Omar Naber

Early Life

Omar Kareem Naber was born on July 7, 1981, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, during the time when it was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His father, Samir Naber, hails from Jordan and works as a dentist, while his mother, Alenka Naber, is a Slovenian piano teacher. Raised in a Christian household, Omar completed his high school diploma as a dental technician but soon realized that his true passion lay in music. He began his musical journey at the age of 16 by joining Veter, a mixed choir of Ljubljana high schools, inspired primarily by the band Green Day.

Career

Omar's music career took off in 1999 when he founded a rock band that continues to perform today, amassing over 800 gigs and numerous charity events. His breakthrough came in 2001 when he secured second place in the local song contest ‘Kdo bo osvojil Triglav,’ leading to a contract with Nika Records. He gained further recognition after winning Bitka talentov, Slovenia's version of the Battle of the Talents, in late 2004. This victory allowed him to perform at the EMA 2005, Slovenia's national selection for Eurovision, where he represented the country with his self-composed song "Stop." Although he did not qualify for the final, he released his debut album, "Omar," in the same year and toured extensively in Slovenia and abroad.

In 2017, Naber returned to the Eurovision stage with the song "On My Way," marking his second attempt at the prestigious contest. Despite not qualifying again, his contributions to pop music and his dynamic performances have solidified his status as a notable figure in Slovenia's music scene.