Meet Mark Navarro | Music Artist, Producer, & Audio Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Navarro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mark, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve been listening to music longer than I’ve been learning music. Ever since I was a kid it always made the most sense to me more than anything else I learned while I was in school. So naturally I fell in-love with music.

I’m also humbled to have friends and colleagues who would also have the same intimate relationship with music. A lot my creative career was built upon the many nightly hangouts where my friends and I would sit around together and just listen to our favorite albums or new music from our favorite artists at the time that just got released.

We would just sit together in silence giving all our attention to the music like we were watching a movie. Then afterwards we would geek out about it and analyze and break down the songwriting, theory and all that. Truly some nerdy stuff, but it was the very foundation of my love and understanding of music.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve always felt that one of my strongest skills as a music artist is my ability to support whether it is through me playing guitar or keys on your live set, laying down a new instrument or part in someone’s song. or even recording, mixing and mastering someone’s music.

I always felt that I could always “add” something special within any involvement in music at any capacity,

Getting into audio engineering is particularly a special journey for me because of the intimate process of working on someone else’s music with them. The amount of trust that someone has to have in someone to work on their music cannot be overlooked.

I know, for me, that I try to do my best to be respectful, attentive and caring to the music that I work on. The foundation of what I do has to always be based in love and respect.

I try my best to provide the best quality of service that I can provide at the best value for artists. Simply because I know what it’s like to be one and I know how hard it is to find and meet people who you want to trust your art with and also, at times, feel safe around.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Man, Baltimore is such a trip. I really love this city. There’s always happening things every weekend in the city; whether it’s at The Crown, City Beach, The Ottobar, Eubie Blake. or even Motorhouse just to name a few. If someone was visiting Baltimore, I’d take them out to the many local art/music scene events that be happening all the time. The art and music community in Baltimore is special and is worth exploring and meeting.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I gotta give credit where credit is due: I wouldn’t have been able to do and achieve all that I have without the continual support and belief that both my mom and sister give me. They both understand my journey and haven’t questioned it and that kind of support is more than what I can ever ask for.

Shoutout to all my friends who I’ve made along the way. All who let me into their music life & career; whether it was through performance, production or audio engineering. Every experience mattered and really counted for me; big and small. I learned so much from everyone.

More specifically big thanks to NRB, Dyyo, & Abdu Ali for being my close support system. They all continually teach and show me about genuineness, humility, self-worth, and self-advocacy. All things that I find so important in one’s personal practice.

Website: baatchoy.com

Instagram: @baat.choy

Twitter: @baat_choy

Image Credits:
Divina Gracia, Rico Connolly, Simdi