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Bio

Thomas Nordlund is a guitarist, composer, and producer based in Mérida, Mexico. For two decades, he anchored the US Midwest music scene as a sought-after electric sideman and bandleader. This era culminated in the May 2026 release of his gritty, electric-centric cinematic record, Through The Clearing. After this intense five-track release, Nordlund embraced a drastic creative distillation, abandoning complex gear and ensembles to focus on a single steel-string acoustic guitar.

This artistic pivot led to his upcoming acoustic EP, Dripstone, set for release in September 2026. Recorded as a raw dialogue between guitar and sparse percussion, the EP explores how modern jazz harmony and classical structures behave under strict acoustic limits.

Though his geography and primary instrument have shifted, Nordlund’s playing retains the deep narrative quality that has defined his career. Skope Magazine praised his ability to "flesh out entire landscapes with only a few notes" and noted his fluid movement between poetic moments and expansive soundscapes. This skill takes center stage on his new acoustic material. His hybrid-picking technique bridges the fingerstyle discipline he developed under acoustic veteran Tim Sparks and the open-string chordal work he refined through study with New York jazz guitarist Peter Mazza.

Prior to his acoustic reinvention, Nordlund released three acclaimed instrumental records. These include his baritone-centric debut, Divide Avenue (2015), and Miles Left Behind (2018). He is a deeply trusted staple of the Minneapolis/St. Paul music scene. He has collaborated, performed, and recorded with a diverse roster of artists, including Chris Bates, John Raymond, Dead Man Winter, Sarah Morris, Maryam Yusefzadeh, and the Adam Meckler Orchestra.

Today, Nordlund’s work lies at the crossroads of classical structure, modern jazz, and cinematic storytelling.