Sonic Artifacts: Why Non-Human Audio is the Next Obsession for Your Pedalboard

In the world of boutique guitar effects, there is "handmade," and then there is Non-Human Audio.

Hailing from the high desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Non-Human Audio isn't just churning out clones of vintage circuits. Instead, founder and builder Dave Jordan creates what we like to call "sonic artifacts"—pedals that look like found objects from a futuristic archaeological dig and sound like nothing else on the market.

At Cottonwood Music Emporium, we are thrilled to bring these small-batch, hand-finished gems to your signal chain. Here is a dive into the lineup and why these pedals are currently the talk of the underground gear scene.

1. Textural Dirt: Redefining Overdrive and Fuzz

Nonhuman Audio doesn’t do "transparent." They do *character*. Whether you want a light grit or a total signal collapse, these circuits are designed to feel alive under your fingers.

• The Kimchi: Like its fermented namesake, the Kimchi is complex and tangy. It’s a textural fuzz-drive that uses a bias control to move from open, crunchy overdrive to "velcro" fuzz that spits and sputters in the best way possible.
• The Water Bear: Named after the indestructible tardigrade, this is a glitchy, synthy fuzz. With five transistors under the hood, it’s intentionally unstable, producing strange artifacts and gated decays that make it a favorite for experimental players.
• The Unclean: For those who want more traditional "heft," the Unclean features cascading distortion stages. It’s thick, harmonically rich, and features a "Resonance" control that helps you sculpt the low-end thump of your cabinet.

2. Time & Space: Lo-Fi Delays and Haunted Reverbs

If you’re a fan of "movement" in your playing, the modulation and delay section of the Non-Human catalog is where you’ll spend most of your time.

• The Slow Loris: This is perhaps the brand’s most famous creation. It’s a lo-fi slapback delay where the modulation is envelope-controlled. This means the harder you pick, the more the pitch warps and dives. It creates a "drunken" tape-warble effect that is incredibly addictive.
• Night Creatures: If you want to get lost in a soundscape, this is the map. It’s a dual delay/reverb hybrid that creates deep, haunting atmospheres. It blurs the lines between your dry signal and the trails, perfect for ambient swells.

3. The Art of the Enclosure

One of the most striking things about Non-Human Audio is that no two pedals look exactly alike. Dave Jordan hand-finishes every single enclosure. Some feature rugged, distressed textures, while others look like they’ve been weathered by the New Mexico sun for decades. When you buy a Non-Human pedal from Cottonwood, you aren’t just getting a tool—you’re getting a one-of-one piece of art that reflects the soul of the builder.

Which Nonhuman is Right for You?

• For the Shoegazer: Pair the Slow Loris with the Kimchi fuzz for massive, modulated walls of sound.
• For the Garage Rocker: The Kimchi offers enough grit to cut through any mix with a unique, "broken" flair.
• For the Sound Designer: The Water Bear and Mocking Blur will provide the glitchy, unpredictable textures you need for studio experimentation.

Explore the Collection

Non-Human Audio pedals are built in small batches and they never stay on our shelves for long. Because of the hand-finished nature of these builds, once a specific "look" is gone, it’s gone for good.

Browse the Non-Human Audio Collection at Cottonwood Music Emporium