Steven Nistor (born May 22, 1979) is an American touring and studio drummer, best known for his work with Daniel Lanois and Sparks.
Biography
Early life Steven Nistor was born and raised in Detroit. He attended Wayne State University where he earned a Bachelor of Jazz Studies on a full scholarship and mentored under Branford Marsalis, Ben Sidran and Kenny Werner. During this time he studied drums with Gerald Cleaver and Scott Amendola, and has since studied with Ralph Humphrey, Ra-Kalam Bob Moses and Dave Elitch.
Career Nistor has recorded with producers Rick Rubin, Danger Mouse, Daniel Lanois, Tucker Martine, Randall Dunn, Steve Albini, Ryan Freeland, John Hill, Warren Defever, and Scott Litt and has recorded/performed with Iron & Wine, Sam Amidon, Tinariwen, The Avett Brothers, Van Dyke Parks, Marissa Nadler, Sparklehorse, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Peter Buck, Emmylou Harris, Gnarls Barkley, Todd Rundgren, Wild Belle, Brian Eno, Iggy Pop, Leo Nocentelli, Lonnie Holley, Garth Hudson, Aoife O’Donovan, Passion Pit, The Flaming Lips, Josh Klinghoffer, Ben Sollee, Beth Orton, His Name Is Alive, Hal Willner, Trixie Whitley, Laura Veirs, Bill Frisell, Michael Gibbs, Robert Plant, Buddy Guy, Alison Krauss, Skerik, Jim White, Bernie Worrell, and is a member of the bands Sparks, Brian Blade's Mama Rosa, and WL.
He was featured twice in Modern Drummer magazine, has appeared twice as a guest on the drumming podcast I'd Hit That, has been the featured drummer on Late Night with Seth Meyers twice and has taught at Interlochen Center for the Arts as well as the Detroit Institute of Music Education. Steven has also been featured in four major motion pictures, working with directors Leos Carax, Edgar Wright, and David Lynch.
Selected discography
ArtistAlbumCreditProducer Sparklehorse Bird Machine Drums, Piano Mark Linkous, Scott Minor, Steve Albini, Alan Weatherhead Todd Rundgren Space Force Drums Todd Rundgren Sparks The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte Drums Sparks Sparks & Todd Rundgren Your Fandango Drums Sparks & Todd Rundgren Sparks A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip Drums Sparks Laura Veirs Fading of Stars Drums Tucker Martine Sparks Hippopotamus Drums Sparks Arjan Miranda Spiritual America Drums Randall Dunn Emmylou Harris The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris Drums Daniel Lanois, Don Was, Buddy Miller Aoife O'Donovan Man In A Neon Coat: Live From Cambridge Drums None Marissa Nadler Strangers Drums Randall Dunn Karl Blau Introducing Karl Blau Congas Tucker Martine Aoife O'Donovan In The Magic Hour Drums Tucker Martine Laura Veirs Warp and Weft Drums Tucker Martine The Avett Brothers Magpie and the Dandelion Drums Rick Rubin Passion Pit Gossamer Drums Chris Zane Aoife O’Donovan Fossils Drums Tucker Martine The Avett Brothers The Carpenter Drums Rick Rubin Portugal. The Man In the Mountain in the Cloud Drums John Hill Theophilus London Timez Are Weird These Days Drums, Keyboards John Hill Sparks The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman Drums Sparks His Name Is Alive The Eclipse Drums, Percussion Warren Defever Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse, & David Lynch Dark Night of the Soul Drums, Percussion, Wurlitzer Danger Mouse Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple Drums Danger Mouse Brandi Carlile Downpour (Live From Boston) Drums None Joker's Daughter The Last Laugh Drums Danger Mouse Martina Topley-Bird The Blue God Drums Danger Mouse The Shortwave Set Replica Sun Machine Drums Danger Mouse Daniel Lanois Here Is What Is Drums Daniel Lanois Daniel Lanois Santiago Drums Daniel Lanois
Selected filmography
FilmCreditDirectorYear Annette Himself Leos Carax 2021 The Sparks Brothers Himself Edgar Wright 2021 The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris Himself Justin Kreutzmann 2016 loudQUIETloud: a film about the Pixies Himself Steven Cantor 2006
References