February 8, 2024
You might follow him for his superlative sense of style, his taste in music or his ever-growing career in acting.
However, we were lucky enough to sit down and talk to @omarcashmer .
We peeled back the layers with Omar, an artist whose style and words resonate beyond pixels and headlines.
Our conversation was a raw, unfiltered dive into art, culture, and the very threads of society.
Omar, thank you for your transparency, for choosing the truth and for
sharing it.
You’re not ready for this.
الفن بيموت؟
I support art, and all that leads up to it. It is my purpose, I realized that as soon as I started directing my energy towards art, and accepting that everyone has a vision, a reason why they do things the way they do, and that there is so much I can learn from everyone I cross paths with.
I believe that every artist should should seek out ways to present their skills and express their vehemence for art; social media could be one way to go about that.
It is sad that our culture is not highlighted, but rather overshadowed.
I often wonder why Egypt is not portrayed the way it truly is, and often modified for a better “aesthetic.”
I, also, find it dejecting that the young talents are not seen for what they are naturally good at.
لو واحد بيقدم القهوة بطريقة شيك، ليه ماشغلوش بدل ما اجيب حد اعلمه؟
you are your past.
Before you get mad, why shy away from your past?
Your background shapes your artistic tendencies and inclination.
You are you because of your background.
This is what I communicate through my platform.
I met plenty of people that actively hide their roots, and I do try to lead by example.
I’m open about my origins, and I think I represent 80% of Egyptians.
We need to have the courage to be true to ourselves in a very judgmental society.
احنا عايشين فى انكار للذات
You see a lot of celebrities doing it to save face, and manipulate the public’s perception of their lifestyle.
Yet, do people really find happiness and a collective sense of community as they attempt fitting into moulds?
هنعمل ايه ٣١/١٢ ؟
I generally hate questions that come from a place of pressure induction for one to fit into “the” mould.
For context, I spend new year’s eve with friends, at home.
We paint, we eat, we have a hearty laugh together.
And I also explored socially approved ways of having fun.
Do you find it surprising that I genuinely didn’t find them as enjoyable?
I am a firm believer that people find joy in the simpler lives they try to escape.
Wealth is relative. I find it in a self-expressive bedroom and an urge to harvest my own produce.
It is essentially important to not fall into the trap of achieving society’s dreams and matching up to their perception of success & happiness.
متنجحش لحد
فى واحد بيحب يكسل، لو مبسوط و عرف ينجح من البيت - ايه المشكلة؟
لية اكبر دماغى؟
I’m lucky to have a growing social media presence, and in a sense, انا بتذاكى على الفن عشان اوصله.
I seek out what people are interested in, to push the art and ventures that need to be explored and heard.
The young are judged and hated on, to the point where advice and direction simply no longer work for them.
I publish what I think will simply find its way to their subconscious.
مزيكا
Music makes up an immense part of Omar’s identity and career.
Besides creating his own, he finds pleasure in sharing his favorite hits, attending gigs, and we’ve asked him about some of his current favorites.
Who to listen to?
Omar told us all about a gig he recently attended at Cairo Jazz Club, and expressed his admiration for Habibi Funk &
Ramez Naguib.
اختار اعبائك
The older you grow, the more the responsiblities you would have to take up.
You will wake up and your job will feel like a huge burden to carry.
It will frustrate you and break you sometimes.
Choose what it is that you have the passion for.
Stay alive.
Be aware of your social media consumption. It is so easy for people to create bogus online personas, activate and deactivate it at a click of a button.
Stay social.
Social ties are extremely important.
Give people second chances. Relationships must be valued at a higher point of perception than that of an easy
“follow” & “unfollow.”
Fame
I choose not to exceed a certain threshold to fame.
I want to keep on enjoying the Cairo life, without people recognizing me.
I don’t want to build a life outside Egypt. I want those who know me to have solid hope for building a happy life where they were born, and that art is for everyone, if you have the eye for it.
I tame myself against materialism.
I am sticking to the culture.
I hope that art would present people, friendships, rather than viscerally traumatizing people with violence.