NAVIIDAVII

Victor Manuel Navejar, known as Navi, is a Latin-American musician, record producer, DJ, composer and songwriter. His career spans 15 years in the music industry and has earned him 2 Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard awards, 16 Stellars, 28 BMIs, 1 Dove Award, 1 Soul Train Award and 4 BET Awards, among many more, along with Emmy nominations.

His breakout came in 2015 with the Grammy-winning lead single “Intentional,” performed by Travis Greene, from The Hill, an album Navi produced and wrote entirely. From local bars and festivals to working with Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Beyoncé, Anthony Hamilton, Bobby Ray and Kenny Bartolo, he has done it all. He plays over 30 instruments.

Before the awards there was “Mayo,” a nickname from his older brother. Victor was born in Tampa, Florida, at St. Joseph’s Hospital on July 27th, 1990, to Puerto Rican parents, and spent his early years by the waters of Humacao.

At 8, his uncle gave him his first instrument, a piano. In fourth grade he began exploring the violin, cello, tuba and bass guitar. At the start of his teens the family returned to Tampa, and less than a year later an aunt, a working musician, gave him bass guitar lessons. He joined the Jefferson High School marching band, and whenever he could, Church was his stage.

He was shaped by Big Pun, DMX, Biggie, Magic Mike and the Beastie Boys, and he was no stranger to the other popular genres of his time. Music was always playing, and when it wasn’t, it was in his head.

Car rides with the family were a music festival: his parents played Van Halen, Queen, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Victor Manuel, Héctor Lavoe, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Elvis Crespo, Olga Tañón and Grupo Manía, while his big brother sat in the back seat with a tape player and KRS-One. With that exposure, it is no wonder Navi is so versatile in his craft.

At 16, Navi decided music was his forte. He finished an accelerated program that let him test out of his high school without completing 11th and 12th grade, and still earn his diploma.

That same year he auditioned with Disney Partners for an opening act, and nailed it. After graduating he toured for almost two years as the opening act for Demi Lovato. Touring didn’t stop him learning: he attended Hillsborough Community College online.

From 2008 to 2010, Wall Street was his home. He worked as a negotiator, using the skills his Abuela taught him. After two years in the money capital of America, he turned back to Tampa, set on playing his keys and the 17 other instruments he had learned by then, anywhere that welcomed him. He was 20.