Born on the Gold Coast Queensland Australia of a mixture of European, Maori and Tongan descent;Growing up listening to the sounds of Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder through to Jaco Pastorius and Miles Davis (compliments of Tommy Hanlon Omar’s deceased father - arguably the Best fusion drummer in Australia in his time) Omar was born with rhythm in his blood.
He was give his first bass guitar at the age of 8 and immediately formed a band with his brother Saia (www.myspace.com/saiahanlon)
This band (Acetone) went on to win the Gold Coast Unsigned battle of the Bands 1998 in their inaugural year.
Saturated in music from birth all Omar needed was to find his sense of direction and with the help of renowned mentors of the likes of Eva Breckon, Max Stowers, Damian Barnard and Tui Timote Omar auditioned for and was accepted at The Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane in 2003,
setting his sights on a Bacelor of Jazz and studying under Peter Walters, Steven Newcombe, Hose Mclachlan and Helen Russel.
Omar unfortunately after 18 months had to put aside his study due to personal issues never losing sight though of his path Omar still kept in contact by playing in the Conservatoriums Jazz and with James Feagai and Saul Burrows.
Since then he has been freelancing along the Eastern Seaboard from Cairns down to Canberra, touring with a variety of bands and covering many styles and feels from Blues ( Blind Lemon) through to Rock ( Jess Day and the Live and Lie who have just returned from a successful recording in Denmark).
Alongside of this with his brother saias they have formed their own band called Hanlon Rhythm gigging regularly around the Gold coast from R and B through to Jazz including writing their own tunes.
Omar is an extremely versatile and talented bassist for someone so young his playing level is well beyond his chronological years.
He is currently the session muso for Sherwell Studios and has worked alongside Rikki-Lee Coulter, (Aust Idol), Brea Carpenter (Aust Idol), Tony Lee Scott (BMG) Don Allan (Country scene) on their current albums.
Contact Information;
[email protected]
