About

Nich Mueller, a dynamic and multifaceted artist from Kalamazoo, MI, now rooted in the vibrant cultural tapestry of Brooklyn, has been passionately entwined with music since childhood. His musical journey began with a gift from his aunt Sandy, who recognized his innate connection to the piano and gifted him the family instrument when he was eight years old. This early start set Nich on a lifelong path of musical exploration and expression.

Nich’s formal training is a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Piano Performance from Western Michigan University, where he honed his craft under the tutelage of mentors including Stephen Zegree, Duane Davis, Fred Hersch, Ed Simon, and Jeremy Siskind. His education was enriched by influences from great pianists and composers like Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, blending classical precision with jazz's improvisational freedom.

Nich as Nim Zimmer, the singer-songwriter draws inspiration from a diverse array of essential songsmiths including Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, Randy Newman, Harry Connick Jr, among others. His work is a tapestry of rich melodies, thoughtful harmonies, and poignant lyrics steered by an alternative spirit. Nim's creative process is an improvisational journey, where the essence of the surrounding world cumulates into songs that resonate with both strangeness and familiarity. Whether starting with a compelling musical phrase or a lyrical idea, Nim Zimmer crafts songs that are both deeply personal and universally relatable.

Nich's artistry extends beyond the piano bench. As a member of the vocal jazz quartet Four Corners, he released an album that showcases his versatility as both a vocalist and arranger. In the theatre world, his notable performance in the role of Stephen Hoffman alongside actor Keith Baker in the award-winning production of Old Wicked Songs by Jon Marans further highlights his range as an actor and musician, blending dramatic narrative with classical music performance. In 2022, Nich music directed for the inaugural award-winning production of A Swinging Christmas: The Holiday Music of Tony Bennett where Nich performed piano on-stage, leading a jazz trio in the particular style of accompanists for the great Tony Bennett, Bill Evans and Ralph Sharon. In 2023, Nich composed the Flamenco– & Chick Corea– inspired film score for The Man In the Blue Suit, a short film written and directed by Evan Patrick Adams that has been featured at 10 independent film festivals in the last year.

Nim’s songs are driven by a desire to find connection in a chaotic world. The lyrics of the songs he writes offer listeners moments of reflection, a glimpse of fulfillment in everyday experiences, and a reminder of the spirit that flows through all things. This philosophy is deeply woven into his artistic goals as he continues to write and record, always chasing the next song with an urgency that echoes his perception of time's accelerating pace.

On June 27th 2024, Nim Zimmer released The Dotted Line, available on bandcamp. The album is a culmination of work by the members of Nim Zimmer, including Gregg Belisle-Chi, Sam Weber, and Lee Fish during the years of 2020-2021. "Stepping Stones" features Stratøs, the multimedia artist, saxophonist and photographer in an intro accompanied by the voice of Alan Watts. This song, and others on the album are regarding the phenomenon of human consciousness. Some questions at the heart of the whole album and present in the first track are "how is the line evolving?" and "how well can one dot really know another?" How well then can a dot know itself?

In March 2023, Nim Zimmer and the band recorded a live album at Grand Street Recording in Williamsburg, Brooklyn entitled Grafitti Believer. The album and its songs are focused on the chaotic social and political climate in which we live, and is set to be released in early 2025.

In addition to his musical journey, Nich is a professional web developer. Learning programming and coding languages serves as additional exercise for his brain and fingers. More practice for bridging the analytical and the creative. Nich built this website in fact, mostly from scratch. To learn more about Nich’s work, look here.

Nich Mueller’s art is a testament to the power of music to capture the fleeting moments of life, to offer solace, and to connect us to the deeper currents of our shared human experience. His journey is a continual pursuit of authenticity, a relentless commitment to the craft of songwriting, and a profound exploration of the world through the lens of music.