OMAR

ANTHONY

Though first and foremost a solo acoustic artist, multi-instrumentalist Omar Anthony gathers inspiration from dance, funk, pop and rock, oftentimes attempting to reflect the unstable times we live in by blending drum machine based grooves with bluesy guitar riffs and layers of vocal harmony. It is a colourful clash of old and new... but where did this multitude of influences all begin and how?

Most probably on a holiday stop at a cousin's house somewhere in Singapore in his early teens when he came face to face with a shiny 5-piece Peal Export drum set... from the moment he sat down on that faux leather drum stool he was hooked and there was no tuning back. With just a few days to try and get something that resembled a rhythm out of this exciting new toy he could just about hold a 4/4 backbeat by the time it was time to say goodbye to Auntie and Uncle.

But being at such an impressionable age as hair-metal gave way to grunge would have certainly left its mark... especially when you consider the backdrop of jungle, techno and house throughout the 90's in the UK, you have a real melting-pot of influences ripe for mining. The end of history as they now refer to that period in time? What a thing to behold...

A two time UK Songwriting Contest semi-finalist and former member of a number of genre spanning Midlands based bands, Omar Anthony has always drawn on a wide variety of musical influences to create something unique. After learning how to apply these different styles by working with numerous other musicians, it then became all about going solo and searching for the right sound.

The one-man gigs started in 2008, firstly under the name Fake Sheik and then later Omar Anthony. There were support slots for local acts like Tara Chinn and The Humdrum Express and appearances at venues such as the Hare and Hounds, The Flapper & Firkin, The Victoria, Katie Fitzgerald’s and the Yardbird Jazz Club as well as Birmingham ArtsFest.

An arsenal of songs has been built up over this time, the first official release being "Deceived By The Lights", May 2019 Single of the Month in Ryan’s Gig Guide.

“The guy is brilliant.”

Nick J. Townsend, Ryan’s Gig Guide