Omar Akram
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Omar Akram | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Born | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | New-age, Jazz, World music |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Real Music, Twinbrook Entertainment |
| Website | omarakram |
Omar Akram is an Afghan-American producer, composer, and pianist. In 2013, he became the first Afghan-American to win a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for his fourth studio album, Echoes of Love.[1] He is also an inspirational writer who contributes to The Huffington Post.
Early life[edit]
Akram was born in New York City. He grew up traveling around the world as the son of a United Nations diplomat living everywhere from Prague to Havana as well as his ancestral home of Afghanistan.[2] He notably met Fidel Castro at the age of 14, who is said to have allowed him to sneak into the local Cuban jazz clubs, the sounds of which influenced his formative compositional style.[3]
Career[edit]
In 1993, Akram moved to Los Angeles where he performed in various Mainstream Top 40 bands while also writing his own music.
In 2002, he signed a recording deal with Real Music.[4] His first commercial album release that same year, titled Opal Fire, reached Billboard's New Age Top 15 Chart that same year.[5] His sophomore release Free As A Bird in 2004, produced and arranged by keyboardist Gregg Karukas, featured world class violinist Charlie Bisharat and Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Eric Marienthal.[6] This album also reached Billboard's New Age Top 15 Chart that same year.[7] In 2007, Secret Journey, produced, co-written and arranged by Gregg Karukas, also critically acclaimed, featured Ardeshir Farah.[8] In 2012, Akram was nominated and won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for his album Echoes of Love, also produced, co-written and arranged by Gregg Karukas. This album was followed by Daytime Dreamer in 2013 which featured six new recordings along with tracks previously released from Opal Fire and Free As A Bird.[9][10]
Akram's most recent album release "Destiny," co-produced with producer Walter Afanasieff, was independently released through his own company, Twinbrook Entertainment, on August 9, 2019.[citation needed] Afanasieff also contributes vocals to the first single release from the album, "Here I Am". An accompanying official music video was directed by Erik White. Shardad Rohani arranged and conducted the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra on two tracks.[11] The album was mixed by four-time Grammy winner Dave Reitzas at Westlake Studios in Hollywood, CA.
Starting from the lockdown resulting from COVID-19 pandemic, Omar Akram has been producing a docu-series titled "Omar's Music Chamber, where he performed a number of songs in his previous albums, as well as some newly written music. "[citation needed] From this collection, Omar Akram released a new album, The Light Will Come, on April 23, 2021.[12]
The Moments Of Beauty album was released on July 7, 2023. The album is animated by a spirit of reflection and contemplation that taps into personal cherished memories. As Omar notes, “it reminds me of my first album, Opal Fire, especially with its feeling of simplicity in the melodies and the simple truths they convey."[13] Moments Of Beauty was nominated for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in November 2023.[14]
Awards and honors[edit]
Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for Echoes of Love in 2014.[15]
Grammy Nomination for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album for Moments Of Beauty in 2024.[16]
Discography[edit]
Opal Fire[edit]
Real Music (Album Release Date: September 3, 2002)
| No. | Title | Composer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sugar Coated Love" | Omar Akram | 4:38 |
| 2. | "Morning Rain" | Omar Akram | 3:52 |
| 3. | "A Vision Of You" | Omar Akram | 4:34 |
| 4. | "Last Dance" | Omar Akram | 5:03 |
| 5. | "Waves Of Emotion" | Omar Akram | 3:23 |
| 6. | "Farewell For Now" | Omar Akram | 4:21 |
| 7. | "Unity" | Omar Akram | 3:39 |
| 8. | "Innocence Lost" | Omar Akram | 3:29 |
| 9. | "So Far" | Omar Akram | 3:39 |
| 10. | "Gypsy Woman" | Omar Akram | 3:53 |
| 11. | "Longing" | Omar Akram | 3:19 |
| 12. | "Opal Fire" | Omar Akram | 4:48 |
Free As A Bird[edit]
Real Music (Album Release Date: April 27, 2004)
| No. | Title | Composer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Free As A Bird" | Omar Akram | 5:05 |
| 2. | "Passage Into Midnight" | Omar Akram | 4:23 |
| 3. | "A Day With You" | Omar Akram | 5:09 |
| 4. | "Falling Through The Rain" | Omar Akram | 4:48 |
| 5. | "Beauty Unveiled" | Omar Akram | 4:27 |
| 6. | "Dancing With The Wind" | Omar Akram | 4:53 |
| 7. | "Surrender" | Omar Akram | 6:42 |
| 8. | "Riding The Current" | Omar Akram | 4:00 |
| 9. | "Never Let Go" | Omar Akram | 3:35 |
| 10. | "Trust Unspoken" | Omar Akram | 4:01 |
| 11. | "Flight Of Mystery" | Omar Akram | 5:04 |
Secret Journey[edit]
Real Music (Album Release Date: September 25, 2007). Secret Journey peaked at #12 on Billboard's New Age Chart.
