WE ARE WORLDWIDE: OOMAN X WORLDWIDE MAGAZINE
ANDYOMO: Hi Ooman, can we start by telling our readers a little about yourself? Your name, your age, where you’re from, and how long you’ve been here in New York City?
Ooman: I’m Ooman. I’m 25. And I’m a Bronx Native.
Love that. And how long have you been rapping?
For about 6-7 years seriously.
And is this something that you always knew you wanted to do? Or how did you get started with that?
Yeah, I always knew I wanted to be an artist when I was little. I imagined myself being a pop star and the rapping thing kind of happened out of nowhere. I kind of started rapping on a track one day after making songs that were all like pop, synth pop, like vocals. And I was like, “Damn I love my voice –"I need to start rapping.” I’ve always loved rap and I’ve always written raps. But I was like “Oooh maybe I’ll be a ghostwriter for a rapper or something.” I never saw myself as a rapper. I also wanted to produce. So, I would produce my tracks and sing over them. And rap over them. So, I’ve been doing it for a while, but I just started trying to create my brand and move forward with it professionally, I think in the last three years or so.
In those three years just to clarify, you’ve been solely rapping or focusing on producing and rapping?
Here and there. I feel the new music I’m about to release I’m going to start trying to incorporate more hooks and choruses and put some vocal elements in there. I don’t want to just rap, I want to write songs. And tell the story. I love both equally. It is so much fun to be a rapper. The aesthetic is so fun.
It’s the freedom of being able to do what you want which is awesome.
Yeah and talk about whatever.
That’s awesome though, I loved that. Can you talk a little bit more about how you incorporate storytelling into your work personally?
Yeah, I feel for my second single which was more like my debut because it hit a lot harder. MISS GOT ROCKS. I remember this was like 2021, I was unemployed. It was giving the pandemic ran through. I needed to somehow find some inspiration to get back into making music. Pre-pandemic I was DJing and I was producing, and I felt very tapped into being an artist. Then the pandemic happened, and I lost all motivation. I felt that summer that I was going to force myself to write songs and tell stories. So, I wrote MISS GOT ROCKS. Literally, just from the phrase, MISS GOT ROCKS. My friend’s grandmother said it randomly. I was like “No, I need to write something about this character.” ‘Cause it sounds like “Yeah, she got money.” What does that feel like to me? Going to the club in NY? And wishing I was wealthy and opulent. Feeling like money. What does that feel like? And then I wrote it like super quickly in my room on GarageBand and even the demo track too. It is so sexy, and it sounds so different from the finished version. And I was able to send it to this producer I love called Boo Boo. Yeah, she helped me elevate the track and put it out.
That’s awesome. It’s awesome to kind of see, first of all, the birth of being able to have the inspiration to do something when quite frankly the entire world went through [the pandemic] at the same time. And then also having those fantasies and kind of painting that picture. It always reminds me of Rihanna saying, “If you ain’t there yet, you fake it until you make it” because quite frankly it is manifestation.
Exactly. That’s what it was for me. And I feel like that song opened up portals for me, like seriously. It made me realize that “Okay I’m committed to this. This is what I’m doing. It was my first self-funded video. So, I got a team together and I was like “Damn I’m really an artist. Period.”
Period.
I felt so affirmed and I was like, “Yeah I am MISS GOT ROCKS.” *laughs*
I love that, and I think from a reader’s point of view, there’s going to be people coming from all sorts of backgrounds in terms of how long they’ve been doing it too and how long they’ve been interested in their field. And to hear you produce your music and to hear you produce the music video, those are things that people need to know that they can do. You know?
Yeah.
Put together a team and go on GarageBand and start working on some stuff because you can do it. Like anybody can do it.
Anybody can do it. Seriously.
I like that MISS GOT ROCKS is truly inspiring in that sense. That’s awesome. Growing up, did you have any favorite artists that inspired your love for music and eventually helped lead to your personal music style?
Definitely. When I first started thinking about making music, I was synth pop-inspired and there’s this album–I’m more of an album person–There was this album by Solange called True EP. It was produced by Devonte Hynes from Blood Orange who I’m obsessed with. I love his style of producing. And I think he’s just so fucking cool. I feel like that laid a foundation for me. I started making electronic music from listening to that early on. Other artists, who I’m obsessed with? Hmmm… Missy Elliot.
Period.
