Toronto’s oH! Makes His Solo Debut With “The Greatest” Message of All
Toronto-based R&B singer Omar Lunan, now known as oH!, has been an industry veteran for over a decade. From starring on Canadian Idol to playing alongside the likes of Usher, Brandy Norwood, and Ginuwine, oH! who is currently signed to S.O.G. Entertainment Inc.; distributed by Orchard-SONY is now preparing to make his solo debut with his new single “The Greatest,” out now. An eight-song EP is to follow “The Greatest” on Nov. 1, before heading out on a national tour, bringing his distinct and memorable musical stylings to audiences across the country.
The singer’s voice glides across jumpy electronic synths on “The Greatest,” declaring his love for his subject with unabashed enthusiasm. The track blends his signature R&B style with catchy, pop sensibilities to create a listening experience worth remembering.
“To have and to hold from this day forward,
I want you in my life
for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer
I’ll be right by your side”
— “The Greatest”
“I’ve always wanted that full, life-long, fulfilling, heart-bursting, transcendent love that everyone desires in this life. The only way to get there was to write it, and believe that I was capable of it,” oH! says of “The Greatest.” “The more I forgive my own misgivings, the more I let go, the more space was created for the deepest, most fulfilling love I always wanted.”
The theme of love in oH!’s music traces back to the impact of hearing Whitney Houston’s rendition of “The Greatest Love of All” when he was a child, “I still remember the feeling of hitting the note ‘G’ — those high notes as a seven-year-old… I always wanted that feeling of elation. I knew it was a song about love, but I didn’t find meaning until I was older and experienced the word first-hand. I love ‘love.’ There’s nothing more amazing than it.”
“If the sun and stars were falling’ from the sky
All that matters in this world is you and I”
— “The Greatest”
In creating “The Greatest,” Lunan aimed to capture the emotional response that infatuation elicits and bottle it up into the form and structure of a song.
“If you remember the first time you fell in love — with anything or anyone, the rush of oxytocin… slight euphoria and the break of a smile while the memories all come rushing in. This is what I was hoping for with writing the song.”
oH!’s extensive background in the music industry spans from performing on “Sesame Street” as a child to his time in the major label-signed group “The Show,” who performed with artists such as Usher, Ginuwine, and 98 Degrees. He has also spent time performing as a resident vocalist at the Dazzling Lounge’s “Live Thursdays” alongside resident band “The Recipee.” Collectively, they’ve earned opportunities to perform or tour with acts such as Tank, Brandy Norwood, Justin Timberlake, Daniel Caesar, Deborah Cox, and Mya. oH! solidified his presence in the local Toronto music scene after his time competing on Canadian Idol.
oH!’s blending of genres, heartfelt lyrical material, and deep understanding of both musicianship and the music industry define him as an artist on the precipice of great solo success. If “The Greatest” is just the start of oH!’s solo musical endeavors, listeners are in for a treat.
Hi, oH! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers?
Hi readers! Glad you took a moment to stop in and read about my story. I promise this journey is only going to get more fun from here!
The lyrics of “The Greatest” express a deep, transcendent love. Can you share more about the personal experiences or emotions that inspired the song?
Everyone wants to experience the kind of love that makes you forget about everything else going on in your life. Whether you have experienced it or not. I know expressing love at the highest level is one of the most beautiful feelings. I wanted to put something in music form that just felt good and could be played at a wedding or sang terribly to a partner without losing the sentiment.
After years in the industry, how does releasing your solo debut feel compared to your earlier experiences as part of a group like “The Show”?
I learned very early with “The Show” that the real ‘glitz & glamour’ of the industry is in the work; countless hours writing, rehearsing, and honing your craft is just the beginning. Recording, practicing, and understanding how to capture someone’s heart through their ears is a very challenging skill. You haven’t even put on a piece of fancy clothing yet or spoken about the business part of music. Disciplined consistency is what makes good artists great and builds legacies. I’m just learning now that the work is only beginning. As a solo artist, it feels weird because I never wanted to “stand out”, since each of us contributed to the unit in our own unique way. However, I have always been an artist who sits in the pocket of humble pie, and my mentor reminded me that “being humble” for the umpteenth time, “… if you don’t toot your own horn, no one will hear it…”. I played the tuba in high school, so now I’m preparing for the proverbial international brass solo debut.
You’ve performed with some major names like Usher and Ginuwine. What did you learn from those experiences, and how have they influenced your solo career?
What I’ve learned was how to critique myself and feel like hell when someone famous really DOES the thing you want to do VERY well. Seriously, the shows are always exciting to watch, but sobering because you see just how much work goes into it all and how effortlessly these icons do it. I think part of me was comfortable feeling like I was a good “background singer” for some of the people I supported like Deborah Cox because it was safe – not too out there, but the vocal support was clear and necessary for certain shows (like for her induction in the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame 2022). I’ve realized now that support IS just as important as any other band piece. And there’s nothing background about singing on stage… especially if you’re off-key and everyone can hear it. I’ve definitely learned to be ready at any given time for my performances because you never know who’s watching… or scouting for their next show.
As someone who’s been part of the Toronto music scene for years, what are your thoughts on how the R&B landscape in Canada has grown and evolved?
There are a few lenses I’ve realized. Firstly, Canada is leading the charts in Black Music. Drake, The Weeknd, Party Next Door, DVSN, Justin Bieber, Daniel Caesar… we’ve been giving our best talent to the international stage for decades. The fact that our diet for it in Canada is lean, isn’t good or bad, it just is. It’s like making the best burger but the majority of the country is vegan. Worse for smaller artist genres like Reggae, who (with the same analogy) would be akin to fish sticks – not many still consume them, but those who do think it’s kind of alright every now and again. Canada’s musical identity based on the demographic is Country, Rock, Classic Rock, and Adult Contemporary. You’re a fool to think you can SOLELY have a thriving career in music here without doing these genres. Hence, why all of our superstars leave. It’s great cultivating ground, but not fertile enough to grow year-round (like our seasonal crops).
Also, I’ve watched mentors like Glenn Lewis, Jully Black, Kardinall Offishall, etc. struggle for recognition in their own country and acquire funding for their art for years, only for a well-needed, overdue census in 2022 by the Canadian Live Music Association to highlight that, “If IBPOC workers and artists currently in the community earned the same as their white counterparts, they would add $202.2 million to the industry’s annual contribution to GDP. In total, the “missing” GDP contribution of missing IBPOC people and missing wages is an estimated $273.5 million.”(Canadian Live Music Assoc., “Closing The Gap”, 2022). We leave because the grass IS greener in the country south of us that has the population and demographic appetite for Black Music, but also where we know fiscally the respect for our contributions is there financially as well. I do hope we can find ways to grow our talent here and invite the world, which is embracing Black Music as “Pop” now, to see it in our backyard so our incredible IBPOC artists can thrive at home.