Where Is KO? Day to Day

Focused Intention – Khabushka Vol.3: Madrid

Khalid Omari — Fri, 29 May 2026 23:27:27 +0000

Read Time:6 Minute, 56 Second

Khabushka Vol.3: Madrid (Out Now)

This weekend (4th may 2026) I actually learnt the concept of arranging loops into whole songs on the Native Instruments Maschine. It’s taken me 16 years to truly understand through 48hrs of intense focus, patience and most importantly experimentation. When I say intense, I mean I was intentional with what I was doing. I made a conscious decision, when going through my Maschine beats a few weeks ago, that I wanted to start releasing the capsules: songs I made about a particular theme within the same period of time.

Khabushka Vol.3: Madrid (Out Now across all platforms)

EPK | Press Release

Concept

I began this excursion with a group of loops I aptly named the ‘Madrid EP’, which were a cluster of beats created over ten days between 9th – 19th May 2016. At the point in life I created these, I hadn’t yet been to Madrid or Spain itself but I always wanted to learn Spanish and visit.

Night of Inspiration

I remember heading out with my friend Mike White on a random drive on the night of Friday 6th May 2016. We drove from my home at the time in Deptford, South East London, picked up Mike from Queen’s Road in Peckham, then drove to the East side of London, specifically Brick Lane, which was still popping and edgy back then. I parked up somewhere off of Arnold Circus, headed down to Redchurch Street before we found ourselves at a random street party outside what was the Verge back then, on the intersection of Brick Lane and Bethnal Green Road. This night stuck with me as it was such a random evening. I can’t even remember what music was playing, the party in the road didn’t seem to be an official one, it was just a bunch of people dancing in the middle of the road through passing cars trying to exit through humans.

Khabushka Vol.3: Madrid (Out Now across all platforms)

EPK | Press Release

The Spanish Connection

We encountered a group who were trying to communicate with us but we were lost in translation. A Venezuelan security guard became the conduit although when I really deep it, observing chaos and surrounded by good vibes is a universal thing. I came away feeling inspired to not only learn a language because I could communicate and connect with so much more people but also create music, the thing that was at the centre of the chaos and brought everyone together.

Khabushka Vol.3: Madrid (Out Now across all platforms)

EPK | Press Release

The Sound

I was inspired to create House music, basic but effective vibes. This wasn’t a shut down the rave type of affair, I was on a mission to create something the whole world could bop to. House music in its essence does that thing where it captures a heightened sense of awareness, the loop, the foundation of the beat is almost trance like. That goes for electronic Dance music as a whole. Patricia Rose has a book that references that concept a lot which at the time defined the use of samples in Hip Hop as such. It’s one of the books I referenced and researched for my dissertation at uni.

The Process

I dug through samples for drums, created a House kit on Maschine as a template and got to work. Once I had the groove in place, I’d get some piano chords on the go, if it weren’t the keys it was the synth pad. I wanted something emotive, minimal and a basic groove in nature, with a few synth pads and piano chords over a four to the floor beat. Each track contains the same or a similar drum kit which I created specifically for this series of loops. My aim, rather my instinct, was to capture the vibe and just flow, no questions asked.

Khabushka Vol.3: Madrid (Out Now across all platforms)

EPK | Press Release

Purpose

This is easy listening, the type of stuff you pop on and get on with your day whether riding around, commuting or chilling. It’s the sound of elation or deep spiralling, melancholic trains of thought. There’s no big builds or crescendos, it’s just progressively captivating and delightful. A soundtrack for both evening soirée or brunch, a sound fit for all scenarios.

Order of Creation

As I’m looking deeper into the creation dates and times, I realise the first three: La Rambla, Madrid, and Translation were created in the same night! Wild!!! But thats how it was back then. I’d spend hours making beats into the early hours, freely exploring, creating wide variety of SKUs. In the days after I went on to create a few more. At the point of writing this I’m still going through and mixing them but the way how I’m feeling, I may split them across other drops as right now I’m in my first night of creation bag. A thought after the initial thought now that I’ve changed my artist name across my instrumentals to ‘whereisko’ is to finally drop a follow up to the ‘Khabushka’ series.