I fucking love her. I love her style. I love the way she raps. I think Aaliyah’s early work, her albums that are produced by Timbaland. They go crazy. I am just obsessed with the way that she harmonizes her hooks. So, I would listen to a lot of that music. And I have so many more. I can’t even name them all. I also love dub and reggae and the way that they produce. I’m interested in production. I feel like if something is produced really well, I’m all over it.
I feel that. Leading into our next question, talking a little bit about your creative process. Would you say that you start with a lyric or a sound, or would you start with a full verse? What does the creative process look like for you?
Yeah, I feel like when I first started making music, it was a production thing. I would just be producing. I was just trying to learn, and I was self-taught. I was teaching myself how things work together and what I like. I had a lot of curveballs thrown at me because I didn’t know how to do it. So, I would have to Youtube everything. But it would be coming from a sound place at that time but now I feel it’ll randomly just come to me like lyrics will come to me in the shower. I’ll be like, “I needa build a beat around this.” But I do feel like the process for me is not very linear in that I work which could get me into trouble sometimes. But I’ll start working on a song then I’ll scrap it later. If a producer comes to me and says, “Hey, I have a beat,” then I’ll jump on it. If I like how it sounds, I pair it with that verse. There are so many verses tucked away in my phone, written in the notes app. They’re going to turn into a project eventually.
Right! No, that’s awesome that you’re not throwing them away. You know what I mean? You’re not just like “Oh this doesn’t work for right now, so it’s no good. No, this is still you, this is still your storytelling and the way that you’re inspired by it. So, it will have its time. That’s really cool, I love that. Who do you create for when you’re writing music? What is it you want people to feel when they’re listening to your music?
I create for myself. I create for my identity and expression as a black queer artist for sure. I feel like a lot of my music is very rooted in affirming that existence, and affirming joy and affirming feeling like a bad bitch and feeling like anything is possible. Because I feel like there’s just so much telling us that we can’t do things or so many barriers in the way of what feels like just basically making success feel unattainable and I feel like it’s so important to reimagine what success looks like and redefine it. I feel like that’s why it makes me feel like me.
I think that’s a great answer. I think you said it well. Especially for black and brown queer babes. There’s this idea that you have to work 10x as harder to get there. And you know what the reality is? Most of the time we do but it doesn’t mean we can’t do it though which is important. And that’s what makes it even more special when we do, you know? So that’s awesome to hear. Kind of talking a little about being a black and queer creative in today’s world, how would you say you stay positive in your creative journey in being a musician but also just existing?
I try to enjoy life.
Period.
I try to remind myself that it’s not a rat race. If it’s for you, it’s going to be for you. Period. I have to remind myself that all the time that it’s not just about reaching goals all the time. Or reaching milestones. It’s about enjoying your life and being happy. Work can’t exist before you. You have to exist before the work. I feel like that’s how I stay positive. Sometimes I have to put music down. Just take a moment and be a person and think about just hanging with my friends. Just having a pleasure-filled life. That’s how the best work comes out. People think that it’s the tortured artists that the best work comes out of that. I honestly feel the best work comes out of being happy.
Right, just having fun and being authentic. That’s what we signed up for in the first place right?
Exactly.
So not losing that is important. Kind of talking about what you were saying. Do you have any other outlets outside of music that helps bring you back to yourself? Are any other creative outlets or anything specifically that you know gets you going again?
I like to draw. Yeah, I like to draw. I like to just write. I love cooking. Sometimes I feel like that would randomly inform me of making music too, in a way that I can’t explain. But it’s just like all the elements, all the mixing like all the–I get to like– that kind of grounds me. I’m creative even when I’m cooking.
Great. It’s a mindset, right?
Yeah.
No, that’s cool. Okay, kind of talking a little bit again about this industry being so competitive. What has it been like trying to find your space as a young, black female performer?
It’s been difficult. I feel like it’s always like–I think I can get into my head sometimes and I feel that’s where you can fuck yourself up. It is a competitive industry and you do have to compete, but I honestly feel–I think I try to think of making good work that feels effortless– that comes from a good place like I don’t–I don’t want to be a machine. I have no desire to do that. And it comes back to me redefining success. I don’t feel like you have to compete. Your biggest competitor is yourself. I feel I bring it back to this whole time to think about what is it that I want out of this craft as an experience. Do I want to be a master at my work? Yes, I want to feel meaningful relationships with people. Work with artists who I love and who love their work. I try to think about it like that then just think about the numbers because inevitably feel like the numbers will come and everything will end up materializing. So, I try to just think about the meat and potatoes of it, the substance of it so I don’t get fucked up in the head about the competition or the allusion to competition.
