There are dozens of reasons to listen to Valerie Omari’s latest EP Closure. Along with her contemporary take on the R&B sound and a voice that is utterly captivating, Valerie also draws you in with her lyrics.
The body of work is a collection of her experiences documenting the end of a long-term relationship. But, what’s even more impressive, is that the collaborations on this EP were all done digitally.
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Matching energies with Valerie
When Valerie started the project, she knew there were artists she wanted to work with. People she felt could bring something special and unique to the songs.
For some of her connections, the journey began more than a year before work commenced on Closure. She sent DMs and struck up conversations on social media to see if artists would work with her.
Although Omari is based in the USA – despite the time and distance – her collaborators were keen to match her energy resulting in some fantastic performances.
She admits the project changed somewhat during production as her relationship ended but it fueled the creative process and she quickly pivoted to pour her heart and soul into the songs, sharing the heartbreak as a catharsis.
Listening to the songs, it’s hard to believe she has never met any of her collaborators in person.
The tracks racked up tens of thousands of streams in less than a month after the EP’s release and Valerie performs to enthralled audiences in the USA.
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Omari shines in the spotlight
Being Congolese and raised in South Africa, Valerie draws on the diverse and rich heritage her life journey has created.
What you get is a unique musical experience where you can hear how 90’s R&B influences merge with South African flavour and she pays homage to her Congolese loved ones with French in some of her lyrics.
Her reach can be truly global as she shines a spotlight on her South African collaborators while capturing attention of listeners in the USA, across Africa and in Europe.
Music reviews say Valerie Omari is on her way to being an international star and it’s very easy to hear why.
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