In a time where every other person claims to be a musical prodigy, NAV has decided to let the music do the talking. Coming from a background of musicians, NAV was forced to take organ lessons at the age of 7. Since the very beginning he had expressed how much he hated going to these lessons but he still remembers his moms words as clear as daylight… "Trust me Navin, one day you will turn around and thank me for it!" and that he definitely did. Although NAV carried on to achieve his teaching certificate from Yamaha School of Music in Malaysia, his real talent was something he carried around with him everywhere he went through every step of the way… his ears and his voice.
Growing up, the music that played around his house the most was South Indian classical (Carnatic) music. Taking a liking to this art form, NAV would try singing this style of music when no one was listening and instantly realized that he had a natural talent for this delicate yet rigid and complex art form. At the age of 15 he decided to take some lessons from a Carnatic vocal teacher and within a year started running her classes when she was not around. He did not pursue learning the art form for long but instead would become the feature artist at performances at various venues around the city of Kuala Lumpur.
With his classical Indian interior, comes a Western exterior due to his early years in New Orleans, Louisiana the city that gave birth to both Jazz and NAV himself.
A quick glance at NAV's passport would give you an insight into his diverse knowledge of different cultures. This diversity is evident in the music that he makes but skillfully, he manages to keep the balance of how many different styles of music he incorporates into each composition. In his words, "If I'm looking to make a R&B or Hip Hop joint, the listeners are not looking to hear a sitar solo. You need to know what you're aiming for and how to accomplish that goal." and that, he does most gracefully.
The norm for an Indian family is to see their son go to college and graduate a lawyer, a doctor or something of that stature. However, NAV's undeniable talent convinced his parents to allow him the opportunity to pursue his career in the field he knows best. He feels truly blessed and thanks his parent’s everyday for believing in him and returned the favor by graduating top of his class with a Bachelor's in Music Production and Engineering, from the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Having heard the clichÈ statement, "You have to be one in a million!" a gazillion times NAV's response is, "Keep on watching and please don't ever stop doubting me, coz that's what the 999,999 others do!"
Currently an artist, in-house producer and engineer for WPE music alongside his partner and long time friend Mil-Wil, NAV is building his resume having produced and written for various artists ranging from tweenage sensation Breje to Super Producer Scott Storch. NAV insists that just like being born on the 1st of the month, he was born to be number 1. Stay tuned...
