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Since his unexpected retirement
in 2012 from a successful, professional
cricket career, Omari
has
dedicated himself to his music and is
now ready to unleash his first message to
the world with his debut album, Move On.
The 10-track album recorded in Jamaica, Houston, Texas and at home in Anguilla, is a melange of Omari’s
musical influences and what he likes to call his “contribution to a legacy his dad (Bankie Banx)
started in the early 70s.” Omari was
only five years old the first time he performed
on stage with his father at a concert in Italy. Thus, in many ways he has come full circle and is now able
to forge ahead on his musical journey.
He currently performs four to six times
a week around his native land with his band, Eleven, or
in simpler acoustic sets.
Like most of the album, Omari
wrote both the lyrics and the music on
the title track, which was produced by Stanley Stevens. Renowned musicians
Junior Jazz,
Glen Bowne, Robbie Lyn and Sly Dunbar
accompany
Omari on
this autobiographical song about his transition from cricket to music.
Locally, the soft release of the
single, Move On, garnered airplay on all of Anguilla’s radio stations
including 92.9 Klass FM, 95.5 FM Radio Anguilla,
97.7 FM Up Beat Radio and 103.3 Kool FM.
On February 22, 2013, Omari
Banks returns to the Caribbean’s largest privately
owned music festival, Moon Splash to perform songs from his debut album.
Omari
Banks is a man with a
message and the desire to succeed; his brilliant cricket career is a testament
to Omari’s drive and determination, but
his musical journey has only just begun.
“I want to take my music to an
international market because I have an
opinion based on knowledge and information. I
want to use the gifts I’ve been blessed with to have a positive
influence on people. Being someone who has already travelled the world with sports, I’m able to
have a broader perspective than a lot of
other people. I can communicate to all
levels of thinking from a child to an adult and my music is ageless and really touches lives because
the stories are true and talk about
what’s really going on.” Such tracks include
Still The Youth, Oh
Africa
and Jehovah’s Message.
His music is food for the soul.
His narrative ballads tell stories about
society and relationships that convey lessons
learned while others, filled with inspiration and hope, support his
musical recipe where love is always the key ingredient.
“It’s
message music and I speak through the song” explains Omari, “once I’ve decided on the concept
(something I’m passionate about), I go
within myself to paint the best picture about what I’m really feeling…the music
also has to fit the concept of the song.
The chords need to convey the right attitude
to evoke the right meaning. I’m very honest, very genuine and very personal, and I think that’s
what people connect to because I say
things that people are afraid to say. I’m
not afraid to say how I’m truly feeling and I put my emotions out there.”
Although he dabbles with bass
occasionally, Omari’s instrument of choice is the guitar and unlike his contemporaries,
Omari plays, sings, and writes his own songs. He also writes, arranges and
produces the music that is filled with
rich horns, snare drums, heavy bass and electric guitar chords and melodies,
that bring Omari’s words to life, setting Omari Banks apart from most
contemporary Reggae artists. In his own
words, “the world needs messages of hope
and love that can cross race and religion.”
It’s time to Move On
with
Omari Banks.
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