All Of It: Omar’s Latest Album 'Brighter The Days' – A Detailed Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: All Of It
• Host: Alison Stewart
• Guest: Omar
• Episode: Omar’s Latest Album 'Brighter The Days' (A Listening Party)
• Release Date: July 21, 2025
• Description: ALL OF IT is a show about culture and its consumers, aiming to engage thinkers, doers, makers, and creators in discussions about their work and its cultural impact.

1. Introduction and Episode Overview

The episode begins with Alison Stewart welcoming listeners to "All Of It" and introducing the guest, Omar, a renowned UK soul singer. The episode serves as a listening party for Omar's latest album, Brighter The Days. Alison provides a brief overview of Omar's illustrious career, highlighting his debut album, collaborations with prominent artists like Angie Stone, Erykah Badu, Stevie Wonder, and his recognition by the British Monarchy in 2012 as a member of the Order of the British Empire.

Notable Quote:

Alison Stewart [01:10]: “The song you just heard was called This Thing Called Life, the opening track from the UK soul singer Omar's latest album, Brighter the Days. He calls the 18-track project his magnum opus, a culmination of decades of musical exploration and growth.”

2. Omar’s Career and 'Brighter The Days'

Omar reflects on his career spanning over 40 years and nine studio albums. He expresses pride in Brighter The Days, describing it as a significant milestone that represents his continuous evolution as an artist.

Notable Quote:

Omar [02:08]: “I feel really proud of the piece. Like as you said, it's 40 years in the business, nine albums isn't something to be shy about. So yeah, I had fun doing it and yeah, it just feels like another achievement, another part of the evolution.”

3. Impact of the Pandemic on the Album

The conversation delves into how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the creation of Brighter The Days. Omar discusses the challenges of social distancing, the inability to perform live, and the emotional turmoil during that period. He utilized this time to set up a live-streaming studio and channel his creativity into music that would serve as therapy for himself and his listeners.

Notable Quote:

Omar [02:34]: “A lot of it was written during the pandemic, so we were going through all the problems of, you know, distancing, social distancing... I set up my studio in a way to live stream from there. But then I also just got into being creative and just making music that I thought was going to be sort of like a therapy...”

4. Thematic Exploration of 'Brighter The Days'

The album's title, Brighter The Days, signifies hope and optimism emerging from dark times. Omar explains that the title track, written by his friend Vanessa Simon, encapsulates this sentiment. He emphasizes the album's purpose to uplift and support listeners through challenging periods.

Notable Quote:

Omar [04:02]: “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel... ‘Brighter the Days’... that speaks to my soul. This is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.”

5. Songs Overview

a. This Thing Called Life

As the opening track, Omar chose This Thing Called Life for its grand and expansive sound, likening its impact to "fireworks." He collaborated with Chris Cameron for string arrangements, aiming to set a powerful tone for the album.

Notable Quote:

Omar [03:30]: “It's like fireworks, you know what I mean? So I thought that's a very good way to start the album.”

b. There's so Much Love in the World

This track emerged from a collaborative writing session with friends and epitomizes the theme of love uniting people. Featuring string arrangements inspired by Henry Mancini, the song underscores the importance of love in overcoming divisions.

Notable Quote:

Omar [05:25]: “It's about having love for one another... There's more that unites us than divides us.”

c. On My Own (featuring Paul Weller and Darryl Jones)

Omar shares a nostalgic connection with Paul Weller, his first professional gig partner. The song embodies introspection and self-reliance, featuring contributions from Darryl Jones on drums and Ronnie Fo Cluster on organ.

Notable Quote:

Omar [16:35]: “It was amazing to reunite with him because we hadn't seen each other in a long while... He's the most humblest superstar that I know.”

d. Love is Like (featuring India Ari)

Rolling out as another collaborative effort, this song took Omar 25 years to materialize. India Ari's contribution adds a rich layer to the track, highlighting the enduring nature of love.

Notable Quote:

Omar [18:12]: “We've been trying to work on, get a song together for the last 25 years... She just sounds amazing on there.”

6. Songwriting and Recording Process

Omar elaborates on his songwriting methodology, emphasizing that the music typically precedes the lyrics. His process is fluid, often starting with various instrumental elements like drum beats or melodies. He believes a song is complete when it feels right to him personally, balancing musical complexity with clarity to ensure each element serves the story.

Notable Quote:

Omar [08:58]: “It's always generally 98% the music first, then the lyrics, because the melodies... dictate what the song is going to be about.”

7. Reflections on Music Creation Then and Now

Comparing past and present, Omar reminisces about the live recording sessions of the 80s and 90s, akin to Motown's one-take recordings. He laments the loss of this spontaneous element in modern production but appreciates technological advancements that have streamlined the creative process. Omar acknowledges the ease of creating music today, noting the reduced need for extensive travel and equipment.

Notable Quote:

Omar [10:55]: “The live element... losing that element is a bit sad. But in terms of technology, much easier... everything is on the computer. So that's so much better that way.”

8. Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

As the episode concludes, Alison Stewart expresses gratitude towards Omar for sharing his music and insights. The final tracks played reinforce the album's themes of love, resilience, and personal growth. Omar emphasizes the importance of focusing on positive aspects of life and disregarding negativity, urging listeners to cherish the good.

Notable Quote:

Omar [08:18]: “Life is short. Let's focus on the good stuff, all right?”

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Alison Stewart [01:10]: “The song you just heard was called This Thing Called Life, the opening track from the UK soul singer Omar's latest album, Brighter the Days.”

• Omar [02:08]: “I feel really proud of the piece... another part of the evolution.”

• Omar [02:34]: “A lot of it was written during the pandemic... making music that I thought was going to be sort of like a therapy...”

• Omar [04:02]: “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel... ‘Brighter the Days’ speaks to my soul.”

• Omar [03:30]: “It's like fireworks... a very good way to start the album.”

• Alison Stewart [07:52]: “I have really hung on to this quote that you told the Guardian...”

• Omar [08:18]: “Life is short. Let's focus on the good stuff, all right?”

• Omar [10:55]: “The live element... losing that element is a bit sad. But... everything is on the computer.”

Conclusion

This episode of All Of It provides an intimate glimpse into Omar's creative journey with Brighter The Days. Through heartfelt discussions and exclusive tracks, listeners gain an appreciation for Omar's musical craftsmanship, resilience during challenging times, and unwavering commitment to spreading love and positivity through his art.