Today we’d like to introduce you to Asha Omega.
Hi Asha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My first love was neo-soul and R&B, with my mother always listening to artists such as Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, though I had no way of truly understanding what they were singing about, I knew it was powerful, intentional, and soul-bearing, which I appreciated dearly.
Listening to Dangerously in Love on repeat as a child, making my renditions and choreography, I knew I wanted to be a performer. As I grew older, and realized that I didn’t quite have the vocal ability to sing, poetry and story writing became my safe place. Writing kept me grounded and focused and I loved it dearly. When I was in 8th grade, however, is when I wrote my first rap, fully trying to embody Soulja Boy’s group “S.O.D. Money Gang,” whom I was obsessed with. In high school, I performed my first poem talking about the hypocritical nature of cultural appropriation.
However, I released my first song “Exhale” on Soundcloud, which was produced by Space Snow, may he rest in power. He was the first person to ever send me a beat and allowed me to express myself in that way and that changed my life. I was a frequent open mic-er, watching and embarrassing myself at times. But when I went to Clark Atlanta University, that is where I found my love for the craft with the help of Ocean Baileux, another extremely amazing Chicago creative.
We wrote so many songs and released them, and we even had an article or two written about us in the then-only local Lyrical Lemonade. The biggest catalyst would occur when I came back to Chicago permanently in December of 2017. I performed at what is now the Village Open Mic and immediately became a part of a collective artist development program called Emcee Skool. I learned so many valuable things throughout my time there – things I still use to this day. However, this year, I decided to focus on Asha, the artist and the person who she is all on her own.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would like to say the journey has been rewarding in every way imaginable, but not smooth. Many of the struggles were mainly personal. In therapy, I’ve learned and have fully realized that I have been through so many traumatic things that I never fully processed. I just kept going and showing up in every way, except for myself. Heartbreak, injuries, car accidents, I would show up the next day and get to work, because to me – the work is the contract.
This year, now that I’m curating my events co-curating with others, and doing so many shows, the hardest thing is scheduling time for rest. I work in retail full-time in management, so balancing that with so many shows, studio sessions, writing sessions, meetings, and honestly just taking time to just exist – has been extremely difficult.
November and December have been the easiest because I limited my bookings and allowed myself time to just handle what I know I can without burning myself out. I’ve been blessed to have amazing relationships with amazing people, so being able to say, “No, I can’t do this on this date,” and being given grace has not been an issue.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in hip-hop. That is my joy, my freedom, and my space to be and release. I think my performances and my messages have been the things that have set me apart and catapulted me into a completely different space – which I have never expected. I am a very aggressive and passionate performer, and my voice is a tool that I am not afraid to use.
It’s always funny when someone sees me perform for the first time and is like “I would have never expected for that to come out of you,” or lets me know that messages of self-love, grace, and affirmations are powerful and hit them right in their soul and that it is medicine – which was the intention. I wrote these songs because I needed them, I needed to hear them. Part of the prayer I do before every performance is “May the words I speak touch at least one person in this room. Let me be their voice,” and to see it happen in real-time is… surreal.
I am most proud of being a part of things such as a panel for the MCA 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop event alongside women who have paved the way for so many women like myself, Brittany Carter, Freddie Old Soul, and Psalm One. This is monumental to me. I looked up to these women waaaaay before I even dropped my first project in February, so to now be on a panel with them was surreal. I wanted to cry the entire time I was up there because it was such a full-circle moment for me. Being booked with SoFarSounds was also one of those things where I was like “Wait, what?” I remember being 18, watching SoFarSounds performances saying “One day, I’ll be up there,” and to be there, and being able to bring Victoria Boateng, a fantastic djembe player, with me is amazing.
Being able to use my voice in an entirely different way with publications such as Vocalo, @SouthSideRadio.live, and MemphisVoyager is also amazing, because I tend to be very to myself, and many people don’t get to see this side of me, so being share it is a blessing.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Grace & gratitude. Period. I have made mistakes, made some bad decisions, and have had bad performances, but giving myself the grace to get up and try again, and the gratitude for the experience itself has been the most important. I am grateful for every experience that I have that perspective opens doors more than anything.
Treating every crowd like it’s Coachella, treating every accolade as if it’s a Grammy award because they are all so important. To have the privilege of having a gift, to be able to reach people, to be a voice for people, is a responsibility that I do not take likely.
They could’ve said no, they could’ve booked anyone else, they could’ve listened to anyone else. But for some reason, they appreciate and love me. And for that, I am forever grateful and will continue to show up with my best foot forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: beacons.ai/ashaomega
- Instagram: instagram.com/theashaomega
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashaomegamusic
- Youtube: youtube.com/channel/UCfqbwoxgc5Hc0KvJ5ovsRAQ
Image Credits
Christopher “ThoughtPoet”, Brown Paul, Araki Elliott, Amanda SW Hall, and Mastermind Bartholomew Miller
