Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter
Omar Silk - CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
OMAR SILK HAS the scars on his hands to prove he was meant to survive the tragedy that his brother Garnett didn't. It was an incident that he believes he survived to in order to fulfil his own legacy - to sing.
"Is just Jah why I am here, because fi tell you the truth I don't know how I escaped. I just know that I was sleeping then I reach outside," he said raising one of his burnt hands.
Omar Silk is a younger sibling of Garnett Silk, and survived the fire which claimed his brother and mother a little over a decade ago.
Born Omar Scott, Omar Silk grew up in Hatfield, Mandeville, with his mother, Garnett and his other brothers and sisters. Omar, however says his primary influences were his mother and Garnett, and when they died his world crumbled. Music became his only alternative.
LOVE OF MUSIC
"After a while I did move to Jacks Hill with Garnett, and him did start send me to school. But after him drop out, then me drop out too," he said.
He says his love for music came naturally and seemed to be genetic. "My mother sang, Garnett sang and my other brother Aaron sings...Garnett gave me the name when I was about seven or eight years old...We were at a party and Garnett called me up and gave me that name. Him say 'Ah Omar Silk yuh name now ennuh'," he said.
When asked if he thinks he sounds like Garnett, he said; "But of course, ah him tell me ennuh, that's why he gave me that name."
Silk, 29, is still trying to make his lyrical mark on the reggae industry, though he says he has been in the business for eight years.
"I started off with the Jah Apostle band doing rehearsals with Garnett. But after that, if you don't find the right person to deal with the project then you won't get out there. My brother used to say it's like you're a whore in the business," he said.
Now Silk has been given the opportunity to spread his message in song, and says he intends to make good use of it. "My music is pure, spreading righteousness and nothing less. I do it to uplift people and to make a positive change. In the music right now people not doing music that can help you or benefit the people. They need to realise that music influences people, so we need some substance in music."
He recently recorded the song Cold Blooded Murderer and has several other songs which are to be released soon includingExtraordinary featuring Turbulence.
When one listens to Silk's songs, though his voice isn't a replica of Garnett's, what is obvious is his talent and his style which he says he learnt from his brother.
"I don't think I can carry on his (Garnett's) legacy. He did his part and seal off his part. Omar Silk has a great part to play, and he (Garnett) is my strength...Haile Selassie is my first strength then Garnett and my mother. I don't have a problem saying that because what is due to Caesar give it to Caesar."
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