With her debut album, Freedom, it's clear that SHAHIDAH OMAR is driven by message. Songs like "What About the Living," "Stop The War" and her concert anthem, "People of the World," drive her audience to move and feel all at once. Shahidah Omar is an Anti-Diva who sings truisms as though they bleed from her soul.
After debuting Freedom on national television on NBC's daytime talker, The Bonnie Hunt Show, Shahidah Omar followed with performances all over the world, and it's no wonder. She spreads her message with her piercing stance, determined delivery, and slightly jazzy, authentic, raw sound. Indeed, the Chicago native exudes a passion that can be felt from the back of the room . and an outdoor festival setting. She's performed at some of the nation's most prestigious nightspots, including B.B. King's in Universal City, the House of Blues in Chicago and the legendary Whisky a Go-Go on the Hollywood Sunset Strip.
Shahidah Omar's 2012 "Freedom" world tour kickoff begins in the spring with a return engagement, two years in a row, at Bonnaroo, one of the biggest music festivals in the country – a rare feat for an independent artist. Bonnaroo's promoters extended her back-to-back invitations because they consider Shahidah Omar "a multi-talented musical force [whose] passion and soul onstage is undeniable. Her multi-genre appeal makes her an ideal festival artist."
Shahidah Omar is a soulful singer-songwriter with a rock edge infused with classically trained operatic vocals, defying conventional categorization while enticing her growing legions. Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons proclaimed her "an innovative and transformative artist with a bright future," and the media is starting to notice, calling Freedom "a major celebratory confession" (AfroPunk.com) and an album "with all the pop sensibility that will make her a star on Top 40"(CBS9 WNCT-TV).
Shahidah Omar began singing to the tunes of her mother's wide-ranged music gallery at the tender age of 3. Born and raised in Chicago by both of her parents; Her belated father was a successful entrepreneur who created the historic soft drink "Omar On The Nile," and her mother was a seamstress, community coordinator and homemaker for nine siblings. The creative Shahidah Omar grew up full of love for live, music, dance, acting and a drive for success.
Shahidah Omar was enrolled at 5 in a variety of dance classes, including ballet, tap, modern, and jazz. Although she was raised in a conformed Islamic background, her mother supported her musical expression and enrolled her in the school choir at 10, as well as the drill and cheerleading teams.
Shahidah Omar began writing her own songs at 11, but her vocal ability reached new heights once she joined her high school choir at 14. It was there where she embraced the importance of harmony and enhanced all of her vocal levels, ranging from tenor to alto and first soprano, and learned the art of "Opera." She won a plethora of awards, medals and honors in numerous operatic competitions, and continued growing her song catalog and performing.
After high school, Shahidah Omar entered college as a journalism major. She also enrolled in a music class, which she credits as the catalyst for enhancing her performance technique and style. While there, she became a member of a group that won the "Singing in the Shower" jingle contest for Lever Brothers Soap, Inc. and ultimately, the national title in California. That accomplishment caught the attention of billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfrey, who chose to broadcast the video footage on The Oprah Winfrey Show. While living in Chicago, Shahidah Omar modeled for Johnson's Luster Hair Products, and was scouted and joined the cast of Shelly Garrett's Broadway play "Beauty Shop" as well as his follow up, "Red Beans and Rice," touring the country as a dancer in the productions.
Immediately following the stage plays, Shahidah Omar joined a promotional tour for Magic Johnson's Platinum recording artist Avant as a backup dancer (Avant's Angels). A few months later, Shahidah Omar moved to California, where she landed the role as the lead salsa dancer on Showtime's Resurrection Boulevard, choreographed by the legendary Kenny Ortega (Dirty Dancing, Glee, Michael Jackson's This Is It). While in California, Shahidah Omar posed for Jet Magazine's "Beauty of The Week" (August '01 issue with Chris Tucker on the cover). Soon after, she landed the starring role as "Erika" in the movie comedy Graduation Night. She also had a small part in Steven Spielberg's Minority Report and a lead-starring role in the short film Living the Dream.
Shahidah Omar is clearly a multi-faceted talent, but she'll be the first to tell you her heart beats for music. She has shared the stage with the likes of nationally recognized recording artists such as Usher, Tweet, Anthony Hamilton and Kem, to name a few. Her unique singing voice has been heard on TV shows such as UPN's Girlfriends which is currently nationally syndicated. Her operatic vocals starred in a popular "Venus Bridal" commercial and her music catalog was used in the BET Image Award nominated film Walking on Sunshine and the movie drama Living The Dream. Shahidah Omar continues her journey conducting herself in her own orchestra and using her voice as the instrument.
For more information on Shahidah Omar, visit the official website: www.shahidahomar.com
