Bio
Ferdinand The Bull crafts sweeping indie folk built on a foundation of eloquent melodicism and the sweetest of vocal harmonies. At turns intimate and grand, imbued with a shimmering inner warmth, Something Into Nothing is a comfortable, burnished jewel-box of a record, as easy as a summer evening. Beautifully wrought and soft as worn denim, it stands ready to soundtrack your most wonderfully destination-free backroads rambles.
Something Into Nothing also marks a new chapter in the musical journey of songwriter Nick Snyder; the realization, that at its core, this is truly his ship to captain. “Working on these songs mostly alone led me to the realization that it was time to rely more on myself, instead of looking for the approval and input from others” explains Snyder. “Ferdinand the Bull has always been my creative and emotional outlet, but to me life is about collaborating and doing things together. At one point, we counted my friends who were at one point in this band and played at least a live show or two, and we quickly ran out of fingers – and toes!”
Recorded alongside the old plaster and new tile, Something Into Nothing is both a celebration of the journey Snyder has taken with Ferdinand the Bull and a return to his roots. These are songs written over the years – he began writing “Someday, Someday” at nineteen and only just recently finished it, while “Texas Cigarette” is a much more contemporary creation. The first room to see the hammer was, unsurprisingly, the home studio. “It really made me feel so young and creative again, and I’m so excited for the future and everything to come,” tells Snyder. “I’ve been playing these songs live for years, and I needed to get them out for everyone to hear.”
Recorded with friend and producer Dylan Mckinstry of the band Upstate, bassist Jon Leff, and drummer Dan Leon, Something Into Nothing, is at once a nod to the past and a promise of things to come. It is a testament to the idea that sometimes the only way to gain control is to let things go. “Fighting the current can be why you’re stuck in place, instead of moving forward the way you’re supposed to go. Just like a leaf in a river. It might sound contradictory, but contradiction is a big part of being human.”
Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Ferdinand the Bull delivers the spirit of the Appalachian highlands to venues and festivals thousands of miles away, including an official showcase at SXSW in 2022, and sharing stages alongside powerhouse artists such as Charles Wesley Godwin, Josh Ritter, Dustbowl Revival, Mo Lowda and the Humble, and the Ghost of Paul Revere.
Ferdinand the Bull just released the new single, Little Leaf, from their newest EP July 18, 2025 - listen below!
Press
Official SXSW Showcase Artist 2022
Painting Over Pictures peaked at #130 on NACC 200
"Alt-folk foursome Ferdinand the Bull has already secured a spot in my musical heart due to taking their name from one of my favorite books as a kid. Luckily, they craft some pretty magical music as well. With the sounds of early Americana string bands and harmony-rich vocal interplay. Get ready, Ferdinand the Bull might just end up being your new fall soundtrack." - NoiseTrade / Paste Music
”His introspective lyricism and hook-filled melodies make for memorable songs that effortlessly tap into the human psyche. If you’re lucky enough to catch him on tour, you’ll see what I’ve known for a decade: Nick is a born performer who puts on one hell of a show.” - Bread and Butter Music
"The band has expanded its sonic palette while building a bigger, more dynamic stage show." - 91.3 WYEP
"They’ve become a rising name, powered by their sincere songwriting and musical twists and turns." - Pop Matters
”A few years ago, folk-rock seemed like something out of a museum of the 1960s, but a new generation have given the genre new life. Ferdinand the Bull are an excellent example.” - WVIA-FM
”Talent was obviously beaming from these Pittsburgh natives, and I could totally see them on the indie charts in the near future… I was extremely impressed!” - 92.1 WPTS
"Great, upbeat and fun. Folk rock with interesting and fun arrangements and their enthusiasm was contagious." - InYourSpeakers
Texas Cigarette premiere on DittyTV
“This young group of talented Pittsburgh musicians has been playing together and touring the country for three years now as folk band Ferdinand the Bull... Characteristic of frontman Nick Snyder’s lyrical style, “Wooden Fire Escape” is full of themes about nature and love. Pulsating under Snyder’s vocals is a great backtrack of kick drum and guitar strums that make you want to get up and dance along.” - The Wild Honeypie
“Their gig in Corvallis, Ore., home of Oregon State University, inspired non-stop dancing.” - Pittsburgh Post Gazette
“All four members find they thrive while on the stage and agree that live music is especially important for musicians and music-lovers alike.” - the Pitt News
“The songs are well written; and the talent underlying the album, along with the novel setup, indicates that this could be a band that goes far." - Andy Mulkerin, Pittsburgh City Paper
"The group's on-and-off-stage chemistry is charming and instantly apparent." - Morgan Everett, Her Campus Pittsburgh
“The crowd demanded an encore in a moblike fashion, MORE FOLK WAS NEEDED.” Scott Spindler (fan)