Diana Omar On the Making Of “imagine that”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your "imagine that" and the story it tells?
I originally wrote “imagine that” in 2021. It was one of the first songs I wrote when I started this weird musical journey. The overall story stems from letdowns of high expectations. It’s about taking initiative and finding independence. It was written by a 16-year-old me, so it has some youthful elements that differ from my deep lyricism now. I just remember feeling like no one really cares about the aspirations and successes of others, so I just enter an imaginary world.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for this song?
I had like five versions of this song. The first version had more of a funky bassline driving the instrumentals and had entirely different verses. I originally felt like I hit a roadblock with the original. It wasn’t really the vibe I was going for because at that point I wasn’t able to accurately convey my musical thoughts. Flash forward to 2022, I had some down time before my violin lesson and I just randomly opened “imagine that” and started adding instrumentals. I felt like I was finally able to capture the vibe, and I had changed basically the entire song structure. I then sent it off to mixing and mastering and left it like that for a few years.
But this song always felt unfinished to me…
This year, I had the opportunity to work on a 90s themed project, which inspired me to revisit the track due to the way instrumentals were being portrayed. I did some re-records in my residential college’s recording studio and sent the song off again. The song already had some 90s elements in it, but I really wanted to lean into that indie rock sound. When I got the song back, it seemed more hopeful and nostalgic, really complementing the intended theme.
How do you feel this "imagine that" represents your artistic identity?
I’ve been trying to find my sound for a few years, and from what I’ve gathered, it’s a mix between indie and pop. “imagine that” showcases my indie side and how much I’ve grown as an artist these past few years. I’ve been experimenting with some different sounds lately, so I’m kind of using this song to see which sounds I should lean into more.
How did you get started in music, and what inspired you to become a singer-songwriter?
Music has always been a big part of my life. I’ve always been singing, took piano/voice lessons since the age of six and was a classical violinist for a while. I always felt disillusioned by the classical music scene, not entirely vibing with the precision that’s required all the time and the lack of individuality. I started off composing piano instrumentals when my piano/voice teacher in middle school encouraged me to improvise my repertoire. I ultimately found joy in telling my own stories and eventually wrote my first single “Never Wanted You to Let Go.”
How do you balance crafting relatable stories with maintaining your unique voice as a songwriter?
I call my songs my “inner monologue”, because it’s both a reflection of my individual thoughts but also a relationship with my subconscious. I catch lyrics flowing out of me without any active thinking, and looking back, I realize themes that I never thought of.
I ultimately write songs to make sense of the world around me. When I’m not making music, I’m deep into the world of engineering, which is highly analytical and not feelings-based at all. I always feel like I have to show a filtered version of myself to the world, partly because I’m afraid of being perceived but also out of a fear of rejection. Music is my way of telling stories without being worried about what others think. It’s my imaginary world where my innermost thoughts can flow. I just kind of put my work out there hoping at least one person resonates with it. Luckily, more than one person has, which makes me happy.
I feel like I’m able to maintain my unique voice because I have two entirely different worlds I’m in. When one world becomes overstimulating, I lean into the other. Music is there for me when I need it.
