July 25, 2025 • 7 mins
Dom Okon is a musician and instrumental artist known for his unique style and catchy, feel-good tracks. Often referred to as The King of Instrumental Pop, Dom blends pop melodies with rich instrumental arrangements, creating music that's both uplifting and memorable. His work has gained attention for its ability to tell a story without words, connecting with listeners through sound alone.Highlights from Toby Gribben's Friday afternoon show on Shout Radio. Featuring chat with top showbiz guests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to thank God. It's Toby Highlights, the podcast version
of my radio show. We've got a cracking interview coming
up for you, and remember, if you want the full
unfeltered chaos, you can catch thank God. It's Toby Live
every Friday afternoon from three on Shout Radio. But enough
(00:22):
of the plugging, let's get on with the interview.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Start back weekend right thank God It's Toby.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Shopping online with Supervalue for the first time. Get twenty
euro off your first shop over eighty euro click and
collect or delivered to your door. YouTube. Either way, we'll
make your first shop a great one. Start shopping online
today at Supervalue dot e.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
A Cast recommends podcasts we look. I'm Tommy Bow and
I'm Donacale Callahan. Join us on our podcast The Offload,
where we tackle the major issues yes like why do
apples have stickers? Great question, Tommy, do you know how
fast the penguin they're rapping? And of course we discussed
a bit of rugby.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Make sure to check us out.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
The Offload podcast drops every Friday. Good on you, Tommy.
Do you know what I say?
Speaker 4 (01:13):
I've eaten at least four hundred stickers.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
A Cast is home to the world's best podcasts, including
the David McWilliams podcast, I'm Grandmam and the When You're
listening To Right Now. Dom Okain is a musician and
instrumental artist who's been referred as the King of instrumental
(01:38):
pop and Dom is on the line with us here
just now. How are you today? I'm good?
Speaker 2 (01:43):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (01:44):
I have excellent? Thanks now? Being dubbed the King of
instrumental pop, how did that title come about? And how
would you describe your signature sound? I take it you
do instrumental pop.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, so I do pop sounds as well as alternative.
Like my last album, my third one, I experiment with alternative,
but I'm mostly pop instrumental. The nickname came about when
I broke two records when I was eighteen, first one
being youngest musician in the US to have a video game,
and then the second one was youngest instrumental artists to
(02:19):
char on iTunes.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Oh wow, Now you've got an upcoming fourth album on
the way, So what can we expect from it this
time around? Is there a new direction or are you
sticking with what you're known for?
Speaker 4 (02:35):
This album is kind of going back to my pop sounds,
So my signature soundwich is pop. This album is kind
of more experimental in the sense of the story that's
being told, So it's more mystery based because it's like
exploring your twenties. So that's what the theme of this
album is going to be about.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Exciting and what do you hope people, you know, take
away from your music, especially those people who might be
quite new to instrumental pop.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
I think my goal with instrumental music, and like my
message with my music is just telling a story. That's
always my goal is, yes it's instrumental music, yeses have lyrics,
but there should be a story that's being told and
just hoping that listeners resonate with it. For the people
who've been following me now since I was sixteen, they
kind of see my growth in the story that I'm
(03:28):
telling through each album that I'm releasing.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
And how does it feel to have people who have
followed you since you were sixteen and you know, stuck
with you.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
It's really interesting because when I first started, which even
though it's only four years ago, it seems like such
a long time ago, I didn't expect to do this well,
and I didn't expect like to have a fan base
that would even follow me around for maybe more than
one album.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Yeah, So when you're making new music, do you feel
like you have to be kind of true to what
you've done before to kind of honor the fans and
I guess create what they would expect, or do you
like to create kind of new stuff and go in
new directions.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
I think for me, my first two albums are kind
of the same in terms of like that pops out
and this album is a return of that. My third
album I experimented and I still did well. It's still
charged on iTunes. So I think for me, it's just experimenting,
like what you said, but also with each album telling
a story that's kind of evolving from the prior one.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Now you're also working on an autobiography, So what made
you want to tell your story and why now?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
I think I wanted to tell my story because even
though you know, I'm not mainstream like these big artists,
I still think instrumental music, I've definitely made an impact
in this niche and this's genre because a lot of
instrumental artists I see, you know, they just create their
instrumentals and there's no story behind it. Yeah, but I
feel like I've a new era of instrumental music, especially
(05:03):
with all the records I've broken, So I felt like
it was right or just for me to tell my
story your book.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And why do you think right now is the right
time for you to tell your story when you know
it could be argued that this is still relatively near
the beginning of your story.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Well, I think you know, I've things have moved pretty quick.
