OMAR S RELEASES NEW EP PAIN
CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF GROUNDBREAKING VINYL-FIRST LABEL FXHE THIS YEAR
Legendary underground hit producer Omar S celebrates the 20th anniversary of his Detroit-based record label and vinyl imprint FXHE with a new EP, PAIN. Alongside the EP is an accompanying music video to standout track “I Love Your Girlfriend” featuring John FM, which cheekily pays tribute to Detroit’s historic jazz club, Baker’s Keyboard Lounge.
While establishing himself as one of the most prolific and influential artists in midwest dance music culture, Omar S has also been at the forefront of preserving vinyl culture by pressing and releasing his own records out of his label stomping grounds, Conant Gardens Party Store. PAIN not only cements Omar’s legacy within Detroit’s rich musical history, but sets the stage for a new generation of talent who have been mentored by the label-boss over the years, and includes tracks such as “I Love Your Girlfriend” with frequent collaborator John FM, who has crafted a unique sound alongside Omar S across a number of releases in recent years. “Pain”featuring King Milo, who is part of FXHE trio HiTech, explores the new sound of the midwest as Omar S speeds the tempo up and gives the Detroit-based rapper and producer a ghetto tech and jit-influenced anthem for him to layer with his distinct party-ready lyrics. The project ends on a soulful note as Omar S recruits R&B vocalist Tayloe on “Some Good Loving”, layering her soothing vocals over a modulated vintage techno synth backbeat.
Although Omar S began growing his cult following around 2003 with the release of his first record on FXHE Omar S 002, the Detroit-native truly expanded when he emerged from his infamously reclusive nature in 2009—a milestone year for Omar S in which he provided Fabric 45, the highest-selling club mix CD and the 45th installation of the self-titled mix series for the renowned London-based club Fabric. The celebrated mix effectively put him on the map as one of the most exciting acts in the underground techno scene.
Over the years, Omar S has released a number of projects and collaborations that have sustained his position at the forefront of Detroit dance music. Projects such as 2005’s Just Ask The Lonely, 2013’s monumental Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself, 2016’s The Best and 2022’s surprise release Can’t Change, have garnered praise from the likes of Pitchfork, VICE, DJ Mag, Mixmag, Beat Magazine, and more. Omar’s decades-long career has given way to a number of collaborations such as the prominent “54321”—an astounding collaboration with Desire that masterfully blends Italo-disco with Omar’s signature Detroit deep house. His boundary-pushing discography has made him a key player in spotlighting Detroit’s rich music scene—a feat he has further expanded upon under his label, FXHE, where he served as a mentor for now-established artists such as Seth Troxler and Kyle Hall and continues to nurture emerging artists such as John FM, HiTech, FULLBODYDURAG, and Dastardly Kids. In 2020, Omar S collaborated with Red Bull on a custom record packer video game as part of an installation recreating his grandfather’s party store that now houses his FXHE label. Omar S additionally boasts a long list of fashion collaborations that range from working with the late great Virgil Ablohon a limited edition line of shirts, to playing for major fashion houses such as Dior, Rick Owens, Balenciaga, and high street brands such as Stussy, Palace, and most recently Heron Preston in New York City in February during fashion week. His music has been licensed by a range of high profile brands including Fendi, Calvin Klein, and Apple.
As an artist who tours internationally annually, Omar S has played at countless venues over the years. This summer, he is set to play Gilles Peterson’s award-winning We Out Here festival in London, and most recently he played a Boiler Room set in Berlin. Omar S will once again grace an overseas stage this weekend in London at Printworks as a part of The Hydra Series—a massive set of shows dedicated to celebrating pioneers of the dance scene. Omar S is slated to perform on April 8th alongside Jamie xx, Benji B, Actress and more, to celebrate the influence that Plastic People (the iconic nightclub) had on London’s nightlife. The show will mark the first time his new EP PAIN is played at a live set. With 20 years of making hit dance records under his belt, and new FXHE albums on the way this year for HiTech, Alister Fawnwoda and more, Omar S continues to cement his legacy as a dance music icon in Detroit and beyond.
PAIN TRACKLIST
1. TONGUE PECKER
2. PAIN FT. KING MILO
3. I LOVE YOUR GIRLFRIEND FT. JOHN FM
4. SOME GOOD LOVING FT. TAYLOE
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