10 years to create songs?

For years I had gone back and forth with what I’d like to do with these cuts. Different priorities, instabilities and life became a barrier of getting to them, overall I felt like the moment was bigger than I could ever conceive. I didn’t think I could ever meet the expectation that the loop required if I tried to make a song. There were a series of trial and errors which never materialised properly especially around the spoken word excursions I was doing in the early days. At the time I didn’t have the clarity or mastery over my skills that I have now hence why it took me the Bank Holiday weekend of May 1st to finally make sense of how to arrange in Maschine. I could now turn my ideas into into finished projects, which I proceeded to do across the 3-4 days I was away from work.

Khabushka Vol.3: Madrid (Out Now across all platforms)

EPK | Press Release

Studio Monitors

In recent weeks I invested in a pair of smaller studio monitors to the ones I previously, the Yamaha HS7s which I sold and donated some of the proceeds to Cat Cabins at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, now I have a pair of HS5s. They are smaller, have freed up room on my desk and sit on stands. These past few days have started out as a ‘test’ where I set up to level the loops which over the course of a few hours led to solving the equation of how to arrange in Maschine. I now know the science of arranging patterns into scenes and songs so the future is bright for my output. Previous to this I was just using wired headphones but I get a lot more freedom from the studio monitors, especially when stepping away from the desk to another part of the room or standing in a separate room entirely. I get a lot of benefit when adjusting delays and filters to create space in the mix as the studio monitors give me so much more freedom to hear things as they are.

Khabushka Vol.3: Madrid (Out Now across all platforms)

EPK | Press Release

Desk Arrangement

My layout for my creative is intentionally set out to remove the central distraction of having a display, instead I’ve placed it to the side with the sole focus of the machine in the centre. The equipment I use is intentionally hybrid: standalone and full integration with software, so I can have a more tactile and immersive experience away from the display and focused on embedding myself into the process to optimise the creativity, I won’t get distracted. My sole focus and attention is on whatever machine I’m using: Maschine, Push 3, MPC.

Khabushka Vol.3: Madrid (Out Now across all platforms)

EPK | Press Release

DAW Diary: Creating ‘Pace’ beat and recording ‘Seek It’ poem on Ableton Live Push 3

Khalid Omari — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 01:00:00 +0000

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I’ve been creating in Ableton a lot these past few weeks and it’s probably one of the only DAWs where I end up recording something. It’s a vibe. Not sure if haunting tones of the synth pads, the groove pockets in the drums or the retro-futuristic feel of minimalism because nothing is ever more than 4-5 sounds.

That aside, I definitely need to write more frequently or just have a better system of finding what I’ve written when the time comes. I’m getting much better at reciting what I write over the beats now. One-take is a necessity but for this exploration, I wonder whether it’s worth re-recording parts for emphasis.

DAW Diary: Using Stem Separator in Ableton Live 12.3 Beta to remix a Grime freestyle from 2003.

Khalid Omari — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 12:55:04 +0000

Read Time:1 Minute, 28 Second

The Slammer was recorded in autumn / winter ‘03. Recorded in 1 take with another for ad-libs at Lincoln’s studio in an industrial estate in Greenwich which doesn’t exist anymore.

Mik Grimton produced the original and I paid £20 to record and have it mixed. Drips pressed it on a Dubplate at Transition Studios sometime afterwards.

The ‘Deptford’ bar is perhaps one of my most memorable as that’s when Air Max ‘95s were £110 and that’s what I used to wear (soft leather preference). Fun fact: it’s probably one of the only bars I gave my bro a shoutout.