Right, it is true. It is an allusion that has quite frankly been painted on, especially as black or female creatives. It’s-It’s not even unfortunate. It’s unfair you know.
It is.
And it’s one of those things–I think you said it beautifully–it isn’t a competition other than expanding your journey and your talents and your peace you know? I think WORLDWIDE is trying hard to do its part in not playing a part in the industry's hunger for intercommunal competition. Closing down the gatekeeping because there’s no reason why we all can’t just succeed?
That’s facts.
I think you said it which is important about just the numbers will come and until then know that your journey has touched someone's life. Even if that meant just touching your own life. At the end of the day, you love to be doing this and like you got to just trust and enjoy that right? But that’s awesome. I think community plays a really big role in just discovering yourself as an artist.
I think so too. I love this community so much. I also feel like everywhere I go, it’s a priority of mine to build a community like seriously. I think it’s so important. I think it’s so fucking important. *laughs* There’s strength in numbers.
Right, honestly. It’s nice to know too that like maybe these people we’re in the communities with aren't in the exact same industries as we are in but to see the work that they put into their own art, to see the struggle they go through, to see the power, the passion, it’s inspiring you know?
It’s so fucking inspiring.
I think that’s the beauty of letting go of that competitive spirit a little bit, you know?
Yeah, we can all do this together. I get blown away by the people in this community like the DJs in New York City, the producers, the artists who are doing their thing. I get blown away. I love going to DJ sets. I love going to people’s shows. That’s fun for me like yes, I’m trying to do that I’m trying to plan.
I love it. I love it. I’m so excited about that. Okay moving towards the end of our interview, what is the best advice that you can give to young, black, and brown creatives who are starting out in the art industry?
Hmmmm…Oh my God…my voice. *laughs* I would say– Oh God, I’m going to sound so cliché.
Do it. Sound cliché.
I would say develop a practice. Seriously. Whatever that looks like. It doesn’t have to be so serious. People are just like, “Yes do it every day.” But you don’t have to do it every day. Do it when you feel compelled to do it. Start building a practice from that place of like, “Ooooh I have this desire.” I really feel like that’s important.
Yeah, no that’s well said, and I don’t think it’s as cliché as you think. You know what I mean? People need to hear it in the way that you said it too. When we think consistency, people think omg I got to spend every minute of my life doing this. No, you got to spend every minute that you’re drawn to do something.
Exactly.
Yeah, that’s what makes it enjoyable right?
Yeah!
Right? Would you say that you have found purpose through your music or your artistic expression?
Absolutely. I would definitely say that I have found purpose. I think that my purpose is multifaceted. I am an artist. I am a lover. I’m a friend. I’m a community member. I’m a family member. But I feel like what I do in music is always the catalyst for those connections.
Right and then talking about something that you brought up earlier…success. How would you define your success? I’m not talking about numbers or what that society defines as success, but your own version of success.
My version of success is contribution and also what I receive. A healthy balance of that.
That’s good.
So, what do I put in, and what do I get out of being equal and being level?
I like that. Ok last questions: How can we create more space, representation, inclusivity, and diversity in an industry for black and brown creatives?
We need to all get paid. I feel like it’s deeper than money sometimes. I feel like larger institutions that are employing black creatives are like “Okay this is inclusivity.” People need to get paid. People need to– like I’m talking deep royalty payments. People need to get paid. Like seriously. I think that’s the best way to do it because once people have resources then it can trickle down and pay other people and it can be a cycle of everybody paying each other and putting each other on for real.
That's tea. Alright, final question. Thank you, Ooman. Thank you for coming on. We really appreciate you. What’s next for you? What can we expect to see from Ooman in the near future?
Well, this June I’m actually dropping this brand-new single. It’s called PWYP. It’s kind of about self-pleasure.
Love it. Love it.
I’m going to be doing a bunch of single rollouts this year as I prepare to release a project next year.
That’s exciting! Well, we cannot wait to see what you come up with. WORLDWIDE will be following the process and we’re just excited to have you as a part of our family.
Yes, I’m so excited to be a part of it.
Well, thank you again. Seriously. Your energy last month at our We Are Worldwide event was so good and I knew that we had to connect, like seriously, you rapping. I really do fuck with good energy and at the end of the day like that’s the story I want to help share. Tell the ones that we can feel. You know what I mean?
Yes, you ate that. You ate this interview.
