Nadir Omowale
Artist – Producer – Creative Strategist
HOT LABOR DAY AFTERNOON AT THE MICHIGAN STATE FAIR! MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 @2PM 46100 Grand River Ave, Novi, MI 48374 #mimegajam2015 #mistatefair #metrotimes #saintcecilia #djpsycho #calebgutierrez #alisonalbrecht #familyfun #rollercoaster #farmanimals #beautifulpeople #puremichigan
Blues man Paul Miles and The Original Vandellas came by the studio to record some backgrounds for Paul’s new record. #rrhof #pauljmiles
The Rev. Ortheia Barnes-Kennerly was an incredible spirit who touched many souls during her journey. Mother Barnes was an international recording artist, a minister of the gospel and a Detroit treasure who spent several decades in the service of her community and her God.
I was honored to record and mix Ortheia’s final project. The songs were composed and produced by “The Mayor” Mr. Paul Joseph Miles and included performances by an outstanding cast of Detroit musicians including Chrissy Morgan, Amy Saari, Maria Wade, Emily Rogers, Ken Murphy, Dennis Burr,Billy Furman, Robert Reaves, Amber Williams, and more.
The album was completed just a few short weeks before Rev. Barnes passed away before a performance in the Virgin Islands. The songs offer a message of joy and perseverance especially for mature women.
Click HERE to purchase a copy of the album, I Was The One.
All proceeds from the sale of the record go to Ortheia’s husband Pastor Bob Kennerly to help pay for the expenses of bringing Mother Barnes back from the Virgin Islands and for her homegoing service.
Detroit’s own Phredley Brown, also known as Bruno Mars’ musical director, performed his newest solo material on Fox 2 Detroit in advance of his show-stopping set at the 24th Annual Detroit Music Awards. Phred is feverishly cranking out tunes for his solo project while he has some time off from his hectic touring schedule. The Los Angeles resident returned home to see how Detroit’s brutally honest crowds reacted to his new music, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. What do you think?
Yep. That’s me on bass with Kali Douglas on drums and Onnie Medina on vocals.
Fox 2 News Headlines
Originally Published in the Metro Times
Two of the hottest names in modern media technology – Antelope Audio and GoPro personal video cameras – will join forces to offer a peek at the future of live music Friday night (Nov. 21) at a free concert in Troy.
“Nadir’s Electric Lounge: A Multimedia Funk Experience,” a Detroit R&B extravaganza starring bass guitar virtuoso, producer and 13-time Detroit Music Award winner Nadir Omowale, rolls out at 8 p.m. at NextWave Media Lab, 950 Stephenson Highway.
In addition to Nadir’s eight-piece ensemble, the show will feature guest appearances by emerging rocker Steffanie Christi’an and soul exciter Michael Turner. The Detroit rock emcee Volcano will host, and DJ Ray 7 of Underground Resistance will fill in the sonic gaps. Nadir and his band were invited to be the subjects of this showcase after executives at Antelope Audio were introduced to his high-energy performing style. Continue reading
Friday, November 14 was a night full of surprises as Nadir, Christopher Spooner, DJ Ray 7, and Volcano visited the CaveRadio studios and appeared on the show Big and Bigger.
The fellas talked about Nadir’s Electric Lounge, discussed their favorite war movies, and played a few funky tunes including an unexpected and highly unorthodox rap battle between Volcano and some random dude from the bar next door. Hilarity ensues…
Click HERE to LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE SHOW ON PODCAST
Or check out a clip of the guys’ performance below.
Post by Alan Isaacson.<
By NADIR
PUBLISHED: JUNE 24, 2014
For the first time in a very long time, I’m in multiple bands, and I’m actually performing with five different groups at the moment. Besides my own funk band (billed as Nadir), which has been my main gig for the past decade or so, I’m the rhythm guitarist and musical director for rock phenomenon Steffanie Christi’an, MD and bassist for rock-R&B singer Michael Turner, and bassist for blues Americana singer-songwriter Joe Jaber.
It’s difficult to pigeonhole Detroit musician and producer Nadir Omowale into a specific genre. Jazz, funk, soul, rock and many other genres influence in his music. Out of that eclectic mix, Nadir has successfully crafted full-time career in the industry.
You’re originally from Elizabethton, Tennessee, went to Nashville for college and moved to Detroit in 1999. How has it been different living and working in the Detroit scene?
I was in Nashville playing my original music, which is funk-rock-soul based. Unfortunately at that particular time, it was really difficult to gain any traction in Nashville with that kind of music. I happened to meet a young lady who worked at the Nashville Ford plant. We took a liking to each other and she became my wife, Akanke. Before we made that decision she said, “You know, at some point I’m going to have to move to Detroit,” and I said, “Well I can make music in Detroit.” Moving here actually has turned out to be fantastic for my music career. I was raised on that Detroit sound, and it really was an opportunity to come home musically. As people in Detroit heard me play, they really embraced me and my music.
Nadir Omowale’s recording studio and rehearsal space is nestled in a nondescript building on Grand Boulevard west of New Center. You wouldn’t know it from looking at it, but inside houses some of the most important techno artifacts and memorabilia in the world. Rare record pressings hang on the same wall as the original machines Detroit’s architects of techno used to create a whole new genre of music. There’s a by-appointment-only record store underground, too.
The fact that Nadir’s musical operation is based here may strike some as odd, seeing as Nadir – a songwriter, bassist, and bandleader among other things – describes his own music as a fusion of soul, funk, and rock. After all, what does electronic music and live music have in common?
In early June, Nadir and the band converged on the legendary Studio A at WDET radio in Detroit for a live recording and interview on Ann Delisi’s Essential Music. The band fired off smoking versions of “Daddy’s Cane” (from Nadir’s award-winning debut Distorted Soul 2.0) and “Go It Alone” (from 2012’s critically acclaimed disc The Book of Jonah). Click the player below to hear, share or download the performance and interview.
Players:
Nadir – vocals, guitar, interviewee
Tasha Lord – vocals
Steve Caldwell – guitar, vocals
Christopher Spooner – bass, vocals
Jeff Rebrovich – keyboards
Raphael Merriweathers, Jr. – percussion, vocals
Jason Bonaquist – drums
Ann Delisi – host
Alex Trajano – engineer
Nicole Fritz – 2nd engineer, editor