Hearing my 17/18 year old self, full of hopes, dreams and naivety has inspired me to reconnect with my essence, allowing me to view my hobbies from a renewed perspective which now has me asking:

“With all the tools you have at your disposal right now in this era, what would Brains do and how would he utilise them?”

‘Growth’ is a funny thing because the older you get, you become like one of those trees in the rainforest: essence of why you do things and who you are is formed at the shrub level and under canopy but eventually you emerge above the canopy obstructing the light penetrating to the shrub level.

I’m not saying we disconnect, in a way we dilute, we adapt, we evolve but no matter how far we grow in search of nutrients from the sun, we remain connected through the roots of ourselves, deep into the soil of who we are.

Again, not a milestone reflection but it very well could be…

Peace

#grime #abletonlive #stemseparator

Using Stem Separation in Ableton Live 12 Beta to remix an old Grime freestyle from 2003

DAW Diary: Using Stem Separator on Ableton Live 12.3 Beta to remix an old Grime freestyle from 2004

Khalid Omari — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 18:42:41 +0000

Read Time:37 Second

I finally used Stem Separator in a DAW. Despite having it in MPC, Logic, and Maschine, I never found an excuse or a reason to use it but then it dawned on me “Go into your archives and remix them vintage Grime freestyles”.

As someone who stopped MCing a very long time ago, this brought me back to my origins. Hearing myself at 17/18 years old with so much energy, passion and agility, inspired me in a way I can’t even describe.

This isn’t just milestone talk but genuine inspiration to test out Stem Separator across the other DAWs too.

DAW Diary: Using Stem Separation in Ableton Live 12.3 Beta to remix an old Grime freestyle from 2004

Mirror Talk

Khalid Omari — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 11:35:00 +0000

Read Time:1 Minute, 57 Second

Monday 5th February 2024, 1239 GMT

Never thought I’d be one for a mirror reflection pep talk post shower but here I am.

I was up in that mirror eye to eye telling myself that I’m going to win and reminding myself that I’m a winner repeatedly.

Disappointment isn’t easy and the feeling of being left behind that comes with it leaves a nasty taste.
It lingers.

I’ve caught so many Ls just trying to progress here which have blessed me with a lot of lessons to proceed forward but that isn’t to say that it’s hard to sit with.

I’ve spoke to Chels many a time regarding a recurring theme of observing the wins of others and reflecting on my own situation but as much as I try to rationalise it, I have this lingering feeling of impatience.
I won’t say it’s envy, it’s impatience that’s driving me insane.

The more drawn out processes become is the more it festers in my head. It’s all consuming and tends to be all I can think about. I feel like I’m deteriorating as a result of it.

I live through the scenarios, all the alternate realities and then it settles to the one of what if…
I won the lottery, would I return or disappear or remain working securing the promotion.
I didn’t get it, the feeling of disappointment would be overkill. It’s everything that comes with it: questions, checking in, masking how I really feel.
I get it, happy days and I just will begin a journey of learning and mastery, maybe considering next steps.

I suppose I’m already basking in disappointment having not have been successful and knowing what’s required to advance my steps in the process I’m in.
I should prepare for an interview.
There’s no rebuttal regarding this. I’ve had so much time. There isn’t even an excuse worthy of why I haven’t. I already wrote I have no rebuttal so I shouldn’t even write anything past that point.

I just want to enjoy life and the rewards of hard work and potential. I’ve done the prerequisites, I’m trying to cash in and advance myself and prospects.

Buss me please

Daily Prompt #2: One outfit choice, what would you wear?

Khalid Omari — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 05:12:43 +0000

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If you were forced to wear one outfit over and over again, what would it be?

It’ll definitely be my house clothes: a pair of athletic shorts and a jersey or sports tee. Simple.

If I were going out, it’ll be a pair of comfy jeans and a tee with a pair of comfy sports shoes like Nike Air Prestos.

If I were going out, it’ll be a comfy pair of trousers that are loose fitting with a loose fitting shirt.

To be honest I wear the same outfits and style of outfits all the time so I’m already doing the question.

