Together with The 1916 Company, the premier destination for luxury timepieces and fine jewelry, we’ve come together to share a conversation on craftsmanship, design, and the lasting value of heirloom-quality analog objects.
In this inaugural One Watch, One Record conversation, Grammy-winning mix engineer Manny Marroquin reflects on his journey from Guatemala to Larrabee Studios. He shares how music began as an escape, watches marked milestones, and how “Black Dog” from Led Zeppelin IV shaped his path. From his first vinyl spin to the precision of his watch, Manny connects the dots between sound, craftsmanship, and lasting memories.Marroquin, who was born in Guatemala in 1971, emigrated with his family to the United States when he was nine years old due to the Guatemalan Civil War. They settled in Los Angeles, where Marroquin enrolled as a student at the Alexander Hamilton High School’s Academy of Music and Performing Arts. There, he was first exposed to the art and science of sound engineering, and he’s never looked back.Since then, Marroquin has become one of the most sought after sound engineers in the world. He’s worked with a virtual Who’s Who of modern popular music, collaborating with artists like Rihanna, Kanye West, Katy Perry, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Post Malone, John Mayer, Mariah Carey, John Legend, Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift, and many more. Now 53, Marroquin has been nominated 38 times for GRAMMY® Awards, is a 14-time GRAMMY® Award Winner, and has as well been awarded four Latin GRAMMY® Awards.