When you love music so much that you have to create it to make it through the day, music is no longer a hobby. For independent artist and musical creative Queen Omara, music is part of her existence. From the tender age of nine years old, she has been creating, researching, and performing, with a start in a family group. Now at 22 years old, she is reigning with her soulful voice, hard-hitting rap bars, and the ability to make it all come together in music production. Check out my latest conversation with this rising star and find out what all the buzz is about.
Photobombshell’s Interview with Queen Omara
Photobombshell: Queen Omara! Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview and sharing your story with the community at Photobombshell.media. To kick things off, share a bit about yourself and what led you to a career in music.
Queen Omara: Thank you for having me first and foremost, and I thank God. I am Queen Omara, Queen for which I am royalty, so are you, and Omara for which my father named me. I’m 22. I write and produce my music, including engineering and mixing/mastering. I started singing and writing music at nine years old after my dad started a kid’s group with my seven siblings and me. At the time, we called ourselves T-squad/Tullis-vision. As we all grew up, I just stuck with it because my dad was also a music creator, and I adore him and his craft very much. After moving out, I ventured out, started going through studios and being managed. I eventually decided it would be best to self-manage because I know what is best for me.
Photobombshell: Starting at a young age, you must have had musical inspiration from the people around you, even outside your family group. Who motivated and inspired you to become this multifaceted talent that you are today?
Queen Omara: My father. He was hard on my siblings and me when the group first started, teaching us to be strong for ourselves and taught us discipline. He then began to involve us in the music. My father would have us research studying dances and artists such as Michael Jackson. He would then have us rehearse every chance we could. Later I moved out of my dad’s place and felt I needed to make him proud. I wanted to carry on the dream, so I went as hard as possible with the support of both his and my family.
Photobombshell: That connects a lot of dots! Before I started preparing for this interview, I learned that you sing, rap, produce, and engineer your work. In my experience, there are artists in two camps when it comes to that: those who want to do it all and those who prefer a team of specialists. What was the driving force behind doing so much on your own?
Queen Omara: I just wanted to be self-sufficient, stand on my feet, and get to know myself and my craft. There were a lot of naysayers, so I wanted to prove them wrong as well.
Photobombshell: Do you foresee yourself collaborating with other producers or engineers?
Queen Omara: Of course! I’d like to work with Timberland, Missy Elliott, J. Cole, and T-Pain.
Photobombshell: As a musician, an independent musician, you not only have to learn the business but become a business. What have been some of the biggest lessons learned as a musical entrepreneur?
Queen Omara: Hard work and consistency are keys to success. Always build your resources. The saying, “It’s not what you know, but who you know,” is true. Don’t ever be too proud to accept the right advice from someone with great credibility.
Photobombshell: Thank you so much for that! You just shared some knowledge and advice I rarely hear. I think being able to take sage advice is incredibly important and sometimes challenging as a creative.
As an artist who has been both signed to an independent label and completely independent, do you think there are benefits to signing a deal and taking the lead from that label?
Queen Omara: Yes. I feel it allows you to be more hands-on with creation because all you have to focus on is delivering as an artist. You’re not by yourself. You have help and people with the resources already.
Photobombshell: What is the most rewarding thing about being an independent artist who does everything for herself?
Queen Omara: The ending result after the last mix is instant gratification because I sit back and think to myself, “Wow, I can’t believe I just did that. I did it by myself.” I’ll pat myself on the back.
Photobombshell: That’s awesome. There must be a swell of pride when you create something from scratch that you ultimately love and want to share with the world. In that vein, what has been the most rewarding aspect or moment in your career so far?
Queen Omara: The most rewarding thing has been having my dad see the beginning and approve my work.
Photobombshell: It is special to have shared that creative connection with him. I love that.
As a female producer, I am sure you already know you’re in the minority in the music industry. What would you say to someone interested in getting started who may be intimidated by the masculine landscape of the music industry?
Queen Omara: Don’t be! Women are needed just as much as men in the industry regardless of their dominance. Women make a bigger impact than men, and I believe eventually, the industry will be female-dominant.
Photobombshell: What is something people misunderstand about you?
Queen Omara: People misunderstand my passion and drive. It rubs some people the wrong way. They think it’s not that serious or I shouldn’t work so hard. When you love something so much you have to do it to feel good in your day-to-day life, it’s no longer a hobby or something you’re trying to learn. It’s a lifestyle. That’s my opinion.
Photobombshell: I think your passion and drive are some of the things that make you stand out. You look for new opportunities and hustle to make things happen.
This is one of my favorite questions because I love to give artists the floor to share what is important to them. What have you wanted to share in an interview, but no one has asked yet?
Queen Omara: Life is for you and your own experience. Live like there is no tomorrow. Be strong and fight to live another day.
Photobombshell: Wise words! Thank you so much for sharing, Queen Omara, and for taking the time to inspire our community here. For those interested in hearing more from Queen Omara, check out her latest single, ‘W.I.O.’ This track is not your average love song. It’s a love song for couples, friends, and family, sharing the message that love heals all wounds. As Queen Omara says in her lyrics, “Sometimes you just gotta work it out.”