Omar Interview: EastEnders, Stevie Wonder & Music Industry
Omar Lyefook Reflects on Neo-Soul Legacy and new Album
Updated June 11, 2025
Omar lyefook, a British musician celebrated as a neo-soul architect, is reflecting on his career and new music. Fans and fellow artists alike consider him a genius, some even suggesting he surpasses American contemporaries like D’Angelo. Lyefook,56,humbly acknowledges the praise,saying he aimed to create a signature sound recognizable within just a few bars.
Lyefook, honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), has had a diverse career as a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor. stevie Wonder once sought to write a No. 1 hit for him, and he has collaborated with Erykah Badu, Common, and Angie Stone. Konny Kon of Children of Zeus calls Omar a “national treasure” whose production deserves as much recognition as his vocals.
Lyefook expressed a longing for unity, which is reflected in his ninth studio album, Brighter the Days.He describes the album as his magnum opus, born from lockdown frustrations.”I need to find the good in everybody,” Lyefook said, emphasizing his optimistic outlook.
Growing up in a musical family in kent, Lyefook was classically trained. His father,a Chinese-Jamaican reggae drummer,released Omar’s early singles. Paul Weller offered his studio for Brighter the Days and played on the track “On My Own.”
His breakthrough came in 1990 with “There’s Nothing Like this,” a soul-jazz ballad that painted a picture of a cozy night. The song and album gained further recognition when re-released on Norman Jay and Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud label.
Despite earning critical acclaim, Lyefook felt a lack of support from major label executives. He recalls being denied video budgets while rock acts on the same label received ample funding. Subsequent albums, despite collaborations with artists like Ol’ Dirty Bastard, didn’t achieve mainstream success in the United States.
In recent years, Lyefook has explored acting, including a stint on the British soap opera EastEnders. He also underwent brachy