Carey Nordstrand
Chief
Name: Carey Nordstrand Hometown: Redlands Your job at Nordstrand Audio: Chief Captain of Creative Concretions. Years at Nordstrand Audio: The Most. What do you like best about working here? The food. In all seriousness, the people. I have a killer crew and none of this would be here if wasn’t for such a dedicated and conscientious group of people. Do you play an instrument and are you in a band? I’m in a band called Hume in which I play bass and produce and record our music. I also have a project called Moba Jones with my chum Edward Heppenstall and we write and record music regularly. We almost have an albums worth of material which we will release soon. I play bass, guitar, program drums, and am taking singing lessons for almost 2 years. soundcloud.com/carey-nordstrand What song best describes you? or What song makes you want to create your own music? Probably Killing the Blues by Roland Salley (who plays bass for Chris Isaak, incidentally) as heard on Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss. I could have named any other number of songs but that one came up now for some reason. Tons of songs make me want to make music. Actually, probably all of them. I just want to make music - period, full stop. I’m lucky that I have a studio space and get to do that a lot. I hope some day you will check some of my music out. Thanks.
Stewart “Stew” McKinsey
Fulfillment/Customer Service
Hometown: I was born in Jamestown, New York but my family moved every 2-3 years until I moved out on my own. Strangely, the conditioning made me do the same thing for a long time. Before moving to forest falls (11 years this November), New Orleans was my longest stop at about 5 years. My job: I take and ship orders. I also handle customer service. I field a lot of the weird questions that come to us about pickups in terms of tone, function and customization. Sometimes it is awesome, sometimes it is frustrating, but it is wildly rewarding when I can explain something to a musician that he or she never knew or considered. I love that. Years at Nordstrand: 11 in November. What do I like best about working here: I love the people and the mix of personalities first and foremost. it feels great to be a part of a creative environment. Plus it’s really rare I’m the biggest nerd in the room. That doesn’t happen anywhere else. What instruments do i play/ am i in a band: I’m a bassist but I fool around on piano, hand percussion and a few others (violin, recorder, trombone…) but I would not say I play anything but bass. i have played in dozens of bands and even accompanied some famous musicians in my career as a player, but these days when I play it’s usually as a solo artist. I began my music education when I was probably 3 and finally found bass when I was 14. Most of what I’ve done is original music and am probably best known as a jazz, funk and pop player, but I play most styles. no real orchestral work since I had to quit playing upright bass after a motorcycle accident when I was 20. In addition to performing, I am a teacher, session player and writer, contributing to websites as well as publishing a monthly column for bass guitar magazine (my piece is called “the extended range specialist”). I’m regarded as one of the pioneers of extended range bass and am probably known more for playing 10 string bass than anything else. What song describes me and/or makes me want to create my own music: there are loads of songs that fit me but probably “The quiet one” by John Entwistle, “A strange boy” or “Refuge of the roads” by Joni Mitchell or maybe Paul Young’s cover of “Wherever i lay my hat (that’s my home).” little inspires me more than Jaco Pastorius’ incredible “Portrait of Tracy” and the version of “Continuum” that appeared on the invitation album as well as Bill Connors’ staggering swimming with a hole in my body album, which continues to blow my mind regularly.
Maurilio “Mo” Mina
Instrument Builder/ Technician
Hometown: Cadenazzo (Switzerland) Your Job at Nordstrand Audio: Instrument building, assembling, repairing, customizing, electronic instal/repair/mod Years at Nordstrand Audio: 9 (gasp!) years What I like: the freedom of artistry, the motivation on finding solutions and pushing the boundaries of your own skills. The vibe at the shop is always cool and there's a great camaraderie. Do you play an instrument and/or are you in a band? Bass (player) www.mauriliomina.com several band projects and freelancer: • GioMo Groove(jazzfusion/latin/funk/acidjazz) • The Raging Bulls(jazz/avanguarde) https://www.reverbnation.com/theragingbullsvenice • Brant Cotton (country-Western/rock) •Gold Rush Country (contemporary/mainstream country) https://www.facebook.com/goldrushcountry What moves me? Groove (and melodic playing, no shredding!) everything deep, tight and soulful makes me want to create and play harder!
