Omar did his first live web chat on August 12, 2003. Here's what people asked and Omar's answers...

You’re stuck on a desert island with nothing but a hammock, a good quality portable disk player and an endless supply of batteries. You are allowed to choose 3 CDs to play on your CD player but one has to be from the distant past, one from the recent past and one that has recently been released. What would be your 3 CD’s?
1.Gustav Holst, The planet
2.Stevie Wonder, Secret life of plants
3.Common, Electric circus

My wife and I played There’s Nothing Like This as our first dance for our wedding. What if anything inspired you to write that song?
TNLT was influenced by the Ohio Players and a track called "Heaven must be like this"

Does it annoy you to see the crap that gets in the charts and loads of airplay and yet the great stuff you produce does not?
I'm not bothered by chart action any more because it has no reflection on my reality!

If you could collaborate with any artist/s (that you have not already collaborated with) who would it be and why?
Bill Withers is someone I would like to track down 'cause we ain't heard from him for a while.

Is there anything you can tell us about your up and coming album?
I've been very fortunate to have a collaboration with Stevie Wonder on this album called "Feeling you" which I am proud of not just cause its Stevie but also it’s like one of his old tunes and it’s on my album!

Do you have a distribution deal in the US with K7?
Does that mean re-issues of previous albums? You see what I'm getting at.... vinyl!
Yes, I can see you've done your homework. I can tell you that I've got a distribution deal for the US but I can't tell you just yet (confirmation next week).

I would like to know your opinion concerning the necessity of promoters in the industry. I can't stand them personally, I know the Detroit show didn't go as smooth as it could have been and the tour was completely cancelled, both because of the promoters. Do you feel like they are needed or not? Could you do just as well without them?
That’s a good question! I could quite easily have relieved some promoters of their bollocks 'cause of the f**k-ups but on the other hand some have been integral to me being able to promote myself without radio, TV, video promos so that’s very much a two sided coin.

Omar, my wife has just shouted from the bath "Ask him what he thinks of Prince" She is a big fan as am I.
Prince is a mega genius of which I have an ounce (or an eighth) of his talent!

Why did you re-do "Be thankful" with Angie, wasn't Erykah up to par?
Erykah was fantastic as was Angie but record company politics.....!

What do the tattoos on your neck say....are they Chinese or Japanese?
My tattoo is Chinese and means big fortune.

What did you think of the India Arie concert at Hammersmith, would you play there again or do you prefer the intimacy of the Jazz Cafe?
I prefer the intimacy of the Jazz Cafe but India's gig had a great sound so I wouldn't mind playing there.