FNX Omar, hailing from Morocco, stands as a pioneering force in the Afro House music scene, embodying the essence of the Africa house wave with his multidisciplinary artistry. Since his youth, FNX Omar has been deeply influenced by Hip-Hop, exploring and manipulating breakbeats to create original compositions that blend diverse sounds. His musical journey is marked by an eclectic approach from the start, driven by a passion for mixing genres and creating daring fusions. This approach has allowed him to carve a unique niche within the electronic music landscape, combining his Arab-Berber heritage with contemporary music trends to produce compelling compositions.
His discography showcases a wide array of genres, from House to Deep House, Soulful House, and beyond, with a special focus on Afro House, which he has contributed to significantly. FNX Omar’s work includes a variety of remixes and original tracks that have positioned him among the top charts internationally, demonstrating his ability to innovate and merge different musical elements seamlessly. Notable tracks and remixes have been released under esteemed labels such as Armada, Get Physical, and MoBlack Records, among others, reflecting his wide-reaching impact and recognition within the global music community.
His latest single ‘The Place’ is a sophisticated deep house trip with whispered vocals adding to the candle-lit atmosphere. The drums are soft and deep as they roll on under vamping chords. Wispy melodies add further enchantment to what is a sublime late-night lullaby.
With this magical deep house outing from the dream team pairing of FNX Omar and Mr. V out now, we caught up with its creator for the lowdown.
How has your Moroccan heritage influenced your approach to creating Afro-house music?
I have Berber origins and music is at the heart of Berber culture; in my youth, I often attended ahwash performances and these are strong early influences in my music creation.
Can you walk us through your creative process when you start a new track, especially when collaborating with artists like Mr. V?
My creative process starts with finding a hypnotic loop. This could be 30 seconds that creates an atmosphere that I feel is mysterious, deep and enchanting. Once I find that, other elements come naturally to me. I also have talented session musicians I can reach out to, if I’m looking for a specific instrument solo for example.
What challenges have you faced in blending traditional African sounds with contemporary electronic music, and how have you overcome them?
African sounds and afro percussion have been around for a long time. I’d say it’s the other way around, making electronic music blend into these very rich rhythms. By now, it feels natural to me.
Your recent work, including the collaboration on “The Place” with Mr. V, has been well-received. What do you think sets your music apart in the Afro-house scene?
It’s not for me to say, but I think it’s the nature of my music and its ability to put people in a meditative or dreamy state while dancing. I also try to reflect this in my arrangements. You don’t hear long breakdowns in most of my productions, because I like to keep the rhythm going in a continuous way so that people get ‘lost’ in the groove.
How do you see the electronic music scene evolving in Morocco and Africa at large, and what role do you play in this evolution?
As a Moroccan and African artist making house music at the international level, I feel that I’m helping elevate and bring the spotlight onto emerging afro house producers especially in Morocco and neighbouring countries.
Your transition from hip-hop to Afro-house is intriguing. What sparked this change in direction, and how has your background in hip-hop influenced your current style?
I was a b-boy in my youth, not many people know that! The change was sparked by some early electronic and afrobeat music I heard that really inspired me, for example, Fela Kuti, Afrika Bambaataa, Masters at Work.
Collaboration seems to be a significant aspect of your work. How do you choose your collaborators, and what do you look for in a potential partnership?
Collaborators are people whose music I enjoy and vice versa – this is paramount. The other part is that collaborators have to add something specific – instruments, vocals, percussion or arrangement ideas, etc – so that we don’t duplicate effort. I also look for collaborators who are looking to expand their sound and operate outside their comfort zone.
Your tracks often feature a rich blend of vocals and instrumentals. How do you balance these elements to create your signature sound?
I really value live instruments and vocals in my tracks. For me, rhythm is always first, but after several bars of that rhythm, the groove should be able to fall back in the listener’s mind to let them focus on the instruments and vocals. So it’s a question of balancing this during the arrangement, focusing on instruments and vocals in some moments, and on drums and rhythm in others, in a way that can really work on a dancefloor.
Sustainability and cultural preservation are becoming increasingly important in the music industry. How do you ensure your work contributes to these goals?
Cultural preservation for me is about bringing back and valuing classic house music as it was back in the day, unconstrained by standard arrangements and very, very creative. I feel that we have lost that in today’s fast-moving electronic music scene. I try to preserve this feeling in all of my creations, to make them stand the test of time.
Looking forward, are there any new projects, collaborations, or directions you’re excited to explore in your music career?
Absolutely, but I can’t say too much about that right now, it’s under wraps! Rest assured, there will be some big collaborations and new projects coming up that are worth the wait.
FNX Omar feat. Mr. V – The Place is out now on Get Physical
