SHARK SKIN'S Omar Interviewed!

Omar, vocalist for Shark Skin

BBM: How and when did Shark Skin form?

Omar: The band wasn’t really a band when it started; it was a one man project in around mid- 2009.  I was always into making music but never really had the chance or the time to start a band because at that time I worked 12 hour night shifts every day and I worked weekends, so I wouldn’t have been able to play weekends cause I’d be at work and couldn’t practice with an actual band ‘cause I worked nights and would get out at 6am and sleep during the day ha ha! I still kept writing songs and making riffs, so I decided to just record 2 songs (“No One” and “You don’t know” – the instruments were played by one person) and those two songs were recorded in December 2009 (which I guess you can say is when Shark Skin was Born). I put it online on Myspace, and I actually got good feedback! I was really excited and blushed like a little girl on the nice comments people left ha ha. So I decided to go all out after that and tried forming a band that can play live shows.  With my friend Bryant who helped play Bass on the songs “Oi the fever” and “Warrior” and my friend Adrian aka Yogie who got on drums we started playing backyard gigs and little bars.  Later, Dennis and Ismael got in and featured in the second demo and also played live shows with me and Yogie.

BBM: Why the name Shark Skin?

Omar: Because we like looking cute.  Nah, I wanted to have a name that when people read it Skinhead come to mind, just like when you see Dr. Martens or braces or Harringtons or Crombies you think of Skinheads.  Shark skin suits, that we would wear at Reggae all- nighters, looking hard and smart. Music, Girls and Clothes is what we like "left, right, go take a hike"!

BBM: Which bands inspired you?

Omar: I’m going to start off with the bands I was listening to a few minutes ago: Subculture, The Templars, The Herberts, Slade, Camera Silens, The Undertones, Bilbo Baggins, Los Rockin Devils, Rose Tattoo, Infa Riot, Last Resort, Los Panchos, Combat 84, Bovver Wonderland, The Betrayed, Chapter 21, The Crack, The Sweet, Cockney Rejects, The Franks, Buzzcocks, Eddie and the Hot Rods, The Veros, Hot Rod All Stars!

BBM: How would you describe your music?

Omar: 100% working class skinhead rock.

BBM: How do you feel about the modern Oi! scene?

Omar: It sucks! For us especially, it seems like Oi! is for OLD PEOPLE now 30 and up!  All the new bands getting stuff released by labels are older kats.  When we started as a live band I was only 21 or 22 and Yogie was the youngest at 17 and not too sound cocky or all bad ass but we felt that we had our stuff together and had a pretty old school sound but since we are young, labels and promoters just saw us as kids.  But all the early Oi! bands were kids but that doesn’t seem to matter anymore.  A lot of new young bands don’t really get the chance to shine because promoters keep recycling the same Oi! bands at their shows.  Just being real.

BBM: What do you have in mind when writing music?

Omar: Faith in God, working class and Skinhead.  No politics, no racism.  It’s what we’re about. We’re going through some hard times in our homes, but we gotta keep on pushing and never give up.

BBM: You seem to do very well at championing the Lo- Fi sound of Oi! music. Was this intentional or merely because you couldn't afford more lavish recording equipment?

Omar: Yeah man, we love that Lo- Fi sound, it makes us go crazy! All the bands we listen to have that sound. 3 mics in little rooms is what we’re about ha ha, and there’re always good stories to tell after the recordings.  A big studio doesn’t have that attitude and we would probably be too scared to touch anything ‘cause if we break it, there goes our week’s check. Ha ha.  Also credit goes to our friend Dennis for helping us out with the recordings. 

BBM: What can we expect from Shark Skin in the next year?

Omar: We’re planning on releasing our first Single.  That’s what we’re focusing on right now actually- we’re excited about it.  Keep an eye out.

BBM: Have you any plans to tour soon? If so where?

Omar: We are down to tour anywhere, we just don’t know people ha ha.  Hit us up!

BBM: How can we find out more about you and where can we hear you?

Omar: You can check out our Facebook at www.facebook.com/sharkskin09 or email us at sharkskin09@gmail.com

Thanks to Omar from Shark Skin!