Adrian Smith
Overlord
Hometown: The Mojave Desert. Your job at Nordstrand Audio: We all wear many hats at the shop, mine are usually of the floppy variety. Years at Nordstrand Audio: I've been here since the year 2010. What do you like best about working here? Feeling passionate about what I do for a living, engaging with fellow musicians, and a variety of other reasons from obvious to esoteric. I love it here. Do you play an instrument and are you in a band? I've been a musician since I was 8 years old, then I discovered bass in middle school and never looked back. My main project since 2013 is the prog/metal band Slanderus and I am infatuated by Giant Tube Amps. What song best describes you? And/or what song makes you want to create your own music? I vastly prefer albums over songs, so Danzig 4p, King Crimson - Larks' Tongues in Aspic, and Ulver - Bergtatt have greatly inspired me over the years. Also, exploring nature helps me create, so I do that whenever possible!
Ryan Warrick
Copywriter/Production
Hometown: Highland, CA Your job at Nordstrand Audio: Pickup Winder and more recently copywriter for the website. Years at Nordstrand Audio: 6 years? Who's to say. What do you like best about working here? Being able to work with my hands and work on creative projects. Do you play an instrument and are you in a band? I play guitar in a post core band called "Sylvia Glass." What song best describes you? and/or What song makes you want to create your own music? Blood and Thunder by Mastodon
Clinton Sparks
Production
Hometown: Long Beach, CA Your job at Nordstrand Audio: Pickup Builder Years at Nordstrand Audio: 5 What do you like best about working here? One of my favorite things is the tactile sensation that comes with assembling bobbing on the press. Do you play an instrument and are you in a band? I dabble on the guitar, mostly classical finger style. I mostly play the keyboard and mouse. What song best describes you? and/or What song makes you want to create your own music? The Ride of the Valkyries, Richard Wagner
John Contreras
Production Manager
Hometown: Idyllwild, CA Your job at Nordstrand Audio: Production Overlord Years at Nordstrand Audio: 4... I think What do you like best about working here? Making pickups that make players happy. Being involved in the music industry.Working with an awesome crew. Do you play an instrument and are you in a band? I play bass in a worship band for church. What song best describes you? and/or What song makes you want to create your own music? Edgar Winters "Frankenstein"
Tyler Zurcher
Production
Hometown: Highland, CA Your job at Nordstrand Audio: Winder/Laser Years at Nordstrand Audio: 2 What do you like best about working here? I like the LAX atmosphere and trust and respect our bosses give us, working around music all day and building my own custom pickups is a plus! Do you play an instrument and are you in a band? I play rhythm guitar, whether it be acoustic or electric and I'm in a band called Silvia Glass (formerly called The Local). The style of music was progressive alternative, but with the new name we play more post core. Artist with most longevity in my life: David Bazan Band that inspires me: I The Mighty
Sonia Mara
Marketing
Hometown(s): L.A./AltaLoma/The OC/Redlands, AKA SoCal Your job at Nordstrand Audio: Creative Content and Marketing/Rudimentary Bass Player Began at Nordstrand: 2016 What do you like best about working here? I love the tall tales and the creative folk who work here. I like hunting down artists who use our product. I have the pleasure of listening to various co-workers playing the bass, with hopes I soak up some of their talent through osmosis. Oh and the free Nordstrand bottle opener. Do you play an instrument and are you in a band? I have been playing for just under 3 years. I joined a community event called Redlands Mystery Band with no prior bass playing experience. I was put into a band with 3 random people and with 3 months to develop original music to be performed at a one-time-only event. After our performance we decided to continue as a band. We have been writing and performing ever since. All of my experience has been with my awesome bandmates in Small Spaces. I like to describe our genre as Pop Rock or more accurately Shredded Pop Rock. soundcloud.com/smallspaces What song best describes you? Wanna Be Starting Something by Michael Jackson.
Hunter Alexander
Production
Hometown(s): Highland, CA Your job at Nordstrand Audio: I run the laser, help color and design custom or new pickups and I also grind the magnets for said pickups.Began at Nordstrand: October, 2017 What do you like best about working here? I really enjoy the people I work with as well as the environment and getting to help design new pickups is a lot of fun Do you play an instrument and are you in a band? I do not play in a band or any instruments, but I used to make electronic dance music (EDM). I am a freelance photographer/videographer. What song best describes you/makes you want to be creative? Africa by Toto
