Star Spot with Grayhawk and Queen Ofir

 

Evolving as an Artist and Creating Something New: An Exclusive Interview with Grayhawk and Queen Ofir on Music, Inspiration, and Growth

Welcome to this episode of Star Spot! I’m Merry, and in this series, I interview InterContinental Music Awards winners and insiders, bringing you exclusive insights into the music industry. Today, I’m thrilled to have with me Grayhawk & Queen Ofir, our brilliant winners of 2022.

Grayhawk’s passion for music composition and production began during his time at the University of California, Los Angeles where he earned a degree in music composition. His talent was recognized early on when his Mass was performed by the respected conducting professor, Roger Wagner, who was the founding director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

Grayhawk’s talent has taken him far and wide, as he has traveled extensively around the world seeking inspiration for his music. He has worked as a film composer on a number of noteworthy productions, including Superstition, Killing Time, The Witch, Gold Plunder, and Down Under, among others.

Ofir Engel (aka Queen Ofir) is a talented singer, songwriter, actress, and performer, known for her powerful and original music. Her work has received music industry acclaim, with multiple Grammy Award considerations for nomination, not only in the United States but also in Canada, the U.K., and abroad.

Ofir’s unforgettable concerts and outstanding music have earned her numerous international awards, establishing her place as one of the most prominent artists in the music industry today.

Let’s dive right into the interview summary and tap into Grayhawk and Queen Ofir ‘s vast knowledge and experience. The full interview is available on Instagram – click here to check it out.

 

Could you tell us a bit about yourself, Grayhawk?

Sure, I’m a composer and filmmaker based in Temecula, which is located between San Diego and Los Angeles. I’ve released an album called “Voice of the Ancestors” which features a collaborative song called “Peace Prayer” that I co-wrote with Queen Ofir.

The song includes lyrics in Hebrew, Arabic, Farsi, and English, making it a truly diverse piece. It was an honor to work with Queen Ofir on this project and I’m proud of how it turned out.

 

Can you tell us about your collaboration on the song “Peace Prayer” ,Queen Ofir?

It was a fantastic collaboration with Greyhawk. From my point of view, I felt spiritually connected to the concept of addressing world issues from a spiritual perspective, and the song creates a magnificent connection to the universe through the language of music. The Hebrew and Arabic, along with the other languages, were put together in a way that embraced each other without judgment, bringing a message of incredible prosperity and hope.

It was a journey, and Greyhawk’s relentless dedication to the project was inspiring. I believe that music is a universal language that can connect people on a deeper level. By including multiple languages, we were able to create a picture of connection and love, where everyone has a role in the universe.

This piece is very charismatic and poetic, with the Hebrew and Arabic accompanying each other in a way that embraces each other without judgment. It’s the first time anyone had put Hebrew, English, Arabic, and other languages together in this way to bring a message of hope and success.

 

Grayhawk, what inspired the collaboration between Hebrew, Farsi, and Arabic in the song “Peace Prayer”?

I work very intuitively, and as I began to craft the song “Peace Prayer”, I recognized that there has been a long period of turmoil in the Middle Eastern parts of the world. Thought that if I could somehow craft the sounds of the singing, which comes from the soul, it would send out the right vibration.

I was amazed at the reactions worldwide, and I continue to be amazed at the real responses. People from different warring factions in the Middle East wrote to me, telling me how great they thought the song and its sentiment were. I am grateful for all of the accolades. Not only from the InterContinental music awards but also from the best album award for the One World music radio, which is European-based. The song has received a lot of attention, hundreds of thousands of views, if not over a million, and it’s part of an intuitive process based on my personal meditation.

How did you know that you wanted to pursue music as a career, Queen Ofir?

As a child, I was born with the name Ronit, which means happiness. Always felt connected towards energy, the world, and studied psychology. I was interested in the human mind and creating. I started writing poems in Hebrew in school, and later, I started writing songs.

All of a sudden, I found myself writing in other languages too. I felt in my young age that I am spiritual but also poetic in a way. I knew that music was my heart and soul, my fabric and my energy, to deliver messages through music content and creativity.

 

Can you talk about your experience as an independent artist and how you handle controlling your own career, Grayhawk?

As an independent artist, I have the freedom to call the shots and control the direction of my career. I prefer to run the show and avoid any confusion or outside influence from those who may be controlling the purse strings. Recently, I was even offered funding but declined it, as being self-funded allows me to have self-generating opportunities. Each element in my career is viewed as a destination, and I Revere each stepping stone.

