Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Nigel.
Hi Christopher, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My surname is “Crecencio Castillo” and I am of native American and Spanish heritage. I was raised in Waco Texas and my parents relocated us to Central Michigan. My story began as a singer in local original bands in lower Michigan Mt Pleasant area. I relocated to the metro Detroit area in the late eighties after graduation and attended Oakland Community College to pursue my degree in Visual Fine Arts. I also took a lot of business classes. After working for General Motors in Pontiac MI for 5 years I gave my notice and quit to pursue my own aspirations. I took the artist’s name of “Christopher Nigel” and attended the Recording Institute of Detroit and completed the full program to receive my certification in Recording/Mixing/Engineering. I began working in the Michigan film industry as a Location Sound Engineer and Boom Operator. I worked on several films for The Detroit Institute of Arts and also on independent films. I traveled extensively with film production companies on movies for Netflix and HBO, “Hellmaster” and “Dark Heaven” were hits. In the mid nineties I started a multi media stage production company called “Nigel Productions” which featured live performances, original artwork displays, and all forms of performance art. The shows became annual events in the larger theaters around Metro Detroit and drew thousands of people in attendance. My singing career took off and with the help of friends we produced many music videos and published many musical works. I also continued producing metal sculptures and various artworks in different mediums. My movie industry background, my certification in audio engineering, and my professional music history as well as art background made me a useful person to have around in the entertainment industry. I was hired by Bose Corporation as an Custom Audio Video Installation specialist and traveled extensively designing and building Home Theaters and Recording Studios across the United States. In March of 2000 I started my own Audio/Video Integration business and called it Castle AV Integration. I was highly trained by Bose and Bang & Olufsen as well as many professional equipment manufacturers, so I became highly specialized in Home Theaters and Custom Recording Studios. I continued my education in Wi-Fi and Internet distribution as more Smart Homes and products became available. After 25 years in business my company “Castle AV Integration has traveled to a majority of States and installed systems for many clients and AV companies as well as film producers.
My musical career has also followed suit, and I currently am the lead singer for “Metal Mustang” a progressive original metal band from Royal Oak Michigan. My band tours consistently and travels the Midwest States in support of many well-known and signed original bands. Metal Mustang released their first LP of 8 songs in late 2025 titled “And Their Off”, which is gaining much attention and airplay from a majority of streaming platforms and playlists. The band produces videos of all of its songs and is currently recording songs for the next LP due in late 2026.
My degree in Visual Fine Arts has given me an outlet for my creativity in my many sculptures, paintings, and photographs as well as video. I continuously create and display my art whenever I have a chance. I write poetry and have hopes to write a book in the future.
Christopher Nigel aka (Crecencio Castillo)
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think starting your own business is ever an easy road. I believe the biggest challenge for me was getting the education and experience. Surround Sound was the rage in home AV. Having multiple speakers that recreated the live action in your living room was in demand Becoming an installation specialist and a “wire concealment specialist” was a learn as you go training process. There was no school available to teach this new field. My recording engineering education guided me through the home AV process. My work with Bose and Bang & Olusfsen opened doors to higher end clients with the income to spend on custom integration that would rival “James Bond”.
The music business has always been tough and its the passion to create and perform that is usually the pay off in the beginning. The art world is the same. I have toured extensively and have been on hundreds of stages. I will never stop being a performer. The lighted stage is my amusement park.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Being a performing artist and singer allows me to use all facets of my professional life. I use my experience as an AV integrator in the recording studio to produce and arrange my original songs and videos. I also use this knowledge on the road for stage setups and connecting equipment to various systems from venue to venue. I use my artistic skills for writing the lyrics to the songs and setting up promotional material and production and stage schedules.
I am proud of my position in the AV world and highly respected with 25 years serving the USA. I am proud of my musical accomplishments and the songs and videos and films I have released throughout my long career.
Being of Native American Apache and Spanish origin I feel my character is unique and it has helped me to navigate the art and business world and I have made many friends and collaborators who are open to my ideas and ready to jump in to my adventures. I am never boring.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the Metro Detroit area and Royal Oak is a cutting-edge city to live in. It is vibrant and eclectic and full of new professionals who are starting or running businesses. The mood is electric and open to new ideas and technology,
What I like least is probably a symptom of change. The Metro Area has grown in the past 10 years and Detroit is recovering in a big way. The downtown is hardly recognizable with all of the new buildings and infrastructure. With that comes higher cost for everything from food to real estate, Space becomes competitive. All in all it has everything to offer and the heartbeat of the city is hard to ignore.
Contact Info:
- Website: castleavi.co
- Instagram: @metalmustangdetroit @castleavi @metalmustangdetroit
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/castleavi and https://facebook.com/metalmustangdetroit
- Youtube: @metalmustangofficial
- Yelp: Castle AVI
- Email: mtlmustang2gmail.com
