Valerie Omari used experiences as inspiration for upcoming EP ‘Closure’
THIS year, musician and songwriter Valerie Omari will be releasing her highly anticipated second EP, titled Closure.
Omari was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo but now lives in Portland, Texas in the US. She got her big break in 2018 with her first single, Just Like The Rain.
She will shortly release a new single, For You featuring Atlanta artist Smahlo, a connection she made before moving to the US.
The artist has given fans a taste of what they can expect on the EP with the December release of the first single, If I Tried, featuring The Rabbi Himself.
“The song was inspired by events that took place before me ending my previous relationship. The entire song sums up how I was no longer compatible with someone who I thought was capable of fulfilling my needs.”
At the core of Omari’s sound is R&B, a genre she grew up with.
“I often fuse it with different sounds, be it hip hop, soul or even pop. Up-tempo or not, you’ll hear R&B at every foundation. There’s just something so profound about the genre.” Closure is set for release next month. “To be honest, the name just came to me. There was no profound moment that happened, that made me go, ‘Oh damn. This is closure’. It really was simply how I felt in that moment.
“Most of my inspiration is driven from experience, which is kind of weird at times because I tend to isolate myself often and I have to remind myself that being in social environments and going out to experience the world creates stories and ideas.
“I wish I had a mentor to guide me through my creative process because I do sometimes get clogged. I do, however, have amazing friends within the music industry that I always lean on for advice.”
Having been named as one of the African female R&B/soul artists to watch out for in 2020 by OkayAfrica, there are a lot of eyes on the talented musician.
One would expect that to give her the jitters, but not Omari, whose biggest aspiration in 2023 is to expand her reach.
“My purpose is simply to convey/ provoke thoughts and emotions to men and women. To be able to put out relatable work that will reach millions of people and being exposed on the right platform would do just that.”
As an artist, she is also hoping to collaborate with others from all over the world.
“Every single continent if possible. I want to focus my energy on live performances as well and so I will hopefully be taking my music to new stages and booking festivals. Let’s wait and see how the year unfolds,” Omari added.
With the digital world allowing artists to connect easily, collaborations are certainly possible and this allows artists to connect with their fans from all over the world.
“Thank God for the digital world. Everyone is a text or click away, and for that, I am forever grateful,” Omari said.
Staying in a different country with its own time zone can however be a challenge.
“Trying to stay connected on time. I make it work. It’s not always easy but Instagram has made it less complicated for me to constantly stay updated with releases from my musical friends.”
Living in America has allowed her to make a vast network of connections. “I have been able to connect with people working for Billboard to Ne-Yo, to the guy on the street playing the trumpet.
“All these encounters, to me, are so important because building intentional relationships with people in the industry makes up for more than the talent, it is the driving boat to achieving my goal.”
Omari takes nothing for granted when it comes to her career, each little achievement adds to her dream of becoming the top artist she wants to be.
From experiencing her music climb up the radio charts, to being named Apple Music’s Artist of the Month and joining the Platoon family, her career has been blessed.
In 2023, Omari’s fans can expect more from her and certainly only the best.