The whole sum total of my career has brought me to this moment. Being interviewed on a global platform with one of my favorite collaborators, Queen ofir This is inherently satisfying and a success that all independent artists can appreciate.

 

How has the music industry treated you as independent artists, and how has it changed over time?

I found out that it doesn’t really matter if you think there is competition or if there are bigger or smaller players in the music industry. What matters is that you have a role in this universe and create your own signature on this planet. You converse the way you wish to send messages and interact with the world.

The pleasure that you give to the world is by your talent, emotions, mental state, physicality, and generosity of your heart that creates this magnificent energy around you. That’s what matters, and the universe knows what to look at, not just what promotion for the masses is.

 

Can you share your experience with InterContinental Music Awards, Queen Ofir?

Every award show is different, but InterContinental Music Awards is a very collective energy from all around the world. Although the award show was online, it was still captivating to see people from around the world come together. The platform is a fantastic way to honor and show the love and the rewards that beautiful musicians around the world deserve for their brilliant work. I highly recommend it to anyone.

 

What advice would you give someone who is just starting their music career?

Grayhawk: My advice for someone who is just starting their music career is to trust their intuition. If you can see and hear your vision internally, then you can bring it out into the world and manifest it. It’s important to pay attention to feedback. But don’t be afraid to set it aside if there’s a deeper voice in you that says no. That doesn’t seem right.

Create something that you feel comfortable with, that you like, and that you enjoy, and the audience will follow you, and the money will follow you as well. Trust yourself and your vision, and don’t be afraid to go in a different direction if that’s what feels right.

Queen Ofir: It is crucial to pay attention to emotions and how they connect to the universe when creating music. When an artist can bring a new element that touches people’s hearts, it is a beautiful move that comes from a place of being blessed, lucky, and gifted. The artist sees their gift as something to share with the world.

It is essential to share the love of music, its feelings, energy. And words, which are powerful, especially positive energy words. In summary, emotions and connection to the universe play a vital role in creating music that touches people’s hearts and brings positive energy to the world.

 

Can you tell us about the importance of the lyrics in your music, Queen Ofir?

It was very important for us to put the lyrics in our music. I took charge of putting them in three languages – Arabic, Hebrew, and English. We wanted to connect with people all over the world, especially when our music talks about the Middle East. We believe in keeping our hearts composed and sharing the message as best we can.

If you search for “Queen ofir, a Peace Player” lyrics, you’ll find them in all three languages. We want to share the love of music with the universe and connect through the powerful energy of positive words.

 

Can you tell us about your upcoming projects, Grayhawk?

Currently, I am working on a music video called “To Ask a Blessing,” which is in English and Gaelic. It’s part of a larger Wiccan spell, and I am glad to have Darlene Koldenhoven sing both English and Celtic parts. She performed with Queen ofir and me on “Peace Prayer,” where she did the English parts. We also had Bahman Mojallal, who did the Farsi.

The music video for “To Ask a Blessing” will be released soon, and everyone can tune into most of these videos at Grayhawk Deep Space Music YouTube channel. As far as my film work, I have several films in several music festivals. Regarding the date for the music release, I am shooting for the last Friday of next month.

 

Do you have any last words you would like to share with your fans and our viewers?

Grayhawk:  First of all, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all my fans for their support and love. It means the world to me when people say that they were touched by my music. I create music with the hope that each individual person can connect with it in their own way. And it brings me so much joy to see that happening.

Secondly, I want to say that I’m constantly creating new music, and I’m excited to share it with the world. I hope to continue touring and performing, and to bring my message of peace and positivity to as many people as possible. Thank you so much for your support, and I hope to see you soon!

Queen Ofir: The journey has just begun and there’s so much more to do. As artists, we have to continue to develop ourselves, create, learn new things, and get new inspirations. The best is yet to come and we are growing, and building something new that nobody has seen yet. We can never compare ourselves to what we were five years ago or even five days ago. We are constantly evolving, and that’s where it’s at. So, in the future, you can expect us to keep creating and evolving as artists.

 

Grayhawk Contact Info:

 

Queen Ofir Contact Info:

 

Click here to watch Grayhawk and Queen Ofir’s full interview on Instagram 

Merry and Grayhawk and Queen Ofir smiling to the camera during the star spot interview.

InterContinental Music Awards Team

Read more interviews