I've released now three albums in my fourth one in
the span of three four years, So I think, you know,
I think this is a good time to kind of
showcase my success. I'm not saying that I'm not going
to have future success, and I think this is a
good time to kind of just recap and look back
at what I have accomplished in four years.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And you are also having a short film entitled dom
Oakan as answers some questions, So what inspired that film
and how does it connect to your music?
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Well, I think the short film it doesn't really have
any connection into my music. It's more of just a
comedy film where I'm getting interviewed about my personal life,
music and things like that. And you know, for people
who follow me or people who just are new to
my music and my fan base. Thing kind of looked
at me from a new lens and a cartoon, and
you know, it's just kind of just a new project
(06:17):
that I felt like I'm working on, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Yeah, Well, what other projects are you working on? I mean,
is there a fifth album or any projects at all
that you've got coming up?
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Well, I don't know, because, to be honest with you,
so we am a bit tired when it comes, you know,
because I've had four albums now, back to back to back.
So the fifth one I'm not really thinking about as
of now in terms of new projects. No, not really,
just you know, do occasional advertisements here there with ads
that approach me or brand partnerships, But right now I'm
(06:53):
just focused on my fourth album, Brilliant.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Well, in the meantime, where are we able to find
all your music that you've came with so far?
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Local stream, hot forums that everyone's familiar with, Spotify, Apple Music,
Deezer Pandora.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Yeah, brilliant. Well, many thanks for joining us on the
show today. It's been great, haven't you here?
Speaker 4 (07:15):
M hm. And it's great that you hosted me. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Fridays for celebration, good times and relaxation. So turn the
radio up and just listen. Listen. If you've got that
Freddy feeling, you'll soon be dancing on the ceiling. And
I'll be because of your host, Tommy. Grandma, I guess
some brilliant music's fantastic. Tommy is terrific and the speature
is a classic. So it's reached now heights. It's not
(07:44):
now we gain right, Thank god, it's Toby
Welcome to thank God. It's Toby Highlights, the podcast version
of my radio show. We've got a cracking interview coming
up for you, and remember, if you want the full
unfeltered chaos, you can catch thank God. It's Toby Live
every Friday afternoon from three on Shout Radio. But enough
(00:22):
of the plugging, let's get on with the interview.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Start back weekend right thank God It's Toby.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Shopping online with Supervalue for the first time. Get twenty
euro off your first shop over eighty euro click and
collect or delivered to your door. YouTube. Either way, we'll
make your first shop a great one. Start shopping online
today at Supervalue dot e.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
A Cast recommends podcasts we look. I'm Tommy Bow and
I'm Donacale Callahan. Join us on our podcast The Offload,
where we tackle the major issues yes like why do
apples have stickers? Great question, Tommy, do you know how
fast the penguin they're rapping? And of course we discussed
a bit of rugby.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Make sure to check us out.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
The Offload podcast drops every Friday. Good on you, Tommy.
Do you know what I say?
Speaker 4 (01:13):
I've eaten at least four hundred stickers.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
A Cast is home to the world's best podcasts, including
the David McWilliams podcast, I'm Grandmam and the When You're
listening To Right Now. Dom Okain is a musician and
instrumental artist who's been referred as the King of instrumental
(01:38):
pop and Dom is on the line with us here
just now. How are you today? I'm good?
Speaker 2 (01:43):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (01:44):
I have excellent? Thanks now? Being dubbed the King of
instrumental pop, how did that title come about? And how
would you describe your signature sound? I take it you
do instrumental pop.
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, so I do pop sounds as well as alternative.
Like my last album, my third one, I experiment with alternative,
but I'm mostly pop instrumental. The nickname came about when
I broke two records when I was eighteen, first one
being youngest musician in the US to have a video game,
and then the second one was youngest instrumental artists to
(02:19):
char on iTunes.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
Oh wow, Now you've got an upcoming fourth album on
the way, So what can we expect from it this
time around? Is there a new direction or are you
sticking with what you're known for?
