Rising Stars: Meet Mark Anthony

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Anthony.

Mark, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
I first got introduced to music production in 2016 by some close friends of mine, but like many, my love and ear for music started as a kid. After picking up this skill and finding the joy in making beats from the comfort of my laptop, I was determined to stay with it and see how far I could take it. In 2017, I started to get more comfortable with Fl Studio (the program) and moved on to selling beats online and artists at the university I attended. Fast forwarding to 2020, after consistently investing in my craft and creating content, I got the opportunity to work at an up-and-coming studio in Detroit, MI, which led to numerous placements I’m proud to be a part of today from Billboard Charts and recently working on the Fast X Soundtrack with some of Detroit’s best. My story is proof that you can do what you want in life as long as you are consistent and passionate. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In this industry, there are bound to be bumps in the road. Learning how to make beats is not as easy as it may sound, and it can take time to really develop a sound and get comfortable with what you make. It’s no secret that the business of this industry can be hit or miss, and you have to have some tough skin when putting yourself out there but make sure you protect yourself from those who are not handling business properly. All in all, I wouldn’t change anything about my journey because it helped build character while preparing me for what’s yet to come. Needless to say, the road to where I am wasn’t the smoothest, but everything worth having is worth working towards. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been a music producer for 7 years now and an audio engineer for 3. Engineering, which is the work of recording/ mixing an artist’s music, to say the least, was something I never imagined doing. However, it helped me develop my skills as a creative and allowed me to be in the rooms of other artists to build with. Prior to the placements I am known for with BabyTron and a few other artists in Michigan, such as Peezy & Rio Da Yung Og, I started creating a video series called Sample Sundays. This series which is set to start back up soon for season 2 is what stamped and showcased my talent with music by flipping well-known music and basically recreating a body of work that was enjoyable. I’m very proud of that because I believe that helped me get to this point and also the work, I have been able to work on, such as on the Fast X Soundtrack recently. What separates me from others is my sampling ability and versatility with different genres of music but also simply just thinking outside of the box. There are no rules to this; just create! 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
An honorable resource early on was meeting Kenny Beats in 2021. Seeing how he operates his show and the skillset he has to do the work he does at such a high level alongside his story reassured me that anything is possible if you continue to put in the effort to achieve your goals. I also am a big fan of ProducerGrind and the interviews they have published cause they help producers like me feel seen in this industry as we continue to navigate our way to success. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/mvrkwho

Image Credits
@_toheebbello
@dariusyoudidthis