Q&A: Diana Omar Transports You With Her Voice and Melodies in “sentimentalist in chaos”
☆ BY Marilù Ciabattoni ☆
SENTIMENTALIST IN CHAOS — who identifies with such a definition? I’m sure many of us can relate to what singer-songwriter Diana Omar is talking about. The artist began releasing music in 2021, with her debut singles “Never Wanted You to Let Go” and “Silent,” followed by “Reality” and “Image That” in 2022. Last year, she released “Bring Me Down” and “ribbons,” followed by her debut EP, CAUTIOUS.
Omar has just closed a year full of successful releases with her latest single, “sentimentalist in chaos.” Offering chills from start to finish, the minimalistic arrangement and Omar’s sweet voice is transporting.
Hoping to continue releasing new music into the new year, Omar took the time to answer a few questions for Luna. Read the interview below as she chats about how her music has changed recently, where she sees her music going in the near future, and what inspired “sentimentalist in chaos.”
LUNA: Introduce yourself. How and when was your musical persona born?
OMAR: Diana Omar is me, or more importantly my inner monologue. It all started when I was 13 and improvising my piano repertoire instead of practicing in a classical setting. I mostly play by ear, so I used to learn my songs by ear but would get in trouble. It’s honestly so bad because I still have trouble sight-reading. From there, I kept experimenting with different melodies and adding lyrics occasionally. Flash forward three years when I was 16 and in the midst of studying for the SAT. I really wanted a study break and was home alone, so I decided to write a song on the piano. This song eventually became my first single, “Never Wanted You to Let Go.”
I remember calling my mom when she was at work to ask if I could record the song. We found one of the local recording studios and booked a two-hour recording session. I was so nervous about it — I literally made sheet music for the piano arrangement. When I was finished with the … session, the producer told me about DistroKid, a website that distributes your music to all streaming platforms. Little did I know that this would open up a new world for me — I was hooked.
LUNA: How has your music changed within the past few years?
OMAR: My music is constantly evolving, even right now. I would say now that I’ve learned more about producing, I can convey my musical thoughts a lot better than two years ago when I started releasing songs. I’ve been experimenting with genres as well, fusing disco and pop with “Reality” and now really leaning [in] to this indie-rock/bedroom pop sound.
I also think my lyricism has evolved a lot since coming to college. Educating myself has opened up a new part of my mind I have never encountered before — I am able to use what I’ve been learning to actually tell a story. A lot of my songs are inspired by literature classes. I have a habit of writing my best songs when I’m procrastinating writing an essay.
LUNA: Who inspired your music? Who are your biggest influences?
OMAR: I would say that my music is inspired by a combination of so many people. It’s kind of hard to pinpoint who exactly inspired my style because I put together different pieces of art that I like. Growing up in a Hispanic and Middle Eastern household, I am surrounded by so many different cultural sounds. However, I am always inspired by the independent artists around me who are killing it!
LUNA: Could you introduce your favorite singles you've released so far?
OMAR: My favorite single I’ve released so far is “Bring Me Down.” It is a track that I produced myself during a time of major transformation in my life. I also love the beachy summer vibes the instruments give — it makes me miss the lack of warm weather at the moment. This isn’t a single, but I would say my favorite song I’ve ever released is “mankind.”
LUNA: How did you develop your indie-pop style? Will you experiment with other genres in the future?
OMAR: I think the style I currently have took a lot of trial and error. It’s honestly hard to find an exact style that matches my voice and that I personally like. I definitely hope to continue experimenting with other genres in the future. Although I’m leaning into the indie-pop sound at the moment, I have some unreleased R&B tracks that I love.
LUNA: Let's talk about "sentimentalist in chaos.” What inspired the song, and how did it come to life?
OMAR: “Sentimentalist in chaos” is inspired by one of the classes I took this past fall at Yale. It was actually a class I wasn’t even supposed to take, but all of the first-year seminars and English classes were full. Yale has something called distributional requirements, which are essentially gen-eds to be promoted to the next year. I wanted to get my writing credit done this semester, so I only had two options for classes: Memory and Memoir in Russian Culture and some other class on an author I’ve never heard of. Regardless, I ended up loving the class.
One day, they were talking about Viktor Shklovsky, an author who wrote about his experiences in the Soviet Union. One of my classmates described him as a “sentimentalist in chaos,” someone who feels in a time of immense turmoil. I immediately wrote the phrase down and the lyrics started flowing out of me. The rest is history.
LUNA: Who produces your tracks, and how do you choose which producers to work with? Do you have some dream producers you'd like to work with?
OMAR: Sometimes I produce my own tracks, but I currently work with a producer who wishes to remain anonymous. He is amazing at what he does, and maybe one day I will reveal who he is if he wants me to. I usually start off sending a rough semi-produced track with vocals and adlibs. Then he receives it and adds his magic touch. As for dream producers, I would love to work with Jack Antonoff or Dan Nigro one day.
LUNA: How are you balancing your schoolwork with your music career?
OMAR: I’m a full-time mechanical engineering student at Yale. Music for me is more of an escape from my daily life. After a long day of studying, I always open up Logic Pro and start either making a beat or whispering harmonies into my laptop. My residential college has a recording studio, so once I have enough of an idea, I book the studio and sing my heart out. In a way, my music and academics reinforce each other. As a STEM student who is also right-brained, songwriting is an opportunity to fulfill that part of my mind with creativity.
LUNA: Have you ever been on tour?
OMAR: I have never been on tour but would love to one day. Right now, I don’t think I have the capacity to balance school, internships, and touring, but I hope to play a few live shows here and there.
LUNA: Who's your dream feature?
OMAR: My dream feature would be Clairo.
LUNA: Where do you see yourself in one year as a musician?
OMAR: Still doing what I do — I hope to continue writing songs and putting them out for the world to see. A debut album sounds a bit ambitious, but I do promise at the very least multiple singles. Music is my escape from reality, so whether it be songwriting or dusting off my instruments, it will always play an integral part in my life.
