Though Tucson, Ariz. is home to a multitude of street performers, it is seldom recognized that the University of Arizona has a few that are uniquely its own. Oscar A. Baca, a chemical engineering junior, and Mario López, a senior majoring in marketing, are two such performers that meld border-influenced flavor with American pop.

“We just kinda mess around,” López said. “It’s not too serious. Oscar knows all about music theory and I just kinda wing it.”

Sitting on the stone cold, cement benches behind Highland Commons with nothing but two guitars and songs in their heads, the two sing into the dead of night. The midnight serenade draws trickling crowds of resident insomniacs of the dormitories nearby. Playing a wide variety of pieces from original scores to covers of college-crowd favorites, the tradition of smooth midnight jams has carried over since Baca and López met nearly three years ago.

Waiting outside of the Yavapai Residence Hall for a late night bite from sandwich eatery Jimmy John's, López overhead Baca mention he was born in El Paso, Tex. López, who was born in Chihuahua Mexico, spent the latter part of his youth in El Paso and even sports rustic, brown cowboy boots today. It was the common thread that stitched together a new musical partnership.

“Music is a good way to bond with somebody," López said. “It’s a good way to make a friend.”

One week later their paths crossed again, but this time with guitars. Baca was practicing in the Yavapai courtyard when López couldn’t help the temptation to join him. It turned out the duo had more in common than simply El Paso. Baca, who grew up in Morenci, Ariz., was classically trained in piano, guitar and tenor saxophone, but held a sweet spot for classic rock like Chuck Berry and The Beatles. López, self trained on guitar, bass, drums and trumpet, drew his inspiration from the flamenco music of his childhood.

““Pretty much he’s an all around Latin guy,” Baca said. “He’s got rhythm.”

Together, the two combine a hint of Latin traditional huapango guitar strumming, a dash of flamenco improvisational solos and a bit of American pop, to put on an interesting blend of border culture music.

“It’s definitely interesting meshing the two styles,” López said. “Sometimes it gets a little crazy.”

Though school, work and commutes threaten to slow down the duo’s street performing schedule, they still try to brighten students’ late night study binges with a little music.

“We used to do them a lot more often because we lived on campus,” Baca said, “but we still do them.”