River Castaneda may be relatively new to the speaker industry, but he has quickly become involved in numerous exciting projects since he started a few years ago. In the summer of 2023, River joined Booker Mitchell at Bridge Street Sound in Brooklyn, New York. Committed to mastering his craft, he has collaborated on a portfolio of projects with Booker and Mo Yasin, Booker’s business partner and fellow DJ/speaker designer.
Before his venture into HiFi loudspeakers, River studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a focus on Microbial Ecology at Bennington College. During his college years, he continued to develop his passion for design and carpentry—a passion that began in high school in San Francisco. Working as an assistant in his father, Richard Bluecloud Castaneda's, art studio, River developed a deep appreciation for process and creativity, skills that greatly influenced his scientific work before he decisively shifted back to design after college.
Currently, River is dedicated to enhancing his abilities in both the design and construction of high-quality speaker systems. Looking ahead, he plans to return to his hometown of San Francisco to further elevate his career by opening his own speaker design and fabrication studio. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, he remains a full-time apprentice and carpenter with Bridge Street Sound and E Man Audio, managed by Booker Mitchell and Mo Yasin, respectively. Additionally, River independently takes on commissions for custom speakers and offers HiFi system consultations.