After originally breaking through with his much-loved initial offerings 'Forever' and 'Peace In My Heart' in 2022, Nigerian-Irish artist Omas is back on the grind once again to deliver his heartfelt new single 'Be The Woman'.
Bringing back more of that rich and shimmering aesthetic he first arrived with, 'Be The Woman' makes for an incredibly warm and emotive return for him. With his soaring vocals layered across a compelling production throughout, he continues to shine as one of the more riveting names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
-
What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I have always been fascinated with the Piano since I was a young, and I loved watching the keyboardist play in church and listening to the sounds it produced. I remember whenever church was over and the older folks were exchanging greetings, me and my friends would sneak towards the piano and hit on a key and run away before anyone looked up lol.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Well I was exposed to a wide range of music while growing up and I would say I loved a lot of them, maybe because I had music inside me lol. Like my dad always played Country, Soft Rock and many more, and I was fascinated by all of them. But Rnb, Pop and African American Gospel Music were very intriguing to me.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Well I had older folks around me who had lots of albums and there were people around I could always borrow one from and played till I got tired of it lol. But there was a time when I and some friends formed a Boy Band and we were really into Rnb fused with Acapella and doing a lot of songs by Boyz II Men. It was at this time I had to buy my first album by Boyz II Men called Evolution.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Well I have enjoyed a great deal of songs and there are a lot of beautiful lyrics out there, but I have really not thought about or wished I wrote any of them. I just enjoyed them. The only thing I would say is that they inspire me to start writing. In fact as soon as I hear a new song the next thing you find is that consciously or subconsciously I soon begin creating melodies and putting words into them.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
This may sound different, but I create my melody first and then write my lyrics to fit into my melody lol. Well I guess every song writer out there has their style, but for me my melody leads me into the experience it wants me to draw from.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
There are loads of them, but my top favourite artists are Whitney Houston, Boyz II Men R Kelly and Adele. And if you listen to my style of singing you’d hear the first 3 in my vocal style.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Adele, oh Lord it’s Adele. She’s a goddess. I’d also be delighted to work with Lyra and Stephanie Rainey who are 2 of my local town artists and some of Cork City’s finest.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The appreciation of my craft by virtually anyone who hears me singing, especially when I perform live. It’s so refreshing when my fans relate how my singing voice makes them feel. Also, I never get tired of writing, recording & singing; It is so refreshing and I am never exhausted when it comes to making music.
And what is the most frustrating part?
That would be getting a cold or a flu that could affect my ability to sing especially if I have a paid gig around the corner lol. Like I do corporate gigs and wedding performances where I am the sole performer, and the organisers have no backup plan so cancelling would not be an option. So even though through years of experience I have learnt the art of vocal preservation, being brought down by anything that affects my voice is terrifying.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
As it regards my music career, someone once said this to me; “It doesn’t matter if no one can hear you now, do it for yourself, for the love of singing and your love for music. And someday that will attract your audience to you”.
-
Omas' new single 'Be The Woman' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.