A.S.H. is an immersive multimedia series that weaves together digitized 16mm and super 8mm film with live sonic performance, exploring themes of grief, rupture, and colonization. The film, shot and edited by Bryan, knits together 7 years of performances and off-cuts that use environment and ritual gesture to reckon with loss, transcend the contents of their frames, and examine the depths of human loss.

The sonic landscape of A.S.H. emerges from the cultural intersection of Daoure and myself as we bring our distinct heritage instruments into dialogue. Diongue performs with the West African Ngoni, an instrument rooted in his Senegalese heritage, while I employ the Japanese Koto, chosen as a complex meditation on the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. This intentional pairing creates a unique tension and harmony, while in communication with the film's exploration of grief and loss.

The performance unfolds as an intimate improvisation, with Daoure and I responding to Bryan's visual narrative in real-time. The challenging nature of this work lies not only in balancing our distinct cultural voices and musical traditions but also in maintaining a delicate dialogue with the film's imagery. Through this spontaneous interaction, we transform personal histories of grief and loss into a universal exploration of human experience, allowing disparate emotional textures and cultural narratives to coexist and converse within the same artistic space.

A.S.H.'s main ensemble consists of Ellery Bryan, Daoure Diongue, & myself.

"Eternal Lotus" is a powerful narrative of courage, faith, and the enduring human spirit, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of women who embody the true essence of the lotus—beautifully resilient, emerging from the depths of adversity.

This documentary is a testament to the indomitable spirit of African women, highlighting their unique experiences and the profound impact of Buddhism on their lives. As they rise above their struggles, they not only transform themselves but also inspire their communities, creating a ripple effect of hope and resilience."

-excerpts about the film from the director

 

In creating the music and sound for Eternal Lotus, I reflected on Buddhist values, particularly mindfulness and 'The Middle Way.' I focused on maintaining sonic balance, adding only what was necessary to the project. The primary instrument was a singing bowl, which I digitally duplicated and re-pitched. The Middle Way teaches finding balance between extremes, avoiding excess in any direction. Through reserved decision-making in the composition process, I strived to embody this principle in the film's score.

When I was asked to compose original music for "Kalapati," it became a very personal project for me due to its subject matter. This piece is part of a larger installation that relates to the history, separation, and gradual fading of what once was in my sibling's and my family.

"Kalapati" is a multimedia exhibit and part of my sibling Kat Navarro's experimental, multimedia installation, "When You Arrive."

In conceiving the composition, I aimed to incorporate the essence of pre-colonial Filipino indigenous music. As a Filipino born in America, it was important for me to delve deeply into this topic through thorough research. Following my research, I recorded myself playing the guitar, drawing inspiration from my findings, and overlapped it with a discovered recording of native Filipino women singing. I intertwined the sounds of the Philippines from the past with modern Filipino soundscapes, including the lively street sounds of Manila, our family's home city, to bring the past and present together sonically. Over this sonic backdrop, I inserted snippets of recorded interviews between my sister and our uncle, as well as separate conversations with our late grandmother. They both share distinct memories with deep familial undertones that seem to slowly fade away from view, much like the sun setting in the distance.

The overall installation explores the odd and disparate memories of the missing years in our family photo album. The narratives intercross personal history, identity, time, and a little bit of fantastical as it assembles the fractured memories of family history through animation, collage, ephemera, and sound. Permeating through layers of the multi-channel installation is a story about living in two worlds, separation, and the disappearance of one world over time.

Mixed Media Animation by Kat Navarro | Music by Mark Kent Navarro

Isolated on the planet Minerva, Lyra is desperately seeking for a magical gemstone that will grant her wish for penance. She is kept company by her adopted sigma jupiaryllis and her android, Hattie. Soon the three realize that they are not alone... there is an evil lurking in the shadows, searching for Lyra and hunting the coveted gemstone. 

