A multitalented individual who likes to stretch his skills across many different musical styles, from dub, hip hop, breaks and drum n’ bass, New Zealand’s The Nomad AKA Daimon Schwalger has more than a decade worth of experience both behind the decks as a DJ as well as in the studio, both for his own music as well as a acting as a producer for other people’s work. He also runs the Fresh Produce record label, has his own music studio and is teaching music production to the country’s rising musical stars. Is there anything that he cannot do? Sounds like he’s not such a musical nomad after all, as his moniker might suggest.

As a measure of what he’s achieved throughout his own production work, The Nomad has just released Selected Works, a collection of his finest music to date as well as a selection of brand new tunes. ITM talks to the not-so-lonely man about what we can expect form him in the near future.

Tell us about your first memory of being inspired by music. How did it change you?

It was when I was 12 years old living in Hamilton (New Zealand) I was introduced to breakdance music, I was so into it. I loved the electro hip hop sound, it was new and fresh and I knew from there that it was the sound for me.

Tell us about your new album Selected Works.

It’s an album with tracks that date back to 1999, featuring many different styles from dub and hip hop to breaks and drum n’ bass. It does include 5 new tracks have been recently made in 2007.

The album is incredible in its variety, straddling hip-hop, dub, drum n’ bass, breaks, electronica. This versatility seems to be a trademark of the Kiwi music scene. Why do you think this is?

There is a large range of talented artists here in New Zealand all of whom enrich the scene with their own original styles. New Zealander’s seem to be reasonably accepting and open-minded to most styles of music enabling a much greater scope for diversity.

There seems to be a real spirit of collaboration amongst the various Kiwi artists. Is this so?

Yes, New Zealand is a small place so it makes it easy to collaborate with likeminded people and it makes sense to create strong ties with other musicians to strengthen the kiwi music scene as a whole.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 or so years?

I would like to move to Australia in the next few years, I love playing there and it’s a good move from NZ, there are more opportunities and more people, I also have a lot of friends who have recently moved there.

Tell us about your latest projects?

I have recently finished mixing and mastering an album for LA Mitchell, a jazz artist from Christchurch, which has just been released. I have also mixed O.G’s album and am planning to release it here in NZ early next year. At present the majority of my time has been spent organising the band I am putting together for the summer festivals here in NZ, and getting the live set together for the album tour in Australia – end of January. The next project will be my new album, due out mid 2008.

What can your fans expect from your live shows?

I will be bringing a live vocalist and a guitarist with me from NZ. As well as my usual set up of mixers and FX, I am also in the progress of remixing many of the tracks for the live shows, making them a bit more club friendly. The show will be a real journey… starting slow and building up to get the dance floor really stomping.

Peace and hope you all have a wicked 2008!

The Nomad Selected Works is out now through AlleyKat Records