About
A pioneer of the electronica music scene in Aotearoa New Zealand
For three decades, Daimon Schwalger, better known as The Nomad, has been at the forefront of Aotearoa New Zealand’s electronic music scene. Since emerging with Locust in 1996 and releasing his debut album Movement as The Nomad in 1998, he has become one of the country’s pioneering electronic artists, blending dub, reggae, house, jungle, and drum & bass into a sound uniquely his own.
Over a 30-year career, The Nomad has released ten full-length albums, remix projects, and numerous singles while continually pushing creative boundaries through collaboration, live performance, and audiovisual storytelling. His latest album, ReGenerate, celebrates this remarkable journey with 16 tracks that revisit the past while embracing the future. Known as “the nomadic traveller working on beats all day”, The Nomad has collaborated with an extraordinary lineup of artists and musicians from New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and Jamaica.
These include Barnaby Weir (The Black Seeds), MC Antsman (Rhombus), Tehimana Kerr (Fat Freddy’s Drop), Pearl Runga, Tiki Taane, Opiuo, King Kapisi, Farda P (Rockers Hi-Fi), Luciano, Lisa Tomlins, Oakley Grenell (O.G.), Pepsi (Wham), Ras Stone, Tim Budgen (Warp TV), and many more.
Today, The Nomad continues to evolve through his immersive live audiovisual performances, combining powerful bass-driven music with cinematic visuals to create unforgettable experiences for audiences throughout Aotearoa and beyond.
Nomadic by name, and nature
The Nomad has clocked up the miles from the early days in Dunedin and Christchurch, featuring at the infamous The Gathering festivals, maturing as a musician and father, through to his more recent success as a videographer based in Westport, capturing the beauty of Aotearoa’s West Coast. This is all part of the rich textures that make The Nomad a unique ‘life form’.
Hi-Fives:
- 11 album releases as an independent artists
- Played support for international artists; Moby, Rockers HiFi, DJ Vadim, Fat Boy Slim, Mad Professor
- Second Selection (1999) was awarded the “Best Dub/Hip-hop/Reggae Release” in the B-net New Zealand Music Awards.
- The Nomad – Infinite (2023), #1 NZ Independent Music Charts (Sept), #2 NZ Music Charts (Sept)
ReGenerate – 30th Anniversary Vinyl, CD and Cassette Release
2026 marks a major milestone for The Nomad with the release of ReGenerate, a 30th anniversary double vinyl album celebrating three decades of music, collaboration, and innovation.
Featuring 16 carefully curated tracks, ReGenerate brings together brand-new material, reimagined classics, and previously unreleased ideas that span The Nomad’s journey fromLocust in 1996 through to the present day. Blending dub, reggae, house, jungle, drum & bass, and cinematic soundscapes, the album reflects both where the music began and where it continues to evolve.
To be released on 19 September 2026, ReGenerate is more than a retrospective, it’s a celebration of the future, honouring 30 years of pushing boundaries while continuing to create fresh, forward-thinking electronic music from Aotearoa.
The Nomad On Stage
