INTERVIEW: The Omnis Collective – Their vision is to defeat genre barriers and create unique sounds based on capturing the moment

The Omnis Collective is a group of musicians who come together to express a different side. Their vision is to defeat genre barriers and create unique sounds based on capturing the moment. Currently, the group consist of 2 artists – Nova Wave and TBD. The Omnis Collective seem to have few, if any peers, at delivering diverse soundscapes with dramatic flair on chilled and jangly backdrops. Their musical minds are essentially boundless. They love to defy genres and certainly do that on their latest single, “Leave It Be”.

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how you got started in music?
   

Miguel: We’re based in Manchester, met each other in Primary school, and always had a similar music taste.

Ryan: And then Miguel started making music, and as I was there for a lot of his initial work, I began taking more and more interest in the process.

Miguel: We experimented… musically and chemically, to find the sound we have achieved now, but it took us a while to get here.

2. Why the name The Omnis Collective, and what is the principal idea behind the project?
   

Ryan: Well… it was a late night back in 2016… or 2017 and we needed a name for what was a record label at the time…

Miguel: Oh yeah, we were once a record label… Until we realised it wasn’t for us.

Ryan: But yeah, I googled ‘everyone’ and saw that the Latin translation was ‘Omnis’ and I just thought it was cool.

Miguel: Yeah, it basically means everything and everyone, and our idea was always to be genre diverse, so it just made sense.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences that you can remember?

Miguel: Where do I even start?

Ryan: Yeah… there’s a lot but the first band I ever properly got into was Gorillaz.

Miguel: For me it was Rolling Stones. My dad used to play them in the car and I loved it.

Ryan: If I were to say the first five that come to mind I’d have to say Tame Impala, Led Zeppelin, Mac DeMarco, Frank Ocean and Kid Cudi.

Miguel: I’d have to agree with all of them picks, but to make it fun I’m gonna pick a different five, which would be Slow J, Jimi Hendrix, Wallows, Mac Miller and Dominic Fike.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners?
   

Miguel: For me it’s the vibe each song carries. We’re very diverse, but we’re always raw lyrically, and I think that’s what people can truly connect with.

Ryan: What he said.

5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development and the transition towards your own style?
   

Miguel: Well I started doing solo music, which was very hip hop focused. Along the way I realised I wanted to be more than just a rapper, which is when me and Ryan decided to start this project.

Ryan: I spent a year watching Miguel do his thing, and then I eventually built up the confidence to try, I did, it worked and here I am.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative and entertainment?
   

Miguel: For me music is best when an important message lies behind it. I always try to bring current themes into my lyrics. If you have a voice you should use it.

Ryan: I think it’s a fine line between both points, but you should never force a certain theme upon people.

7. Do you ever write a song with current musical trends, formulas or listener satisfaction in mind, or do you simply focus on your own personal vision and trust that people will empathize with your sound?
   

Miguel: Obviously we want people to like the music we’re making, but we would never make a song we don’t agree with or feel.

Ryan: It’s important to be yourself, but you’ve got to make sure the song as a like-ability factor. Every project starts from our own inspiration, but we wouldn’t release it if we didn’t think it had potential.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Who usually does what, between the two of you?

Miguel: To be quite honest, there’s never one specific way. Sometimes we start by producing a beat, other times we already have a beat produced by somebody else.

Ryan: And there’s the odd time we just write lyrics before producing any kind of instrumental.

9. Where do you record, produce and master most of your work? And do you outsource any of these processes or are you totally self-sufficient technically?
   

Ryan: All our music is recorded in our little studio at Miguel’s house. Miguel handles most of the production and sound engineering, whilst I focus on sounding good and looking handsome. But I do have a good ear, and nobody can tell me otherwise.

Miguel: What he said… I’m constantly studying the art of sound engineering, so where we can complete the work ourselves, we always do.

10. What are some of the most important instruments, tools and elements you use in creating your sound?

Miguel: I feel like with us being such a diverse group, there’s too many instruments and tools to mention, but every song needs a nice melody and a naughty bass.

Ryan: Exactly… Throw some guitars in there and you’ve got a banger.

11. What would you consider a successful, proud or significant point for The Omnis Collective so far?

Ryan: Just everything that’s happened since we released ‘Broke Kids’ in August.

Miguel: It’s crazy to see how well people have reacted to our music. Really does make us feel blessed.

12. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
    

Miguel: To be honest, I haven’t received much hate, but either way we don’t really care. We’re just happy that a lot of people like it.

Ryan: Exactly. Haters gonna hate.

13. Which aspects of being an independent artist excites you most and which aspects discourages you most?
    

Miguel: The freedom is the most encouraging for sure. We get to breakdown every single aspect of our creative process.

Ryan: There is of course the downside of not having as many industry contacts as someone signed to a label, but we don’t mind putting in the work.

14. If someone has never heard The Omnis Collective, which 5 keywords would you personally use to describe what the duo and the music is all about?

Miguel: Psychedelic, diverse…

Ryan: Sexy, energetic and… ermmm…

Miguel: Spiritual?

Ryan: Maybe.

15. Could you tell us something about your latest project, and highlights to look out for in your catalog?

Miguel: Our latest project to be released is called ‘Leave It Be’ and it’s a psychedelic song about leaving things to be the way they are.

Ryan: You should go listen to it! We’re also working on an album but we can’t say too much.

16. Do you have a personal favorite track amongst your compositions that has a specific backstory and/or message and meaning very special to you?
    

Miguel: For me it has to be ‘Broke Kids’. Out of the ones we’ve already released anyway. The lyrics are something that I really connect with, and I love the energy it ended with.

Ryan: Leave It Be for me, I loved writing it, and the finished project is better than I could have hoped for.

17. Creative work in studio environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excite you most and why?
    

Miguel: Well considering the current situation, interaction with a live audience is a dream right now.

Ryan: Yep. We had so much planned that went out the window, but we’re working on something for the near future.

18. How essential do you think visuals are in relation to your music? Do you have a video you would suggest fans see, to get a better understanding of your craft?
    

Miguel: No music video as of yet, but you can expect some amazing visuals with the album.

Ryan: Although we have a sexy lyric video for ‘Broke Kids’.

19. Do you have a favorite motto, phrase or piece of advice, you try to live or inspire yourself by?
    

Miguel: Off the top of my head, one of my favourite quotes is “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

Ryan: I like that, so I’ll say the same.

20. What do you find most rewarding about what you do? And do you have a specific vision or goal set in your mind that you would like to achieve in the near future?

Miguel: I just love the music. This is what makes me feel alive. I can’t wait to be touring and connecting with fans.

Ryan: It’s just super satisfying. The whole process of writing something, and watching your idea transform into a song never gets boring. I love comparing the first draft of a song, with the released draft because they always sound so different even though they’re the same song.

Miguel: He’s not wrong.

Connect with The Omnis Collective on their WEBSITE and on INSTAGRAM and TWITTER. Stream their music on SPOTIFY.