Alamay & Omar Cassius drop EP

Alamay and Omar Cassius (fka skiimsk) share their stunning, second self-produced EP “How to Swim” with previously unheard track ‘807’, and a poignant, dreamy visual ‘surface interlude’, premiered by KALTBLUT.

The follow up to recent singles ‘Guidance’ and ‘Overnight’, supported by Clash, Notion, Why Now and more ‘807’ is a moving offering that see’s Alamay at her most candid yet with striking vocals gliding over Omar Cassius stripped back production. Sparse sun-kissed guitar riffs meet minimalist percussion on this heart-rending slice of neo-soul. The mesmeric audio-visual ‘surface interlude’ blends jazz instrumentals and bird sounds, as Alamay trades her velvety singing vocals for as Alamay trades her velvety singing vocals for poignant poetry, written and performed by friend and collaborator, Eliza Reid. Lush and leafy, the video features Alamay dancing and reflecting in nature, a perfect final offering of the project’s coinciding visuals – rich, deep imagery of last light by the sea. 

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“How to Swim” EP sees Alamay and Omar embrace a new era and showcase an evolution in their sound, reflecting on past relationships, lockdown and their collaborative journey. Blending neosoul, trip-hop and R&B with warm, jazz flecked instrumentals and elements of UK rap, there’s a natural synergy between the two; Alamay’s distinctive, velvet vocals and Omar’s nuanced soundscapes fuse together seemingly effortlessly. The result is an all encompassing, ever-evolving sound that sees the duo stand out from the crowd. Having made their Glastonbury debut in June, with a set at much-loved UK weekender, Shambala Festival to come, these coveted bookings are testament to their beautifully crafted sound and live sets and nod to their promising journey ahead.

Speaking on the EP, Alamay says, “Approaching How to Swim after Aurora was an equally daunting and exciting prospect. I think both of us felt as if we had something more to prove this time round and we really worked hard to show our growth as Artist since we last released. How to Swim came from our own personal experiences growing as people and experiencing that entrance into adulthood. Learning to accept all we can’t control and not be lost in it. Each song means a lot to me, we really poured ourselves into each aspect. I’m so happy to be able to finally share it.”

Omar Cassius adds, “With How to Swim we knew from the start that we wanted to create a project that had a narrative throughout that tied the EP together subtly. We’ve been present for every aspect of it, there have been many late nights brainstorming concepts for the videos as well as all of the artwork as well as producing and recording everything from my bedroom.I think with the variety of sounds on How to Swim there is something for everyone”

Gaining an education in Soul and Jazz from an early age, Alamay’s style draws on inspiration from these rich, timeless sounds as well as her Ethiopian heritage. One of Bristol’s most promising new talents, Alamay is bringing a refreshing take on modern R&B/Soul. She first entered the scene in 2019 with her collaborative project with Omar Cassius, Aurora, followed by a track entitled ‘Miirror’ featuring KNWGD in 2020, and made serious waves with her impressive live Boiler Room set, performing alongside deconstructed club titans, Giant Swan and Jabu. Already gaining tastemaker support and a dedicated fan-base, Alamay has laid the foundations for many more impressive projects to come.

Bristol-born artist Omar Cassius (fka skiimsk) entered the scene in 2019 with his collaborative debut EP alongside Alamay titled Aurora. As co-founder of the 1999 platform (a Bristol-based creative collective) he can be found working on multiple other projects – often behind the scenes – with other budding creatives in the city’s buzzing, tight-knit community. To date, most of his creative output and contributions have been his carefully honed, intricate productions. However, How to Swim EP sees the rising artist making his first foray into contributing vocals and bars on releases, with his sights set on further collaborative and solo projects