Omar Akram
Omar Akram is a Grammy Award winning recording artist, 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.
Omar Akram | |
|---|---|
| Born | New York City |
| Origin | Afghan |
| Genres | New-age, Jazz, World music |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 2002 – present |
| Labels | Real Music, Twinbrook Entertainment |
| Website | omarakram |
Early life
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
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, 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, 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. 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,[11] on August 9, 2019. 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.[12] The album was mixed by four-time Grammy winner Dave Reitzas at Westlake Studios in Hollywood, CA.
Akram is currently producing a docu-series titled "Omar's Music Chamber."[13][14][15]
Awards and honors
Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for Echoes of Love in 2014.[16]
Personal life
Omar currently resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife, son and daughter.[17]
Discography
Opal Fire
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
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
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 | 5:08 |
| 2. | "Secret Journey" | Omar Akram | 6:05 |
| 3. | "Nomadic Rhapsody" | Omar Akram | 3:37 |
| 4. | "Passage Of The Heart" | Omar Akram | 3:32 |
| 5. | "Gypsy Spirit" | Omar Akram | 4:28 |
| 6. | "Stargazers" | Omar Akram | 3:56 |
| 7. | "Seven Secrets" | Omar Akram | 4:47 |
| 8. | "Whispers In The Moonlight" | Omar Akram | 4:38 |
| 9. | "Mirage" | Omar Akram | 4:32 |
| 10. | "Shimmering Star" | Omar Akram | 4:41 |
| 11. | "Caravan" | Omar Akram | 4:35 |
| 12. | "Angel Of Hope" | Omar Akram | 3:30 |
| 13. | "Desert Flower (Bonus Track)" | Omar Akram | 4:05 |
Echoes Of Love
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" | Omar Akram | 4:46 |
| 2. | "Take My Hand" | Omar Akram | 4:52 |
| 3. | "Lovely Day" | Omar Akram | 4:43 |
| 4. | "Miracle" | Omar Akram | 4:11 |
| 5. | "Finally Home" | Omar Akram | 4:15 |
| 6. | "Draw Me Close" | Omar Akram | 3:48 |
| 7. | "Free Spirit" | Omar Akram | 3:42 |
| 8. | "My Hope Is You" | Omar Akram | 3:33 |
| 9. | "Rejoice" | Omar Akram | 2:42 |
| 10. | "Cry For Love" | Omar Akram | 4:41 |
| 11. | "Open Skies" | Omar Akram | 4:56 |
| 12. | "Merry" | Omar Akram | 2:37 |
Daytime Dreamer
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
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 |
References
- "INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL GRAMMY : Awards". www.longbeachindependent.com. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3402206/bio
- "Can Music Can Bridge Cultures and Promote Peace?". huffingtonpost.com. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- "IB Post"
- http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/?p=19220
- https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/omar-akram-free-as-a-bird-review-by-michael-debbage
- https://www.omarakram.com/articles/grammy-winning-musician-omar-akram-on-creating-his-own-destiny
- https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/omar-akram-secret-journey-review-by-michael-debbage
- https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/omar-akram-daytime-dreamer
- Desk, BWW News. "2012 Grammy Winner Omar Akram Releases New Album, Daytime Dreamer". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- https://medium.com/authority-magazine/grammy-award-winning-recording-artist-omar-akram-you-dont-need-a-lot-of-money-to-achieve-11b807054b13
- https://www.omarakram.com/articles/grammy-winning-musician-omar-akram-on-creating-his-own-destiny
- "Grammy Award-Winning Omar Akram: "Most people think that if you have enough money to do a project, then you can succeed. I learned the hard way — money alone is not enough. It's a combination of your talent, vision, hard work and resources" - Thrive Global". thriveglobal.com. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- "Grammy-winning Musician Omar Akram On Creating His Own Destiny". www.thehypemagazine.com. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- Muj, Nicole. "Grammy-Winning Musician Omar Akram Is Building Cultural Bridges | INDIE ENTERTAINMENT (News) MAGAZINE". Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- "INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL GRAMMY : Awards". www.longbeachindependent.com. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3402206/bio
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