August, 2023 - The Voxel, Baltimore

Written by Tatiana Nya Ford

Featuring: David Brasington, J Purnell Hargrove, Isaiah Harvey, Mecca Verdell, & Caitlin Weaver

Puppeteers: Alex Mungo & Francesco Leandri

Director: Tessara Morgan Farley | Stage Manager: Ellie Skoda | Dramaturg: Jordan Ealey | Costume Designer: Elizabeth Dunlap | Costume Technician: Sarah Leiva | Light Designer: Eric Nightengale

World Builder: Luke Farley | Sound Design: Mark Navarro | Projection Designer: Chris Uehlinger | Puppet Designer/Builder: Madeline Baynard | Puppet Design Consultants: Jess Rassp

Fight Choreography: Gerrad Alex Taylor | Assistant Stage Manager: Fay McNair | Board Operator & FOH Coordinator: Jordan Cahoon

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I was thrilled to be commissioned by Truepenny Projects to join their team and contribute to bringing Tatiana Nya Ford's original play, 'Lyra & The Ferocious Beast,' to life. In my role as the sound director, I was tasked with creating the ambiance and sonic setting of the planet Minvera, where our titular characters find themselves marooned.

For the sound design, I sampled various nature and animal sounds, transforming and editing the material to give it an otherworldly quality. Although the play has a sci-fi theme, I opted for a more tactile and familiar base of sounds that we encounter every day. The goal was to alter them sufficiently to make the audience feel they had left planet Earth.

In terms of music composition, I initially considered using synthesized or digital instruments for the sonic palette, but I changed my approach. I opted for a more acoustic or orchestral feel to complement the already fantastical costume designs, lighting, and set designs by Liz Michelle Dunlap, Eric Nightengale, & Luke Farley, respectively. Instead of further emphasizing the otherworldly aspects, I chose to ground the audience sensorily by incorporating familiar orchestral and 'earthly' sounds which are then lightly supported by synthesizers. The music drew inspiration from Japanese composers Joe Hisaishi, Ryuchi Sakamoto, Hiroshi Yoshimura  & Nobuo Uematsu.

‘SIMULATION & SIMULACRA’ weaves a story that can be seen from two angles - one of a human grappling to retain their essence in a digital age, and, another perhaps more enigmatic, of a cyborg on a quest to rekindle what they perceive as human emotions and consciousness.

In an era where the pace of technology relentlessly pushes the boundaries of perception, what defines our reality?

Is this the reality we know, or rather an imitation striving to emulate it?

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This album is a compilation of songs I've written over the past two years, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of genres, influences, and emotions. My aim was to convey my perspective on how the internet has significantly occupied space in humanity, impacting us socially, culturally, and artistically. Beyond delivering catchy melodies and hooks, the project seeks to narrate an overarching behind-the-scenes story. It unfolds either as a portrayal of a human grappling to preserve their essence in a digital age or a cyborg embarking on a quest to reignite what they perceive as human emotions and consciousness.

Collaborating with DYYO, this project, alongside our joint venture 'LIGHT MY FIRE!!,' was created, recorded, and completed within the confines of my personal home studio.

"LIGHT MY FIRE!!!" is Dyyo and I's debut album together under our duo name, "G.O.L.D".

"LIGHT MY FIRE!!!" is a surreal, alternative R&B concept album about love, heartbreak, and the chaos that lies in between. Each song depicts the progression of a relationship gradually burning out. The lyrics and music production work in harmony to capture the turbulence of emotions. As each track plays, you are transported through various soundscapes, genres, and styles, highlighting the stark contrast between love and heartbreak while blurring the lines until they seem almost indistinguishable. "LIGHT MY FIRE!!!" tells a poignant story of heartbreak.

G.O.L.D

A box full of bugs, snails and the fleeting childhood memories of summer. "Bug Box" is a multimedia installation by Kat Navarro which I am grateful to have done the music score for. My sibling and I often collaborate because their animation projects have to do a lot with childhood and memories. We have been close since childhood and share many moments and memories together. The music I had written for this installation is inspired by our childhood summers. We reminded ourselves as children running outside catching fireflies and poking at cicadas. I wanted to encapsulate this childhood innocence and fleeting nostalgia in this piece.

Best Baltimore Animation Award - Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival 2022

Music by Mark Kent Navarro | Mixed Media Animation by Kat Navarro