I’LL DO IT MY WAY
ACARDIFF University graduate has been dubbed “the Palestinian Frank Sinatra” – and is now aiming for the Christmas number one. Omar Kamal, who studied architectural engineering in the capital, has released his cover of Michael Jackson’s classic Love Never Felt So Good and has been likened to the influential entertainer by his record label Sony Middle East.
According to the label, Omar, 24, is “certainly a contender” for the festive top spot, as he aims to bring traditional, smooth pop akin to Sinatra into the modern age.
It all began when Omar started playing the piano at the age of nine while growing up in his native Nablus.
He explained: “I got to know the different genres of the world and I was really fascinated by the music of Frank Sinatra.”
When he was 14, Omar attended an international music festival in Germany where he was introduced to the world of classical music.
He added: “I played lots of genres of music in the years before university and it was my favourite hobby.”
But he had to work hard in Cardiff to make sure his architectural engineering course did not stop his singing.
He said: “With such an intense course it was difficult not to be dragged away from the music.
“But I tried to stay on track, mainly by playing for the uni’s big band and I did a bit of touring with them.”
After finishing university he was scouted by bosses at Sony Middle East, , who asked to see him on the same dayy he had a job interview with a software companyany in London shortly after his graduation.
He said: “That’st’s when it all started happening. I couldn’t signgn the record deal fast enough but I barely hadd time to reflect. It’s a big challenge but it’ss a bigger opportunity.”
Humble Omarr said he was “very fortunate” for the rare re opportunity to sign a record deal but added: ded: “It’s still very early on in my career. It’ss also important to move on from m being called ‘the next’ someone.
“Even if it’s as great a talent as Sinatra if you keep being called ‘the next’ one you’reou’re going to end up just as a cover artist.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s an honour nour and very exciting to be called that, but you haveave to be careful and not quell your ambition.”
It has not yet been decided when his debut album will be released or what it will be called and it could be before Christmas or in the e New Year.
Omar added: “We’re getting some me excellent coverage and there’s a lot of buzz going around now. It’s very exciting.”
Speaking about the video for his latestatest track he said: “It’s a pretty cool video, shot in Rome.
“It introduces both the artiste and d the song in a glamorous way. It’s nothing tooo special in terms of storyline and footage but it gives a very nice introduction to the project.”
Although it was shot in Italy the e track was mixed by the 23-time Grammy award-winning d-winning Al Schmitt at Capitol Studios in Hollywood,ollywood, and Omar worked with Tim Pierce, e, who worked on Michael Jackson’s album Dangerous.
Omar said: “We managed to have ea a really different and new arrangementent to the song. The others on the albumum will be a similar idea, too.”
Once the album is completed thehe p plan is for Omar to go on tour. Om Omar described his in- flu fluences and taste in n m music as rangingg from Arabic idolsols such as Mohammed med Abdel Wahab through ugh to Michael Jacksonson and modern trendsetsett ters like The Weeknd.d.
He said: “I did not expect to get this far in the industry.”
Love Never Felt So Good is out now.now For more details visit
omarkamalglobal.comom