Singer and Songwriter, Valerie Omarie has been active in the music industry since her initial debut in 2017 with debut single titled, ‘Rewind’ with Patty Manroe. This year marks 6 years of her musical delivery within the RnB and Hip-Hop space. The Congo born artist has collaborated with a variety of artists from Rouge to The Rabbi Himself. She took a one year break to fully work on her RnB/Soul project ‘Closure’ and we could not help but to give the 5 track EP a listen as it features the likes of Mike Grizzly, Smahlo and The Rabbi Himself. This follows her sudden move to the USA.
We made time to send over questions that she could essentially answer and give you guide to her world. Below is an insightful interview we did with her a week ago.
You’ve given us incredible music in 2018, can you paint a picture for us of what the last few years of your career have been like, what challenges and your highlights?
The last few years have been exceptionally exciting. Not to say that I did not encounter challenges, but I certainly met people that have made me appreciate my art even more. I have been able to collaborate with artists from almost every continent and I can’t wait for that to continue to grow. Some of my highlights for sure include having my listening session in Los Angeles and meeting producers who worked with the likes of Summer Walker, Bruno Mars etc.
On March 10. 2023, we got to hear another offering from you “Closure”, what are you hoping is the biggest takeaway for listeners from this EP?
I want people to just feel connected to the music and if not, I want people to dive into the production aspect of the music. Listen to progressions, guitars, harmonies and melodies, because these are all things that were created from the foundation up. There’s really no way you cannot take away at least one thing from this project. I believe the people involved did an exceptional job in executing my visions. I could not be prouder to share this with the world.
How did you choose your feature for this project?
They were all spontaneously chosen. It was all vibes, to be honest. I would be scrolling through Instagram, and I’d go “woah who’s that?”, and dive into their catalog of music and I fell in love with all of their work. The next step was to shoot my shot and see if they were open to giving me a chance. I trusted my path and I knew that whether they chose to be a part of it or not, I would be able to take away something from them.
I have to say, I am absolutely one of God’s favorites, the way he has opened doors for collaborations with people I have never met.
Tell us about the style of your music and what’s different about it from the rest of the African artists on the continent?
From reviews, I get “traditional R&B or alternative R&B” but honestly, I’m just an artist whose foundation has been R&B for the longest time, and I feel as though I have grown that sound and blended it with the pop, hip-hop and even rock influence sounds around me. I don’t know how much different that is to the rest of the world, but it surely is Valerie.
Which moment in your life convinced you that being a Singer and Songwriter is your purpose?
I would be lying if I said I remembered a time when I wasn’t singing. It’s just one of those things that I grew up with and even having completed university and having a whole degree, my musical path was written way before I could speak. Releasing my first EP Therefore I have solidified my presence in the industry. So, if we are talking about my first professional introduction? That would be it.
What creative process do you go through when you write your songs?
Most of my songs, if not all, are drawn from my social experiences. Whether it be, being outside or just having romantic encounters. I find it easier for me to speak about things that happen around me, compared to coming up with scenarios. The process is as simple as hitting up some of the homies to come over and we’d create music from the keys, to base to the melody line. It’s never perfect on the first try, but there’s always material that comes out from Jam sessions. I guess that’s why I am so intentional about my surrounding recently because they have a direct effect on the music I make which essentially, affects the consumers.
Besides the EP, what else are you working on and what other future projects can we expect from you?
I’d like for people to stay connected to my social media. That way you never miss announcements. But expect shows, and possible tours (we’re manifesting here). I’m hoping for movie placements, but who knows, everything is possible.
Valerie Omari is without a doubt an artist to pay attention to this year as her artistry speaks in high volumes for her and we wish her nothing but the best for her career as we cannot wait to hear and see what she has in the vault for us.
Stream ‘Closure’ by Valerie Omari below:
