It is 80 degrees on a HOT-lanta day and the collective soul movement in
the ATL is on fire! Not because of the hot weather, but because OMAR has
stepped foot on our sacred grounds.
Chosen as the Governor of Soul Music, Omar comes to visit us all the way from our neighboring Soul country, England. This brother breaks all the boundaries when it comes to music. He produces, writes, sings, plays several instruments, and gives a hell of a live performance. While in Atlanta for only a couple of days, I got a chance to see him during a fabulous meet and greet presented by Soul Underground and Diamond Lounge Creative. Well attended by many of the Atlanta music lovers, promoters and trend setters, Omar got an opportunity to answer questions by his loved fans. When asked what he considered success, he stated, "Being happy about what you are doing."
If that is considered success in the eyes of Omar, then he should be on top of the world. Seeing this man live, you can tell he is in love with what he is doing. Creating music that feeds your SOUL! I caught up with him during sound check (thanks to Shawn and Darius from SU) and asked him some pertinent questions about his inspiration, music, and love life. I present to the Community of Jodine's Corner, OMAR:
JC: A lot of people don't know that you were born into music. Your dad owned his own label and your brother had his own group. You've been involved in music before you probably knew how to walk and most importantly you had formal training. How important was the training in your development as a musician?
Omar: It's the experience I had with the technical aspect of training. The experience of performing with other musicians and growing up in close proximity to other people, living wise and playing wise. So I'm just use to hearing live sounds and band situations as opposed to just sampling and sequences that a lot of people use. I like being able to use both cause you know you've got to mix it up, mix and match. I think that set a bearing on my arrangements. So you can take my arrangements (sampling/sequences) and put them into a live aspect.
JC:
At what point did you make your decision that music was going to be your
way of life? And how did you know?
Omar: I've always been into it since I can remember. I was a drummer at 4 years old or something like that and then I learned other instruments. I learned the accordion in my primary school and at about 8 or 9 years old, I learned the piano. I then started with the percussion, learned the tuba. I played on weekends, after school and had band practice. I just always knew!
JC: Did you ever become frustrated and decided you were going to
pursue another career?
Omar: Not really. I was in a show with the KCAT new orchestra and we
toured in Brazil and different places. We did one show that was on TV and
it was us (an orchestra) and a choir. The piece that we played I was
actually head percussionist of the orchestra. I had to play the five
kettle drums and that's already a flamboyant thing. I think I stood out.
The next day we did the show somewhere else and this guy comes back stage
and brings me an album (of a famous Brazilian artist). He said to me,
"Here this is for you. I saw you on television last night and you
were the best one." That experience always stuck on my mind. From
then I always wanted to be upfront instead of being in the in the back.
Cause if you are a percussionist or a drummer, you're in the back of the
room for show.
JC: One of my close friends loves your song, "Little Boy." She plays that song at least 10 times in a row when it comes on. She loves it not only for the production of the song, but also for the words. The message in the song. Do you typically write music about your personal journey, someone else's life experience or just imagination?
Omar: It's everything. I write from personal experiences, what I hear, when you imagine what would it would be. I just put it all down on paper.
JC:
A lot of people want to label your sound. I listen to your music and can
never define it. I hear jazz, rock, Latin, R&B, heavy instrumentation,
bee- bop, scat and the list goes on and on. How would you describe your
genre of music?
Omar: I don't listen to labels. When I first got started it was called Acid Jazz, now it's called Neo- Soul. What will it be called next? You want to know what do I call it? I don't call it anything. It's music that I like. I like to write music and you can fight over what it's called or what description to label it. At the end of the day, I just hope that when you hear it you know it's me. You know it's got my stamp, my signature on it. That's all I care about.
JC: What are your top 5 artists of all time in no order?
Omar: Oh my there is so many inspirations. Stevie Wonder, Level 42,
Jeff Lorber, Bob Marley, and Elvis Presley.
JC: What Elvis Presley??? Please elaborate on that one.
Omar: (laughing hysterically at my reaction) When I was about 5 or 6,
the era of Grease. I use to have the Grease album and Elvis 40 Greatest
Hits. I use to sneak downstairs and listen to these albums and I would
mimic them, sing with them. Some of Elvis's arrangements musically were
everything I loved. There were live instrumentations and there were three
guys behind him. These guys were very remarkable mind you. There were
performing on television, they're doing harmonies and stuff and performed
great songs that I could sing to. So I think that helped me through my
vocal training. That is my early inspiration. Forget the redneck business;
it's all about the music for me.
JC: You have worked with a range of artists in the States. From
Atlanta's own, Laurnea, worldwide underground Erykah Badu to worldwide
overground legend Stevie Wonder. Out of all the artists you worked with
from the States, which one left you with the greatest experience and why?
Omar: That's a hard one! They all bring something to the table. I
would say working with Stevie Wonder because he's my main inspiration.
They are all memorable I can distinctly remember each one of them, you
know. They all have a little story but Stevie is the one. I was with my
boy Darren and Stevie called me on my phone. Have you ever seen The Cosby
Show? Do you remember the episode when they bump into Stevie Wonder and he
calls up Theo and he says it's Stevie and Theo is like yeah right? I did
that. I did exactly that! He calls me up and says it's Stevie and I said,
"Oh God, sing something if you are Stevie?" And he sings on my
phone. (LOL) I got what I wanted. I always wanted to work with Stevie
musically. It's not every time you get to work with your idol that is at
the same place where you are. I took him to the studio where I recorded, Best
By Far from.
JC: Aside from music, is there any other art form that you are
interested in or have a fascination for?
Omar: Music is all I do. I wouldn't mind making a video or doing some
acting. I love the theater. Maybe voice overs or something like that.
However, music is all I know.
JC: So the community wants to know, are you single? Are you
available to date or are you taken?
Omar: (laughing hysterically and avoiding eye contact) I am going to
plead the 5th on that one. I am going to keep them guessing.
JC: Are there any thoughts of you moving to the States?
Omar: I've been talking about this with some friends as well. I want
to make some headway in the States and it would be easier for me if I was
here. There are two places I would want to stay it would be NY or here
(Atlanta). I love the climate here and I love the people. So yeah it's
something I'm definitely considering!
JC: What advice can you share with aspiring artists in music,
especially for those that consider you a role model?
Omar: Be true to your music. Be true to yourself!
Omar, I hope you do make your way to the Atlanta Soul Movement. We would love your energy and creativity, feeding our Soul Underground! Read More about Omar, click here
***Photos Courtesy of Shannon McCollum, http://www.shannonmcc.com