After studying in Cuba piano and percussion player Nick Mulvey founded the Portico Quartet with some friends back in England, and their debut album was nominated for the Mercury Prize. After two albums Mulvey, who has since decided to go solo, is still influenced by Paul Simon, Nick Drake and the music of Cuba, Congo and Mali. After a first EP, the debut album is on its way and in the meantime his reputation as a performing musician stands as firm as a rock.