We caught up with the brilliant and insightful NOMAD Ripoll a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
NOMAD, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
NOMAD, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I got my “first gig” from my dad….he and my mom owned a beauty salon in a posh neighborhood on Long Island called Cold Springs Harbor. I had a rock band at the time, (15 years old) and he insisted we play the Christmas party to which he passed the hat for us to earn some cash. I think we made about $60 bucks or so… like the natural-born band leader I was, I suggested we take that money and put it in a “kitty” to start a band fund for our desperately needed PA system. However, the guys felt like they wanted to split the money so they could buy their moms Christmas gifts… I was like, “No way, that’s lame!” Needless to say, we broke up right there on the curb outside the gig while loading my dad’s van with our gear. :(
I’ve always been a “leader”. It’s in my bones thanks to my dad’s DNA. Migrating from Cuba asa young teen himself, he had to hustle and grind like nobody’s business! This was good DNA to have as it has taken me over the course of a 3+ decade career of being a — CAREER MUSICIAN!
The brand is trademarked now after several people tried to adopt it as their own. Nice try buddy! That’s my shit! :0) (btw, I’m a hot-blooded Cuban-Italian from New York so I never shy away from confrontation!) LOL
Discipline has always been the key to my success.
Business sense has always come naturally.
Focus is what got me to be good at “something” — initially guitar, then music productions, writing, composing, recording, music-directing (fancy term for band leader), and so on….
The problem I solve is simple — “Turn your Passion into Profit”
My mission statement with TCM is multi-pronged as it delves deep into this concept….
“Empowering musicians with strategies for a sustainable career. Get the gig, keep the gig, go beyond the gig, and make music your full-time business!”
In simple terms, I teach people how to make money in music by leveraging their talents to their advantage!
This is what sets me apart…I’m a no B.S, kinda guy, with zero tolerance for excuses and I’ve built my career from scratch! Nobody has given me anything other than that first gig opportunity from my dad! :)
Potential fans/followers/clients etc should know this — I’m here for the LONG HAUL! They can benefit from what has taken me 3+ decades to build, and use this as an opportunity to learn from my mistakes. Via my experience, knowledge, and wisdom, I can help them get on the FAST TRACK to success as a musician in today’s extremely volatile, competitive and technologically challenging market!
Here’s some “Bio/Resume” data from my website:
As a composer and producer, I have my hands in all types of multimedia music. In 2020, I composed the jingle for the Jam City video game, Cookie Jam entitled Taste The Sweet Life. The jingle was first premiered nationally on Wheel of Fortune. I also co-produced the song You’ve Got A Friend for the Super Bowl 2020 In Memoriam performed by Leslie Odom Jr. I am credited as a co-producer on records such as Lose My Soul by TobyMac feat. Kirk Franklin & Mandisa, and Who’s Been Loving You, Sing A Love Song, When Was The Last Time, and All I Want Is You by After 7. I also co-produced Friend Today by Kem – You can catch me performing the song alongside Kem on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. In 2018, I composed the score for the off-Broadway musical, I’m not a Comedian, I’m Lenny Bruce. As a self-published artist, I released over 45 songs between October 2019 to October 2020 with my wife Lola as the duo known as Nomad & Lola.
My resume would not be complete without the title of Educator and Podcaster. In 2015, I started The Career Musician Podcast, which is a member of the Pantheon Podcast network – the first of its kind, all-music-based podcast collective. Since its inception, The Career Musician (TCM) has published over 160 episodes on all major platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, etc.), and is still going strong. TCM’s mission is to empower musicians around the globe with strategies for a sustainable career. The podcast features eye-opening conversations with music industry professionals such as Harvey Mason, Jr. Rickey Minor, Nathan East, John Powell, Nicole Row, Doug E. Fresh, Lucy Woodward, Adam Blackstone, Maysa Leak, Norwood Fisher, Chloe Flower, Kevin Martin, Daryl Simmons, Kirk Whalum, Dave Koz, Low Cut Connie, Fil Eisler, and over 100 more! As an extension of the TCM brand, My team and I are currently developing an online master class for aspiring music professionals entitled The Career Musician: Pro Series (coming soon).
And here’s more of an in-depth bio/res:
Creator of The Career Musician, veteran composer, music producer, music director, and session/touring guitarist with over 30 years experience in the music business.
Proudly served as Music Director for Kenny Babyface Edmonds for over a decade. Other Artists he’s MD for are Donny Osmond, Scott Patterson, and Kat Graham.
Nomad has shared the stage with celebrity artists including David Foster, Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Dave Koz, Jewel, India Arie, and Carrie Underwood.
In the studio, he’s worked with Justin Bieber, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Sting, Lalah Hathaway, Josh Groban, & Colbie Caillat, just to name a few.
In addition to his involvement in the music industry, Nomad also works heavily in television and film – owning 2 music production libraries and working closely with composers Danny Elfman, John Powell, Elvin Ross, Tim Davies, and A.R. Rahman.
You can hear Nomad’s featured guitar work on movie soundtracks such as Ferdinand, MIB3, The Lorax, Happy Feet 1&2, Kung Fu Panda, P.S. I Love You, The Departed, Chicken Little, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Terminator 3: Rise of The Machines, What Women Want, The Prince of Egypt, The X Files, and People Like Us – to which Nomad also lent his singing voice on the
track ‘Airport Adventures’.
You can also hear Nomad’s fret work on the upcoming Netflix show Maya and The Three, and the 2021 reboot of Fraggle Rock. Nomad produced a cover of the classic bolero ‘Sabor A Mi’ for the Netflix series, Gentefied, and composed an original song, ‘AfroCuBrazil’, for the Netflix
movie, Beats.
As a composer and producer, Nomad has his hands in all types of multimedia music. In 2020, Nomad composed the jingle for the video game app Jam City, which premiered nationally on the 2020 Season of Wheel of Fortune.
Nomad also co-produced ‘You’ve Got A Friend’ for the Super Bowl 2020 In Memoriam and ‘Change Is Gonna Come’ for the 2021 BAFTA’s beautifully performed by
Leslie Odom Jr. (One Night In Miami)
Additionally, Nomad co-produced the song ‘Friend Today’ by Kem.
In 2018, Nomad was commissioned to composed the score for an off-Broadway show, I’m not a Comedian, I’m Lenny Bruce.
As a self-published artist, Nomad released over 45 songs between October 2019 to October 2020 with his wife Lola as the duo – Nomad & Lola.
Nomad’s well-roundedness would not be complete without the title of Educator and Podcaster. Since its inception, The Career Musician (TCM) has published over 140 episodes with a mission to empower musicians around the globe with strategies for a sustainable career. The podcast features eye-opening conversations with music industry professionals such as Harvey Mason, Jr. Rickey Minor, Nathan East, John Powell, Doug E. Fresh, Adam
Blackstone, Daryl Simmons, Dave Koz, and Fil Eisler!
As an extension of the TCM brand, Nomad and his team are currently developing an online master class for aspiring music professionals entitled The Career Musician: Pro Series (coming soon).
Michael NOMAD Ripoll NomadsPlace.com
Michael NOMAD Ripoll is an artist, career guitarist and composer. His musical style, much like his Cuban/Italian heritage is a hybrid of genres touching on everything from Pop, Rock, Latin, Soul, Classical, and Jazz. Although the guitar being his primary instrument, Michael is fluent in over a dozen stringed and fretted instruments such as the Cuban tres, dobro, mountain dulcimer, Egyptian oud, banjo, cavaquinho, and ukulele.
Michael’s guitar based compositions are in circulation in over 200 films, television shows, commercials, and chart topping albums. In his career he’s been fortunate enough to work with iconic composers such as, Danny Elfman (Men in Black 3), John Powell (The Lorax, Happy Feet 1 & 2, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, P.S. I Love You), it was his work with A.R. Rahman however that lead to him singing and playing on the track “Airport Adventures”, featured in the 2012 movie soundtrack “People Like Us”.
As a coveted session musician, Michael’s most recent album credits include working with GRAMMY award winning producers such as: David Foster (various artists), Walter A. on the Barbra Streisand “Partners” Album, and Kenny Edmonds with artists such as Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Aretha Franklin, Colbie Caillat. Impressively blending genres, Michael’s artistry is influenced by an amalgam of legends and modern guitar-inspired artists like
Eddie Van Halen, Santana, George Benson, Paco de Lucia, and Django Reinhardt to name a few.
After several instrumental albums, Michael released his first vocal project, under the alias NOMAD. His first single “Love Me Back” won best Adult Contemporary Song at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Nomad’s latest single “Dream” was released early 2015. While he remains an artist and composer first, Michael also operates as the Musical Director and guitarist for world renowned Grammy-Award winning artist and songwriter, Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds.
