Adil Omar’s Interview With Instep Today
“I’d rather be a rapper on an international scale who happens to be Pakistani, rather than a Pakistani rapper” – Adil Omar
Amina Baig
Karachi
He is unsigned and he’s just 19. But Adil Omar remains one of Pakistan’s few hardcore rappers. Based in Islamabad, Adil isn’t targeting just Pakistan but an international audience. He has two songs on the upcoming indie flick Slackistan and that’s just one of his many projects. In this interview with Instep Today, Adil reveals more about his debut record and more…
Instep Today: You have the Untitled Adil Omar Project (UAOP) slated for 2011. What kind of sound dominates the album?
Adil Omar: It’s still not confirmed whether it’s going to be done and out by 2011. It could be 2012, realistically. It’s my debut and I’m putting a lot of work into it. It’s not just me rapping over “beats”; it’s going to be a work of art. I won’t reveal the very few but interesting guests I have as of yet. There will be involvement from various producers. I’m in talks with my boy Fredwreck about producing a track or two for it as well, so I’m very excited about that. There are a few more producers I’m in talks with… It’s all going to be heavy stuff as far as concepts go. Every beat will be a banger. I’ll be using a lot of live instrument sounds as well. I’m really picky about production quality, otherwise I would have had an album done already. This has to be “eargasmic” material and I’ll see to it that it is.
Instep Today: Is there a recurrent theme that you are employing in UAOP?
Adil Omar: Since it’s my introduction, look at it as an introduction to every side of me, my thoughts and my personality. Sure, there’s going to be some fiction in it too, some shock value only for entertainment, but a lot of it’s going to be up close and personal. Something that people can remember as a classic record and relate to in one way or another. I don’t just want to make people dance. I want to make them feel what I feel, step into my shoes and see the world through my eyes for the time they’re listening to me. Most of all, I just want to make good music. That’s my hunger and my driving force. The industry’s pushing such bulls**t now, it’s laughable what passes off as Rap & Hip-Hop these days. I don’t want to “take it back to the ’90s” or take myself too seriously, but I just want to make quality Hip-Hop music.
Instep Today: You have collaborated with B-Real for The Harvest, how did that materialize? Being an indie artist, how do you manage to get your work out there?
Adil Omar: B-Real’s been really helpful in terms of opening a lot of doors for me. I’m extremely grateful to him for that. The amount of exposure an artist can get from being on a Cypress Hill related project is huge. People might argue that B-Real and Cypress Hill aren’t what they were in the ’90s, but facts are facts, they’re still legends and the first Latino group ever to go platinum… As far as The Harvest and the song I did with B-Real goes, it’s his project, not mine. I just lent a hand and a contribution to it. I was put on and I’m very grateful for that.
Instep Today: What other projects, if any, are you involved in currently?
Adil Omar: I wish I could go into detail here but I don’t think I can. Well, maybe a few things. I’m working on a collaboration album on the side with Greydon Square called Serpents Of Eden. It’ll probably be released around the same time or before my debut album, independently. Featured guests so far are Penn Jillette (who I’ve worked with before) and James Randi. This isn’t a mainstream project by any means, it’s highly anticipated within our cult following as some sort of superhero collaboration between two sick artists. Though the Penn and James Randi features (among other possible ones) should bring considerable attention.
Other than that, I’m working on doing more live performances. I’m currently working on a new music video for the launch of my official website. I’m being considered to do the soundtrack of a major Hollywood film with an Oscar winning lead actor, but I don’t think I can say who it is for now. That’s in the future though, let’s see what happens. I’m doing tons of collaborations on other rapper’s and producer’s projects go. So yes, my hands are full for now, I love work, and I have tons of exciting stuff I’m working on.
Instep Today: Have you approached any record labels for your album as yet, especially locally? If so, how was the response?
Adil Omar: I’m not planning on releasing my album locally; it’s not my target audience. I’d rather be a rapper on an international scale who happens to be Pakistani, rather than a Pakistani rapper. Why typecast and limit yourself like that? Music is universal and should be for all people, released at a wider scale. I’m in talks with a few people to see what’s up. I’m definitely aiming for a major and global release for my album when the time comes.
Instep Today: You, as well as your work features in the film Slackistan. Was making music for somebody else’s project different from working on your own?
Adil Omar: I’m used to working for other people’s projects for now. If I see it as a good promotional opportunity or it’s something I believe in, I hop on. Slackistan was a lot of fun. I make a cameo playing myself, for comic relief, and I’ve done a song for the soundtrack. I did two actually, a solo one, and one with Uzair Jaswal, but it wasn’t included, so we might release it sometime in the future from our own side. But yeah, I do recommend Slackistan for when it comes out, it’s actually very funny.
Instep Today: Within Pakistan, your popularity so far rests in Islamabad, have you considered taking your act to other parts of the country? What kind of people make up your audience in Islamabad?
Adil Omar: I wouldn’t say I have much of an audience in Islamabad either. It’s all on the internet. Who knows, I might have an audience in Islamabad but it’s probably not considered “cool” to be an Adil Omar fan yet. I don’t feel like a celebrity when I go out. I mean, I get recognized a little bit, people have come up to me and taken pictures with me, but as far as an active audience goes, I think that’s all on the internet right now.
Instep Today: With so many rap/hip hop artists in the world, what are you bringing to the table that you feel sets you apart?
Adil Omar: I’m just doing what I enjoy. No gimmicks either. I make the sort of music a real person and a real Hip-Hop head could feel and relate to. With all this party/spaceship/hipster bullshit being forced down everybody’s throat at the moment, I think I’m an escape from that. Yet, at the same time, I have a little bit of a sense of humor which sets me apart of super-underground rappers who take themselves too seriously. I bring a balance. I bring something people can relate to as well as have fun to. Most importantly, I just do me. I don’t take advice on content or what I should do. I honestly don’t listen to hate or criticism either. I just do what I love doing, the way I love doing it, and I’m glad I’ve found a growing audience for what I do. It’s in your face, rough neck music with a little bit of a conscience.
Instep Today: Currently the mainstream music scene in Pakistan is predominantly pop-rock, would you consider branching out the genre? If so, what might you dabble in?
Adil Omar: I think I answered most of this with the record label question.
Instep Today: Your words, for someone who is not yet 20, are jaded. Where do you draw your ideas for lyrics from?
Adil Omar: I’m young, but I feel like I’m 50 at times. I won’t say I’ve had the hardest life. Everybody has ups and downs. I’m just a skeptic and a realist by nature. Plus, music’s my outlet. If I didn’t do it I’d probably be a messed up person. I get my ideas from my own life, what goes on around me, reading, isolating myself, and also my naturally over-active imagination.
Instep Today: All artists want to put something out there with their work, what is it that you would like for your audience to gain through your music?
Adil Omar: I just want them to be themselves and embrace who they are. That’s my main message and the root of all my ideas. Be yourself, love who YOU are. Don’t aspire to be me, or anybody else. Be you, do you.
Source: INSTEP today
