Nicolas Meier on Finding a Unique Voice in Jazz Guitar
In this in-depth conversation filmed at The Spin Jazz Club, guitarist Nicolas Meier reflects on a lifelong search for a sound that feels personal, honest, and unmistakably his own. Rather than chasing perfection or genre labels, Meier speaks about the importance of creating something special in the moment, music that feels unique to the players, the audience, and the evening itself.
The interview traces his musical journey from early rock influences such as Metallica and Bon Jovi, through guitar heroes like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, and onwards into the worlds of jazz, Brazilian music, flamenco, and Middle Eastern traditions. Meier describes how artists including John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucía, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis helped open his ears to a broader musical language, one rooted in curiosity, travel, and cultural exchange.
A key theme is Meier’s fascination with folk traditions from around the world and how he adapts these sounds to the guitar, particularly through his use of fretless and nylon-string instruments to explore microtones and quarter-tone phrasing inspired by Turkish and Persian music. He also recalls formative experiences attending the Montreux Jazz Festival, where seeing artists like the Brecker Brothers and Mike Stern proved life-changing.
The conversation touches on collaboration and composition, including insights into the Oxley–Meier guitar project, where contrasting instruments and approaches shape the writing process. Meier also discusses mentorship, the importance of individuality, and how these ideas fed into his album Last Sunset, written as a tribute to a significant musical influence. The interview closes with reflections on recent collaborations, listening recommendations, and advice for younger musicians: follow the dream, push your limits, and allow the music to remain a space for freedom of expression.
This interview offers a thoughtful portrait of a guitarist for whom jazz is not a style but a mindset, one that embraces openness, global influence, and the courage to sound like yourself.
Filmed as part of The Spin Jazz Club’s ongoing documentation of the artists who pass through its doors, this interview offers a thoughtful insight into a musician for whom curiosity, collaboration and presence remain central. The conversation was conducted, filmed and edited by Ryan Quarterman of Future Human Design Co., photographer and videographer in residence for The Spin Jazz Club, continuing an ongoing body of work capturing the voices and ideas of artists at the heart of the club’s programme.