Mark began Djing somewhere around age fifteen. It's been said that he was a Medusa's regular, where much of his influences began to coalesce. After meeting Derrick Carter, they became DJ partners, tag teaming and playing both on radio and at parties. His first release with Derrick came out in 1989, called Mood and released under the project name Symbols and Instruments. Farina travels globally, playing clubs and raves, and lives in and between San Francisco and Chicago, where, as a master of house music, he is always in demand.
Acid jazz artist Mark Farina came up in Chicago's house music scene along with fellow pioneers Derek Carter and Cajmere, and was an original member of the seminal electronic trio Symbols and Instruments. (Their classic, "Mood," was considered by some to be the first ever ambient house track, rating above New Order and Deee-Lite in the 1989 year end top fifty music poll by British music mag "The Face.")
Relocating to San Francisco, Farina spends most of his time traveling and playing the international club circuit, occasionally stopping long enough to play resident at a few select San Francisco clubs. He produced the popular continuous mix compilations Mushroom Jazz series 1 & 2 for OM Records, and headlined the Mushroom Jazz 1 and 2 tours in 1997 and 1999.
Mark Farina is coming to town this Sunday and it’s going to be phenomenal. Born in Chicago March 25, 1969 just outside of Chicago, he was influenced early on by artists such as Front 242, Yello, Ministry and Kraftwerk.
Mark’s DJ career started at the ripe age of 15 after many nights of DJ booth hangin’ at Medusa’s (an 18-and-over club in downtown Chicago). Shortly thereafter he met Derrick Carter who was working at the premier House music outlet, Imports. Derrick instantly became a major influence, best friend and DJing partner. Mark’s first record with friends Chris and Derrick under the name Symbols and Instruments, entitled Mood, came out in 1989 on KMS Detroit/Network UK. The single went on to sell more than 45,000 units in the U.S. and U.K. Since then he has been touring the globe and DJing in San Francisco, his home of the last five years
Some of the many achievements by Mark include a mix CD release on Domestic Records, entitled Seasons, and an enhanced double-disc release on OM Records entitled Mushroom Jazz. Mushroom Jazz’s CD-ROM component received the Macromnedia’s Peoples Choice Award for design and functionality in 1996, placing Mark in high regard on the technological map and subsequently placing Om Records on the Underground House map! Another recent project was for Mixmag’s renowned superstar CD compilations, United DJs of America. Mark’s more recent projects are Mushrooms’ companion, Vol. 2.
San Francisco's - Mark Farina
Top 5 Music that was life changing.
1) Rhythim is Rhythim "It is What it Is"
2) Liasons Dangeureuses "Peut être Pas"
3) Kraftwerk "Computer World"
4) Electribe 101 "Electribal Memories"
5) Yello "Bostich"