The Beacon learns life is music for this Omani rapper in Maine

People call him Blarab and he started his music career in 2008. Born and raised in Muscat, a big city of Oman (near Dubai), Blarab is a rapper, singer and songwriter. He lived in several different countries before coming to the United States of America, including South Africa, India, and China, where he lived for two years. Blarab is 35 years old, with almost 15 years of experience in the music industry. Last week, he shared his experiences in the music industry with us.

How would you classify the style of music you create? 

Blarab: I’m Rapper, I also can sing.

Why music, instead of the other arts? 

Blarab: In music you go deep. As I said, and I will say it again, music is life. It always gave me a different moment, a different feeling. So let me just break this down. We have different things, like Dj, Dancer, actor. So a DJ can play music and make people happy. Dancers always dance to the music. They will not like all music they dance to, but he will dance because of his job. But when you come to an artist, an artist is different. For me, I am called an Artist Demon, man, because I am the one who does and releases those feelings to everyone. Even while you are watching this you listen to music day to day. You feel that feeling, that’s why I say music is life, because it makes you happy, gives you patience, motivation, that’s why I chose music.

Tell us about your experience the first time in the studio

Blarab: That feeling man, I will give an example. You know, when we were like kids and waiting for something, man. When you were waiting to have those things. And finally you come to get those things, man. How you feel is the same as how I felt. There’s moments I was recording in the bedroom, shower, or somewhere. Always singing when I was walking on the road. Thinking about when I will go in the booth (studio). Sometimes in the studio for the first time you panic you know, but that is the moment, man, that improves your voice, to improve things, man. 

So, with two singles out there, can we expect any videos?

Blarab: Yes, it’s coming  

Can you name one of your inspirations?

Blarab: My Cousin always push me. I remember that time I was stuck for like three months. And he came to me and said bro this thing is for you, man. You have to continue, man. He gives me real support. Shout (out) at my cousin. He is the one who inspires me until now.

You’re an independent artist. Is that by choice?  

Blarab: I am  starting to do my own things, man. I have the same music out there, but I’m not signed to anyone. I’m an independent artist. To be an independent artist is a big thing. It is the responsibility to carry everything yourself. That’s how a serious career man started, and when you are an independent artist sometimes many people may not know you. But for right now everything has become easy. There’s many platforms where people can stream your music. You don’t have to be signed to take music far. Social media makes things easy for us as an independent artist.

How can you be successful as an artist?

Blarab: Man, let’s say if you go into this career, when you mean it, like you wanna be there. You have to take care of everything, man—your lyrics, sound, music, DJ who will work with you. You have to know the manager for the sellers and everything. How to manage to do all this stuff for your music—that’s how you can be successful with music. The marketing has to be always there on social media, you have to show what you are doing, man, show your stuff.

Who or what gives you motivation?

Blarab: The challenges which are out there man. When I see somebody else hit something fire, I don’t go, like, “why not me”. The feeling which I got when somebody hits something fire in this career of music, hip hop or whatever, it just pushes me to continue to do music.

Did you ever think about quitting music? 

Blarab: No, I never thought to quit music. As I said, music is my life. So, I can do other things but still, in a music career.  

What’s the biggest challenge artists face in the music industry?

Blarab: To me I can say the first time on the stage, man.

Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?

Blarab:I can see myself on the top. I can say that person you can count on me.  Because when I started I was recording with the beat instrument for like one minute but for right now we manage it, and I can record the full song in a few minutes. 

Any new music in the works?

Blarab: I am in the recording process now.

What’s the best way for people to access your music?

Blarab: You can access my music on all streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Amazon, and pretty music whatever platform you have access to.