohan, ‘Mitchell’s Blue’ utilises the sparseness of traditional folk music, embracing a purely organic arrangement. Driven by her piano with Doohan’s guitar weaving through the harmonic melody, ‘Mitchell’s Blue’ is laidback, easy to listen to, and brims with sincere tranquillity. Yet, as much as the track has a heartfelt calm, Nív’s off-kilter voice flicks both warm richness and haunting chills in the track.
We think of folk music, many consider softer, calmer, gentler tunes as compared to rock melodies; however, folk can be as, if not more, emotional with its profound depth. In ‘Mitchell’s Blue’, Nív explores the complexity of romance and love, or rather, the missed opportunity of being in love. Using an intimate narrative, Nív “…delves into the regret and nostalgia that often comes with it…the memory that still lingers in the narrator’s mind of someone they loved but didn’t see or understand it at the time….”
For a bit of a treat, transport yourself to one of Nív’s performances with her video performing ‘Mitchell’s Blue’ live. Ou can view the video below and/or on her YouTube channel.
Find out more about Nív on her Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
Listen to more folk music on The Other Side Reviews Folk playlist:
