A wildly eclectic guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has set standards of style, innovation and versatility as a studio musician and touring performer with hundreds of artists over the past two decades, Michael Ripoll’s longtime nickname and professional moniker “NOMAD”(www.nomadsplace.com) was originally conceived as a tribute to his father.

His dad emigrated to the U.S. from Cuba as a young man and, as an entrepreneur and artist, rarely had his family living in a single city or town for more than a year. By the time NOMAD was 25, he estimates that he had amassed more than 30 different addresses. Since then, he has lived and worked everywhere from Florida and Nashville, to Japan and Los Angeles, and embraced the life of a globally touring “road warrior”for many musical greats. He did an eight-year stint with jazz/gospel saxophonist Kirk Whalum, and has since 2009 served as musical director for artist/mega-producer Kenny “Babyface”Edmonds. NOMAD has performed in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Europe, Russia, and South Africa over the years with both Babyface and Whalum. 

Fluent on over a dozen stringed and fretted instruments, including the bass guitar, mandolin, banjo, trés Cubano and Puerto Rican cuatro, dobro, mountain dulcimer, lap steel, Russian balalaika, Middle-Eastern Oud, ukulele and cavaquinho (Brazilian uke), the Los Angeles-based musical powerhouse continues his father’s legacy as a creative free spirit at heart. Yet he has long backed that up with a disciplined work ethic and the ability to maintain a strict schedule. This has been essential as NOMAD has amassed hundreds of superstar album credits over the past 20 years, most recently including work in recent years with legendary producers David Foster and Walter Afanasieff, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Aretha Franklin, Colbie Caillat, smooth jazz stars Jessie J, Paul Brown and Kirk Whalum and Christian/Gospel greats TobyMac, Natalie Grant and CeCe Winans. His ever-expanding resume also includes Stevie Wonder, Sting, Carrie Underwood, India.Arie and the late Natalie Cole. 

NOMAD’s whirlwind behind the scenes itinerary also includes working regularly with renowned film composers Danny Elfman (on “Men in Black 3”), John Powell (“The Lorax,”“Happy Feet 1 & 2,”“Mr. & Mrs. Smith,”“P.S. I Love You”) and A.R. Rahman (singing and playing on “Airport Adventures”from the soundtrack of “People Like Us.)”As a songwriter, he has placed songs in more than 300 films, TV shows, commercials and chart-topping albums.

NOMAD is now expanding into a unique niche as a ‘guitaristic’or guitar-centric composer of scores for film and TV. With a vibe that’s outside the traditional context of the many orchestral composers he has worked for and learned from, he uses multiple stringed and world instruments and modern band/ensemble type arrangements, like the scores that have become popular on shows like “Orange is the New Black”, “NARCOS”, “Jane The Virgin”, and cutting edge films like “Babel”and “Birdman.” 

After going through a divorce seven years ago, NOMAD carved out time in his busy schedule to start writing more original vocal tunes in his Bohemian-esque yet state of the art home studio. This time of deep catharsis and healing made him realize he had been ignoring his own artistry long enough. He gathered the best songs out of the 30 of the “mini-catalog”he poured out and began recording with some musician friends on frequent trips to Nashville.

“Love Me Back,”the infectious first single he released under the artist name NOMAD, won Best Adult Contemporary Song at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA). That track appeared on the passionate, tender voiced singer/songwriter’s debut vocal EP called NOMAD, Vol. 1: Sky, along with the songs “I’m Sorry,”“Nomad”and “High.”It is the first of a series of four volumes, each driven by a different transportation theme. 

In addition to establishing himself as an indie singer/songwriter whose vocals and compositions are on par with his renowned guitar virtuosity, he, as well as his dynamic side project, NOMAD & LOLA, will be seeking licensing opportunities via film and TV.

Although he has plans to continue his NOMAD travel themed EP’s in the future, his immediate artistic explorations have been focused on the charismatic duo, NOMAD & LOLA who are self-described as having “an air of sophistication and musical swankiness that keeps the human spirit engaged and satiated.”Their first single, “Nothing To Do”is an enticingly quirky and whimsical tune which will appear on their self-titled EP expected to drop in late summer 2016.

The fourth key aspect of this extraordinary musical force of nature is NOMAD The Educator, centered around the series of instructional videos he created in association with Jamplay.com, the leader of video-based, online guitar lessons. Drawing from his expertise in a multitude of genres, the guitarist has done three series for the subscription-only site, including R&B/Funk Guitar (intermediate to advanced level), Acoustic Pop (beginning to intermediate) and an advanced musical theory and improvisation based “Modal Magic Show,” which is an advanced series for serious guitarists. Musicians interested in signing up for NOMAD’s instructional series can connect to Jamplay via his YouTube page or website, both called NOMADSPLACE, and sign up using his special code, www.jamplay.com/trial/ripoll?code=nomad for a free trial membership.

NOMAD is also the author of “The Career Guitarist,”an e-book series and modular practice guide for the savvy guitarist which teaches aspiring musicians how to be a professional in today’s industry. Filled with rich business insights and advice as well as musical instruction, TCG, Vol. 1 covers an expansive amount of information on the subject. Created with the intention of bringing this material to colleges and universities worldwide, each volume will expand on various aspects of the music industry.

While NOMAD’s vast musical talent has led to an extraordinary journey in the industry, it’s his developing expertise in social media which is facilitating the success of his latest endeavors. His hashtag campaign #AskNOMAD, designed to direct traffic to his website via Twitter and Facebook and allowing him to answer any and all music related questions, is already being used through one online music platform (That’s My Gig).

Also on his website are links to the NOMADSPLACE Podcast, featuring interviews with musicians, artists and pro-audio technicians discussing the struggles and successes of being in the entertainment industry. Other features are, which allows users to stream a concert series featuring NOMAD and his Stage-It many musical friends; and “The Pedalboard Diaries by NOMAD,” his vlog series talking shop about the latest and greatest guitar related technologies.

Having worked with so many smooth jazz artists over the years, NOMAD says that as an entrepreneur he has been inspired by the many successful branding endeavors (cruise, restaurant, syndicated radio show, indie record label, wine brand, etc.) of saxophonist and recording artist Dave Koz. “I think my entrepreneurial streak was an innate thing I inherited from my dad,”he says, “and what drives it is the ongoing stereotype people have of musicians as lazy, irresponsible people who can only play music and have no business savvy or administration skills. I want to show the music community that you can operate as a business person and artist simultaneously.”

These widespread endeavors are simply extensions of the passionate musical wanderlust that has defined his life and career. “I proudly consider myself a music mutt, driven by a great musical gumbo,”NOMAD adds. “I am just as moved by Paco de Lucía playing flamenco or AndréSegovia playing Isaac Albéniz as I am by Miles Davis and Oscar Peterson playing jazz, Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth performing ‘Jump’, or the modern mavericks of soul such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, in addition to Roy Nichols’ twangy flat picking with Waylon Jennings and a of course any symphony orchestra!… I literally love every genre, and I’ve made it a lifelong goal to study various styles and recreate them authentically using my many instruments. Being a student of all cultures keeps things fresh and aware that there is always more to learn, enjoy and create.”