| No. | Title | Composer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Run Away With Me" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 5:08 |
| 2. | "Secret Journey" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 6:05 |
| 3. | "Nomadic Rhapsody" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 3:37 |
| 4. | "Passage Of The Heart" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 3:32 |
| 5. | "Gypsy Spirit" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 4:28 |
| 6. | "Stargazers" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 3:56 |
| 7. | "Seven Secrets" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 4:47 |
| 8. | "Whispers In The Moonlight" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 4:38 |
| 9. | "Mirage" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 4:32 |
| 10. | "Shimmering Star" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 4:41 |
| 11. | "Caravan" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 4:35 |
| 12. | "Angel Of Hope" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 3:30 |
| 13. | "Desert Flower (Bonus Track)" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 4:05 |
Echoes Of Love[edit]
Real Music (Album Release Date: June 5, 2012). Echoes Of Love was awarded a Grammy for Best New Age Album.
| No. | Title | Composer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Echoes Of Love" | Gregg Karukas, Omar Akram | 4:46 |
| 2. | "Take My Hand" | Gregg Karukas, Omar Akram | 4:52 |
| 3. | "Lovely Day" | Gregg Karukas, Omar Akram | 4:43 |
| 4. | "Miracle" | Gregg Karukas, Omar Akram | 4:11 |
| 5. | "Finally Home" | Gregg Karukas, Omar Akram | 4:15 |
| 6. | "Draw Me Close" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 3:48 |
| 7. | "Free Spirit" | Gregg Karukas, Omar Akram | 3:42 |
| 8. | "My Hope Is You" | Omar Akram, Gregg Karukas | 3:33 |
| 9. | "Rejoice" | Gregg Karukas, Omar Akram | 2:42 |
| 10. | "Cry For Love" | Gregg Karukas, Omar Akram | 4:41 |
| 11. | "Open Skies" | Gregg Karukas | 4:56 |
| 12. | "Merry" | Omar Akram | 2:37 |
Daytime Dreamer[edit]
Real Music (Album Release Date: September 24, 2013)
| No. | Title | Composer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Downpour" | Omar Akram | 4:16 |
| 2. | "Dancing With The Wind" | Omar Akram | 4:52 |
| 3. | "Searching" | Omar Akram | 3:59 |
| 4. | "Surrender" | Omar Akram | 6:42 |
| 5. | "Passage Into Midnight" | Omar Akram | 4:21 |
| 6. | "Daytime Dreamer" | Omar Akram | 3:31 |
| 7. | "Love Of My Heart" | Omar Akram | 3:39 |
| 8. | "The Promise" | Omar Akram | 4:27 |
| 9. | "Morning Rain" | Omar Akram | 3:53 |
| 10. | "The Last Dance" | Omar Akram | 4:41 |
| 11. | "My Desire" | Omar Akram | 3:30 |
Destiny[edit]
Twinbrook Entertainment (Album Release Date: August 9, 2019)
| No. | Title | Composer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Take Me Away" | Omar Akram | 4:23 |
| 2. | "Destiny" | Omar Akram | 4:01 |
| 3. | "My Promise To You" | Omar Akram | 4:20 |
| 4. | "Nomad" | Omar Akram | 4:22 |
| 5. | "Mystery Train" | Omar Akram | 3:47 |
| 6. | "Coastal Drive" | Omar Akram | 4:24 |
