“There's this creative flow that people fall into in Ibiza” - Omar+ Interview
Omar+ is a DJ, producer and singer from London. His R&B and UK garage-inspired house music has taken him from DIY parties in East London to touring the US, playing festivals across Europe and taking over Ibiza. His debut EP Open Your Eyes came out on Atlantic Records and it captures that late-night dancefloor feeling between passionate abandon and reflective yearning. His club-focused collaborations include “Back It Up” with Josh Baker and “Lose Control” with bullet tooth, and 2026 has already been his biggest year yet. He’s playing at [UNVRS], the DJ Mag #1 Club in the World for 2026 on Wednesday 29 July as part of Jamie Jones Presents Paradise.
We spoke to Omar+ before his debut appearance at [UNVRS] and talked about his love of R&B, solo clubbing, Ibiza as a writing retreat, and his upcoming set.
Hi Omar+. So, where are you from and how did it shape your sound and journey?
I grew up in Watford, just outside of London. That definitely shaped my sound. When I was younger there wasn’t much going on in Watford, I’d never go out there. I’d spend a lot of time discovering music online, and through friends and family. I think that’s why I grew up listening to R&B music. I think R&B is best enjoyed on a long car journey or just sitting at home in your bedroom. That’s what I grew up with.
When I got a bit older, I went to university in London and I was living there properly. That’s when I started going to nightclubs and I experienced music differently. That’s where the tipping point happened. I had this original love for R&B but my music taste was switching into house music. That shaped my sound now because it's this blend between R&B music and house.
Was there a specific moment on the dancefloor where it all made sense?
Yeah. I saw Logic1000 at Phonox. It's still one of my favourite clubs. I didn't have anyone to go with so I just went to that club on my own because I was just a big fan of Logic1000. I was on the dancefloor and I really took in the music. I was like, this is sick!
Are there any R&B producers that you take inspiration from?
I'm a really big fan of PARTYNEXTDOOR. I really like him because he produces and does all of his own vocals, and that's what I love doing as well. Definitely a big inspiration for me because also his production and his music is insane.
When it comes to your own productions, tell us about your approach to making music.
It's very much just like all still DIY and at home. I don't spend that much time in the studio, honestly. I really prefer just being in my space with my laptop and all my gear at home and just getting into it. So I’ll just turn my laptop on and once I start get some good melodies and drum patterns going, then I'll start writing lyrics. I'll normally export a demo off my laptop, and then just go about my day listening to it on headphones. Naturally I’ll start singing along to it and then when I have something I sit down at my mic and record it.
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Where does Ibiza come into your story?
I love it man. I started going four years ago, and I just fell in love with it straight away. It feels like a crazy full circle moment to be playing over here now.
I got really lucky early on in my career because I got invited to a writing camp in Ibiza. It was basically just this house full of songwriters and producers and different artists just working on music there. One of my songs now, “Out Of My Mind” with Ben Sterling, I wrote the vocals at that writing camp. Ibiza is such a good place to come to make music because there's just this energy in the air. There are so many musicians there, there are so many people that love music there, there's this creative flow that people fall into on the island. It’s great to make music on the island because it's the source. The source of all the inspiration.
Have you been to [UNVRS] before? How was your experience?
I’ve been a few times. The first time I went there I went to Paradise and saw Josh Baker B2B Prospa. It was wicked, I loved it so much. That room literally feels like you're going into another universe. You indulge in the music so much because you're just thrown into this other world. Recently, as well, I saw Jamie Jones and Rossi. there. That was epic. It was the night after I had a show and I was just celebrating with all my mates.
What’s your relationship with Jamie Jones and Paradise like?
I see Jamie Jones as a massive inspiration. I just think he's sick. To be part of his show is just such an honour. He’s an incredible pioneer and what he's done with Paradise is just a reflection of that.
What can people expect from your set?
Something I'm really excited about this summer is that normally my music is very vocal heavy and they’re big songs, but for my time in Ibiza I'm really switching up my sound. I'm making a lot of roller edits of my own tunes as well. I just dropped a song called “Can't Slow Down” and I especially made an edit of it for this summer which is just more of a roller. So I've stripped back the vocals, the drums are more groovy and it's just a bit more heavy on the basslines. In Ibiza I'm just like throwing myself into the groove. I still want to play my music but I'm adapting it to fit in those sets.
What’s your favourite song to open your set at the minute and why?
It will definitely be that new release, “Can't Slow Down”. It's got this really cool intro with this vocal and it starts really atmospheric and then it drops into the bassline. I love opening with it. It just always jumps really nicely into the set.
What’s another song you love playing in your sets at the minute and why.
One I really love to play is the club edit of “Pump Up The Jam” by Eitan Reiter. It's so sick!
Where is a good place for people to start if they’re new to you?
I was really happy with my set at Planet X for Miami Music Week. That's on YouTube. That set reflects my sound so definitely go listen to that. If you’re a fan but you’re not super familiar with dance music then I'd say the best place to really experience it and understand it is just by coming to a show in real life. Get all your mates there and just have a proper night of it. That's when you create those crazy memories and you really understand the music, I think.
Lastly, what do you love about DJing?
I love being able to be in and amongst the party while still performing. I don't think you fully get that with other forms of performance and that's why I became passionate about DJing very quickly. You're experiencing the music and the party with everyone else at the same time that you're DJing. I think that is such an amazing thing.
Omar+ is playing Paradise: Starship Eden this Wednesday 29 July at [UNVRS]. He’s sharing the bill with Jamie Jones, Bedouin, Bontan, Salomé Le Chat, M-High, and Laidlaw.
Tickets and VIP tables are available now. Jamie Jones Presents Paradise runs every Wednesday at [UNVRS] until 07 October.