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

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

Hi Mark, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I was never good at school or any sports when I was a kid. I definitely was the kid who slept through class or the person who just stopped showing up to school for days at a time. I just didn’t care about school at all. It wasn’t until I started self-teaching myself how to play the guitar. Then I met some really meaningful friends at the time and we started a math-rock/post-rock band and went on some tours.

Honestly those days were what solidified it for me. I feel the most alive when I work on anything music related. Not to be like that, but it’s definitely like a drug to me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a music artist. In addition to producing and audio engineering for other artists, I have been delving further into sound design and composition.

Ultimately, I have a deep love for sound. Ever since I started making music, I have been passionate and nerdy about sound in general. Whether it is musical, ambient, silence, or even pure noise, I have always been truly fascinated by it.

I remember a time when I went kayaking one early morning. I paddled out to the center of the lake and simply sat in the kayak, immersed in the quietness. Within that silence, you would actually find birds chirping in the distance, the leaves rustling in the wind, the water gently slapping against the kayak, and occasionally, the flapping of distant ducks taking flight. What struck me was that all these sounds had a distinct glassy, expansive reverb. It was incredibly soft and gentle. When I returned home that day, I immediately went to my computer to try and recreate that reverb that I had experienced.

Moments like these teach me a great deal about sound design and effects.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My top picks for my favorite spots in the city would have to be:

Nanami Cafe: It’s a sushi restaurant located in Fells Point. The quality of the sushi make it one of my favorite places to go.

Blooms: This is a decadent cocktail lounge situated inside Hotel Ulysses. The ambiance gives luxury, and they serve a good curated list of cocktails that are perfect for a special night out.

Current Space: It’s an artist-run gallery, studio, outdoor performance space, and bar. The combination of visual art, performances, and an outdoor garden bar makes it a dope spot.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to my ma. She always held it down for my sister and I since we were kids. When other people pressured us to go a more “traditional” school and career route, My ma taught us to uncompromisingly pursue on our passions.

Website: baatchoy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baat.choy/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/baat_choy?lang=en

Image Credits
Bryita Hererra, Pocholo, Yusef Kazmi, Angel Eris