Based in Los Angeles, Omar Velasco is an accomplished singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who draws inspiration from a range of artists, including Stevie Wonder, Milton Nascimento, Mercedes Sosa and folk luminaries like Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Silvio Rodriguez.
Omar honors the sounds of the past while conjuring his own eclectic and distinctive blend of multicultural musical flavor. Born to a Jewish American father and Mexican mother, he proudly represents the richness of his upbringing in his music.
A captivating performer, Omar has collaborated and toured with acclaimed artists such as Jonathan Wilson, Jim James and My Morning Jacket, Poolside, and Father John Misty. He has performed on iconic stages such as Red Rocks, Ohana Music Festival, Lobero Theater Santa Barbara, The Fillmore, The Troubadour, and many stages across Europe and the world.
Omar’s upcoming album, Like the Fruit Falls from the Tree, is a reflection of his journey through heartbreak, loss, and new beginnings. It's a testament to his talent as an artist and his ability to turn life's challenges into something truly beautiful and meaningful.
Early in 2022, Omar found himself in a whirlwind of major life changes. Within a matter of months, he saw the birth of his son, the death of his father, and the dissolution of his critically acclaimed band, Amo Amo, all amidst the strains of a global pandemic. The tumult compelled the singer-songwriter to dive headlong into his art… and look to the trees for answers.
It was a job with a fruit tree care company that triggered his rebirth and reconnected him with his purpose in life and art after ingesting and feeding off of the energy of the fruit-bearing trees. He was struck by the inherent grace and generosity of these stoic beings, and how they are exemplars of meaningful, interconnected life. “The purpose of our existence is in what we offer and what fruits we bring to bear,” says Omar. The songs that then emerged, all within a matter of weeks, felt very much like fruits fallen from a musical tree; freely given and gratefully received. He then reached out to his longtime friend and collaborator, acclaimed producer Jonathan Wilson, to help translate the songs into a rich, beautiful and nuanced album.
Emerging from the confluence of life’s challenges, Omar Velasco comes ready to share his journey with the world. Like the Fruit Falls from the Tree, his second LP, which drops September 28th, 2023 on Inner Cult Records, is the fruit born from a steadfast faith in the generous, redemptive nature of music and of the creative act.
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Doors: 6:00pm
Show: 7:00pm
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