| 7. | "Lotus Flower" | Omar Akram | 3:41 |
| 8. | "Celebrate New Life" | Omar Akram | 3:41 |
| 9. | "Regenerate Love" | Omar Akram | 3:57 |
| 10. | "Matters Of The Heart" | Omar Akram | 3:56 |
| 11. | "Secret Place" | Omar Akram | 4:30 |
| 12. | "Here I Am (featuring Walter Afanasieff)" | Omar Akram | 4:46 |
The Light Will Come[edit]
Twinbrook Entertainment (Album Release Date: April 23, 2021)
| No. | Title | Composer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Light Will Come" | Omar Akram | 6:09 |
| 2. | "For George" | Omar Akram | 8:29 |
| 3. | "Hear My Heart" | Omar Akram | 7:10 |
| 4. | "For Merry" | Omar Akram | 4:36 |
| 5. | "Waterfall" | Omar Akram | 5:17 |
| 6. | "Since I Met You" | Omar Akram | 7:37 |
| 7. | "Wish I Could See You" | Omar Akram | 6:43 |
| 8. | "Pressing On" | Omar Akram | 4:30 |
| 9. | "Caught Dreaming" | Omar Akram | 9:21 |
| 10. | "New Morning Sun" | Omar Akram | 5:53 |
The second track of the album, For George, is dedicated to the memory of George Floyd.[17]
Moments Of Beauty[edit]
Twinbrook Entertainment
(Album Release Date: July 7, 2023). Moments Of Beauty was nominated for Best New Age, Ambient or Chant album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in November 2023.[18]
| No. | Title | Composer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Moments Of Beauty" | Omar Akram | 3:27 |
| 2. | "Passage Of Time" | Omar Akram | 3:24 |
| 3. | "Dancing On My Own" | Omar Akram | 3:34 |
| 4. | "Sorrow" | Omar Akram | 2:09 |
| 5. | "Falling In Love" | Omar Akram | 3:25 |
| 6. | "Promises" | Omar Akram | 3:50 |
| 7. | "Special Gift" | Omar Akram | 3:22 |
| 8. | "Mystery" | Omar Akram | 4:35 |
| 9. | "Someday" | Omar Akram | 3:13 |
| 10. | "Walking Free" | Omar Akram | 4:01 |
References[edit]
- ^ "INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL GRAMMY : Awards". www.longbeachindependent.com. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ^ "Omar Akram". IMDb.
- ^ "Can Music Can Bridge Cultures and Promote Peace?". huffingtonpost.com. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- ^ "IB Post"
- ^ "Homepage".
- ^ "Free as a Bird by Omar Akram - Album Review".
- ^ "The Hype Magazine | Interview". 12 May 2019.
- ^ "Secret Journey by Omar Akram - Album Review".
- ^ "Daytime Dreamer by Omar Akram - Album Review".
- ^ BWW News Desk. "2012 Grammy Winner Omar Akram Releases New Album, Daytime Dreamer". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- ^ "The Hype Magazine | Interview". 12 May 2019.
- ^ "New album release "The Light Will Come"". 19 March 2021.
- ^ "New album release "Moments Of Beauty"". 15 November 2023.
- ^ "Moments Of Beauty receives Grammy Nomination".
- ^ "INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL GRAMMY : Awards". www.longbeachindependent.com. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ^ Enos, Morgan (November 10, 2023). "2024 GRAMMYs: See The Full Winners & Nominees List". Grammy Awards.
- ^ "New album release "The Light Will Come"". 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Moments Of Beauty receives Grammy Nomination".
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