Omega Mighty on her journey through Toronto’s music scene

Toronto-born artist Omega Mighty is blazing her own trail in the Toronto music scene, blending reggae fusion, pop, and hip-hop into a sound that’s distinctly hers. As one of the 30 talented participants selected for RBCxMusic’s First Up program, powered by MusiCounts—a key part of RBC’s broader ambition to equip the next generation of creatives with skills for a thriving future—Omega is part of a national initiative that supports emerging Canadian artists by giving them the tools and platform to showcase their work. This opportunity has allowed her to expand her reach, sharing her empowering messages with a broader audience.

Ahead of her performance at Toronto Life’s Most Influential party, we caught up with Omega to talk about her evolving sound, the influence of Toronto’s multiculturalism, and what’s on the horizon.

How do you define your sound, and how has your Toronto upbringing shaped it?

I would define my sound as reggae fusion—it’s got Caribbean elements with traditional reggae roots, but it also mixes in some pop and hip-hop genres. It’s really a good time! Toronto has shaped my sound in so many ways because it’s such an eclectic city. I get to experience so many different cultures here, from all over the world, even places I haven’t had the chance to visit yet. My dad is from Jamaica and my mom is from Barbados, so I’ve always had my roots to draw from, but being here in Toronto, I was able to delve deeper into self-discovery. There are communities right here in the city where I can explore my own culture, and I think that really encouraged me to trust myself, to make music that’s true to me—even if it’s not always deemed mainstream. But that’s the goal: to bring this sound into the mainstream.

Collaboration plays a big role in your work, especially with your sister Haviah. How do you maintain your individual artistry while working so closely with family?

Haviah is definitely a long-time collaborator because she’s my sister, and we grew up in music together. I think it comes from our parents who fostered a culture of supporting one another. I’m one of five siblings, and we all grew up making music, but each of us has a totally different style. My oldest sister is a classical composer, my other sis is also a pianist, Haviah and my brother are in hip-hop, and I’m more in the Caribbean and reggae space. What ties us together is this shared love and appreciation for all kinds of music. As music lovers and students of music, we support each other no matter what, and that makes it easier to bring our own unique flavours to any collaboration. It’s really rooted in how we were raised.

Your music often touches on themes of empowerment and resilience. How do you channel those messages in your songwriting process?

I always start with the melody and rhythm first. I don’t always know what I want to talk about right away, but the soundscape guides me. For example, with Rush Dem—the song that was nominated for a Juno—it was inspired by my trip to Ghana in 2022, right after we were allowed to travel again post-pandemic. I visited the slave castles in Cape Coast, and it was a completely out-of-body, ancestral experience. Being there made me reflect on how far we’ve come as a community and how far we still have to go. The resilience of Black people is something I carry with me, and it’s something that inspired the track.

What has been the most surprising or challenging part of navigating the Toronto music scene as an independent artist?

I think the biggest challenge is being misunderstood, especially as a Black woman in this space. In my earlier years, people in the industry told me that I needed to wear wigs, that my natural locs weren’t acceptable. Embracing my culture and my identity wasn’t something the industry recognized at the time. They didn’t understand Jamaican Patois, and I was discouraged from blending it into my music. So I didn’t trust myself to make the kind of music I wanted to, and I think that’s a challenge a lot of artists face—feeling misunderstood. Another challenge is the lack of resources in Toronto. A lot of talent leaves for bigger markets like the U.S. because the industry here doesn’t always support local artists. But I think things are starting to change, and people are beginning to embrace different sounds, which is exciting to see.

Was there a moment when you realized you didn’t want to conform to those industry molds?

There was definitely a moment. When you’re young and eager to make it, you’re willing to try things that you wouldn’t necessarily do today. For me, it was the pressure to wear wigs and cover up my identity. It’s one thing to wear a wig for creative reasons, but it’s another thing when you’re doing it because you feel like you need to hide who you are. I took a break from music for a few years because I didn’t feel like there was a place for me in the industry. But during the pandemic, I had time to reflect, and I realized that I needed to make music that was true to me. If people connected with it, great, and if they didn’t, that was fine too. But I had to believe in myself first, and that’s been the biggest turning point for me.

Your career is on an exciting trajectory. What has been a defining moment for you in the past year?

There have been so many defining moments, but one that stands out is being nominated for my first Juno Award this year. I’ve worked behind the scenes in the industry for years, but to be recognized for my own music was a completely different experience. It was a full-circle moment for me, and it felt like all the work I had done behind the scenes led me to that point.

Can you share a bit about what guests can expect from your upcoming performance at the Toronto Life Most Influential party?

If you’re someone who likes to stand still at the back of the room, this won’t be the show for you! There’s going to be a lot of energy, a lot of dancing, and I want people to have fun and move their waistline. Expect a lively performance with plenty of energy—you won’t want to sit down for this one!

What’s next for Omega Mighty? Any upcoming projects or collaborations we should be excited about?

Right now, I’m in writing mode and spending a lot of time in the studio. I’ve got new music coming before the end of the year, and I’m working with some new producers and collaborators, so I’m really excited to share that soon. It’s still my signature sound, but it’s going to be refined—Omega Mighty 2.0! My goal is to take Caribbean-infused music mainstream, and I’m on a mission to make that happen.

Omega Mighty will be performing at Most Influential, Toronto Life‘s 2024 list of the city’s most influential people.