Random Prompt #1: Plane, Train or Automobile?

Khalid Omari — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:13:57 +0000

Read Time:1 Minute, 6 Second

You’re going on a cross-country trip. Airplane, train, bus, car, or bike?

It’s definitely a mix of train and bus. Train will take the long haul parts of the trip and maybe bus will be for short trips however it all depends on how safe the surroundings are. If the surroundings don’t feel safe, Uber or local government state authorised taxi is the way forward.

A lot of variables but then again, if it’s a city trip then train and bus. Did that in plenty of cities across Europe, España to be specific. Grab a ticket that covers the length of your stay and metro everywhere with sprinkles of bus.

A place like Netherlands, it’s a train ticket from from airport to city centre and explore. I say Netherlands but more like Amsterdam. In a city like that it’s a walking thing. That and maybe Venice which in some respects are the same type of place but in Venice you’re likely to get the river bus. Gondolers are hella pricey and also I weren’t tryna hop on them as they seemed rather unstable.

TLDR: I’d get plane, then train, then a mixture of bus, car and walking. Depending on how friendly the city is to cycling, might do that for novelty.

MPC Live 2 Retro Diary – 6 Days since meeting Saint Alan The Alchemist

Khalid Omari — Sun, 05 Jun 2022 00:00:59 +0000

Read Time:1 Minute, 38 Second

In my week since meeting a Hip Hop producer hero, Saint Alan The Alchemist, I wanted to test whether there was some kinda of energy transfer in the embrace. I headed home, dug out my DJ mixer from 2006, grabbed a vinyl from the shelf and tried to make a sampling vinyl banger using my AKAI Professional MPC Live 2 Retro.

As much as my Sunday sess didn’t produce anything worthy of sharing, aside from this cool picture, I did realise how powerful the sequencer on the MPC is for generating ideas. I tend lose interest once I get a loop as my other production weapons of choice feel restrictive. The MPC workflow is flexible enough to support mute, solo and editing once a sequence is duplicated. Going from a loop to a song feels so much more intuitive than others.

The following 5 days were spent exploring this box of delights pre and post shift, watching AKAI’s playlist on YouTube using the #mpc Live 2 on my lunch break and commutes to and from work. My eureka moment came on Day 4 when I finally figured out how to record vocals into the MPC Beats software, when using the Live 2 in controller mode.

On Thursday, having finished early, I raced home with the intent to record a piece of poetry I wrote, about a gloomy April morning, called Modest in Monochrome. I was going to stay in my comfort zone, which was to open a VST of the drum machine DAW in Logic Pro X, but I decided to break the pattern and stretch myself to learn something different. I’m glad to I took the 5mins to learn how because it means I can decrease my dependence on rerouting across software.

Modest In Monochrome (Demo) Brukaway Bounce (Draft) Sunday Shift

TLDR: How one chance encounter with someone can serve as a reminder to make time to explore your hobbies and interests.

I met Saint Alan The Alchemist

Khalid Omari — Sun, 29 May 2022 15:32:28 +0000

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You see when my right hand touches one of my drum machines next, it’ll be some next type of alchemy. Whatever my plans were today, I’m heading home to whip up some beats after my encounter with Saint Alan. I was lost for words but I’d like to think he knew what it was because I literally froze.

Good (Fish) Friday 🐟

Khalid Omari — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 17:49:00 +0000

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In my culture #GoodFriday is the day we have fried fish with Hard Dough Bread and/or Bammy. It took me years to realise that it’s a Christian tradition to commemorate the day he fed the thousand on the hilltop with two fish and bread (correct me if wrong).

As a lover of escovitch, as you can imagine Easter is one of my favourite holidays for the fish and also bun and cheese with the lamb on Easter Sunday.

Whether you’re fasting for Ramadan, doing a Passover feast or celebrating Easter, have a great weekend and hopefully we can get to making some beats.

Peace and Love

Khalid