New Zeland’s OMC & How They Shaped A Culture w/ 1996’s :: “How Bizarre”
Hailing from Ōtara, Auckland, New Zealand, the Fuemana brothers were not only staples in their creative community, but legends in that they established both Houseparty and Fuemana, before sonically relocating to ‘Otara Millionaires Club’ in the early 90s, which was later shortened to OMC. Influenced by the vital vibrations of soul, funk, hip-hop and their Polynesian roots, The Fuemanas were eventually joined by legendary NZ producer Alan Jansson, Herman Loto, Sina Saipaia and sister Christine Fuemana, who the brothers are survived by. Together, the friend and family collective formed an outstanding outfit that simplified the narrow narrative of growing up in a less fortunate environment, while having dreams that transcend the harshness of reality by a distance that can only be acknowledged via the depths of the human imagination.
Escaping poverty, gang life, the borstal and the other various elements of a broken and forgotten system, OMC’s frontman and mastermind, Pauly Fuemana spoke about the philosophies of everyday life in Auckland as he so cleverly brought together the iconic ingredients that would quickly launch him, his bandmates and siblings into the visible void of stardom and the age-old tale of "fame, fame, fatal fame and how it can play hideous tricks on the brain”.
Signing with Simon Grigg’s label Huh!, the band released their massive single “How Bizarre” in late ‘95 and within a year they followed up with the rest of what would become a groundbreaking and monumental full length album sharing the same title. But a lot of people may have potentially overlooked the rest of the group’s music due to such a single that would go on to overthrow the throne of rhythm with its rich, fluorescent atmosphere of enticing and bewitching embodiment. Artists usually don’t ask for this sort of purgatory phenomenon, especially a group like OMC with its optimistic and sensitive array of composition and immaculate confidence in direction when it comes to harnessing emotion, existential bliss and total tonal trance.
Featuring 11 tracks, one being a cover of Randy Newman’s classic “I Love LA”, OMC branches into the ethics of eternal exploration of the mind, body and soul with numbers like “Never Coming Back”, “Breaking My Heart” and the divine duality of “Angel In Disguise”. The group truly embodied the ghostly exoskeleton of the dancing deity of Dionysus with flawless technique and unparalleled taste in their choice of rhythm and sensational timing. “How Bizarre” is a period piece during a time and place that took on celebratory responsibilities for culture, youth, heartache and sudden success like no other. Accompanied by the likes of Glenn Campbell and countless others that helped to bring this album to life, OMC embarked on a journey of timelessness and tragedy like the many before them as well as the many that would come after. A spherical stereo experience in harmony and the habitual harnessing of hope, the Fuemanas and OMC secured themselves in not only the artistic and cultural history of their country by making this the most successful album in the ‘Urban Pasifika’ sub-genre, but that of the world. With the untimely and devastating passing of both Phil and Pauly, the group’s legacy is carried on through many different generations of listeners and the world’s unfathomable obsession and love for music.