Licensing and Booking Inquiries Contact
[email protected] | 818.929.8521
www.OnTheLevelRecords.com
Michael NOMAD Ripoll NomadsPlace.com
“Dream” (Latest single)
“Love Me Back” (Music Video) Nomad Vol. 1 (EP)
Vintage Collection (Instrumental) Composer Reel
Blockbuster Films featuring NOMAD’s Guitar Work Men In Black 3
Composer: Danny Elfman
Featured Rock guitar in film intro
Electric & Acoustic Guitars throughout film
Happy Feet
Composer: John Powell
Featured on “My Way” sang by Robin Williams Flamenco & Electric Guitars throughout film
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Composer: John Powell
Featured in Tango Restaurant scene Flamenco & Electric Guitars throughout film
For a complete credits list visit Michael’s IMDB
Licensing and Booking Inquiries Contact
[email protected] | 818.929.8521
www.OnTheLevelRecords.com
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Learning to crawl, walk, run, fly….then re-learning it all again!
Let’s start with Fly! 🚀
Metaphorically, once you’ve gone through the painstalking development period of learning your craft and eventually mastering it, you’re flying away in the workforce! As a Career Musician, I did just that. From touring the world with a list of Who’s Who celebrity artists, and recording on their albums was the norm for me, or should I say, is the norm. So in essence, this is the flying part of my career. I did it! I got to the top! I was a bonafide AAA session / touring Ace!
Then, you realize that the “business” isn’t what it used to be. So for the troops who came before you, doing 3 sessions a day all at double or triple scale was the norm. But that was when vinyl, cassettes, and even CD’s were still the main distribution platform. As the steady decline of the industry progressed, the demand for work did so as well.
So wait, you mean to tell me that I have to slow down?!?!? What the…. 🤦♂️
Upon my move to LA in 2005 from Nashville, I was at the top of my game. I played on the film scores for Mr & Mrs Smith, Happy Feet, and MIB3 all within the same 18 month period…toured the entire summer of 2005 with Carrie Underwood and the American Idols Live Tour, played on so many other artist’s albums and singles I couldn’t keep track!
Then in 2006 I became the music director for Donny Osmond! Then toured with Eric Benet, Jennifer Hudson, Natalie Cole, you name it! This truly was flying within my lane of the musical gifts I was blessed with and worked so hard to cultivate.
Then, in 2007, my daughter was born! However, she was a premie, at just 6 months in her mama’s belly, we had to induce labor. But wait, I’m supposed to be leaving for a 6 week stint in Japan with Babyface in the morning, this can’t be happening! Long story short, Nina is here and thriving! I also went to Japan.
From that point on, I’ve been flying ever since…then running, then sometimes walking…..wait, wtf?!?!? Pandemic? 🤷♂️
Ok, well, I guess it’s back to crawling…
But within the regressive process of this formidable evolution, new birth came about again. The Career Musician Podcast. I took this “down-time” to hunker down and dive-in full force. This resulted in 160+ episodes of the podcast on ALL platforms, including YouTube, and now the current iteration of TCM as a full-fledged education platform!
It was this downward shifting occurrence that led me to my next “big thing!” I’m now so happy to have found yet another talent which has blossomed into the next phase of my career.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
People who make money, typically don’t talk about it. They just do. Have you ever come across someone who hasn’t been used to making legit money, so if they happen upon a large sum, or opportunity to make something significant, they just brag about it? I certainly have come across quite a few. But my father always taught me to keep my cards close to my vest. Consequently, I never knew anything other than being successful. Simply because, success to me, was just doing what I enjoy doing.
This is the reason I’ve always made the necessary amount of money to live the lifestyle I desired. Don’t get it twisted, I’m not talking the lap of luxury here, but I am talking comfortable. Nice home, car(s), good food, entertainment funds, etc…
The fact that I have been doing what I love for over 3 decades and making a decent living at it, is so fulfilling, sometimes I could get a little teary-eyed just thinking about it. However, what makes it even better, is that I have a solid footing with my wife and daughter and family who have supported me throughout the trials and tribulations, (there have been plenty), and still continue to do so! 🙏
Contact Info:
- Website: https://proseries.thecareermusician.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecareermusician/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCareerMusician/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheCareerMusician
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-career-musician/id1377880747 https://open.spotify.com/show/6QS7g2T8fsrV10sWbugvdX?si=e02505c46b7b4948