The Nghiems started their career as a duo in 2007. While working as a fill-in roadie at a Ben Kweller show, singer-songwriter David Nghiem managed to slip a demo tape to Opolis co-owner Andy Nunez. Nunez later booked Nghiem on his first show at Opolis. Not wanting to play solo, Nghiem recruited his younger brother James for percussion duties, and the band began to form.
The Nghiems released their first record, “The Pine Tree, The Mushroom, & The End of The World” in 2011, which they recorded at Blackwatch Studios in Norman, Oklahoma. Their single “Dum Dum Dah Dah” has garnered more than 80,000 views on YouTube.
The Nghiems released their second record, “Soulmatic,” in 2018. This collection of songs documented personal loss and its aftermath.
The band is currently working on their third record at Snare Devil Studios in Oklahoma City, a home studio that David built by cobbling together gear he found on the Internet.
“Literally and artistically, Snare Devil is home for us. Oklahoma City is home for us,” James said. “I don’t know where we’d be and what we’d be doing if we weren’t here making music.”
Though originally a duo, The Nghiems have invited various rotating musicians to accompany them throughout the years, each bringing their own sensibilities and tastes to the stage. Finding some stability as of late, bassists Mike Allen and multi-instrumental Derek Moore have settled into specific roles, completing the group’s sound.
For more information and to listen to their music, please visit The Nghiems’ listing in the Oklahoma Music Directory.