Speaker 4 (02:35):
This album is kind of going back to my pop sounds,
So my signature soundwich is pop. This album is kind
of more experimental in the sense of the story that's
being told, So it's more mystery based because it's like
exploring your twenties. So that's what the theme of this
album is going to be about.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Exciting and what do you hope people, you know, take
away from your music, especially those people who might be
quite new to instrumental pop.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
I think my goal with instrumental music, and like my
message with my music is just telling a story. That's
always my goal is, yes it's instrumental music, yeses have lyrics,
but there should be a story that's being told and
just hoping that listeners resonate with it. For the people
who've been following me now since I was sixteen, they
kind of see my growth in the story that I'm
(03:28):
telling through each album that I'm releasing.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
And how does it feel to have people who have
followed you since you were sixteen and you know, stuck
with you.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
It's really interesting because when I first started, which even
though it's only four years ago, it seems like such
a long time ago, I didn't expect to do this well,
and I didn't expect like to have a fan base
that would even follow me around for maybe more than
one album.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
Yeah, So when you're making new music, do you feel
like you have to be kind of true to what
you've done before to kind of honor the fans and
I guess create what they would expect, or do you
like to create kind of new stuff and go in
new directions.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
I think for me, my first two albums are kind
of the same in terms of like that pops out
and this album is a return of that. My third
album I experimented and I still did well. It's still
charged on iTunes. So I think for me, it's just experimenting,
like what you said, but also with each album telling
a story that's kind of evolving from the prior one.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Now you're also working on an autobiography, So what made
you want to tell your story and why now?
Speaker 4 (04:40):
I think I wanted to tell my story because even
though you know, I'm not mainstream like these big artists,
I still think instrumental music, I've definitely made an impact
in this niche and this's genre because a lot of
instrumental artists I see, you know, they just create their
instrumentals and there's no story behind it. Yeah, but I
feel like I've a new era of instrumental music, especially
(05:03):
with all the records I've broken, So I felt like
it was right or just for me to tell my
story your book.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
And why do you think right now is the right
time for you to tell your story when you know
it could be argued that this is still relatively near
the beginning of your story.
Speaker 4 (05:19):
Well, I think you know, I've things have moved pretty quick.
I've released now three albums in my fourth one in
the span of three four years, So I think, you know,
I think this is a good time to kind of
showcase my success. I'm not saying that I'm not going
to have future success, and I think this is a
good time to kind of just recap and look back
at what I have accomplished in four years.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And you are also having a short film entitled dom
Oakan as answers some questions, So what inspired that film
and how does it connect to your music?
Speaker 4 (05:55):
Well, I think the short film it doesn't really have
any connection into my music. It's more of just a
comedy film where I'm getting interviewed about my personal life,
music and things like that. And you know, for people
who follow me or people who just are new to
my music and my fan base. Thing kind of looked
at me from a new lens and a cartoon, and
you know, it's just kind of just a new project
(06:17):
that I felt like I'm working on, to be honest.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Yeah, Well, what other projects are you working on? I mean,
is there a fifth album or any projects at all
that you've got coming up?
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Well, I don't know, because, to be honest with you,
so we am a bit tired when it comes, you know,
because I've had four albums now, back to back to back.
So the fifth one I'm not really thinking about as
of now in terms of new projects. No, not really,
just you know, do occasional advertisements here there with ads
that approach me or brand partnerships, But right now I'm
(06:53):
just focused on my fourth album, Brilliant.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Well, in the meantime, where are we able to find
all your music that you've came with so far?
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Local stream, hot forums that everyone's familiar with, Spotify, Apple Music,
Deezer Pandora.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Yeah, brilliant. Well, many thanks for joining us on the
show today. It's been great, haven't you here?
Speaker 4 (07:15):
M hm. And it's great that you hosted me. Thank you.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Fridays for celebration, good times and relaxation. So turn the
radio up and just listen. Listen. If you've got that
Freddy feeling, you'll soon be dancing on the ceiling. And
I'll be because of your host, Tommy. Grandma, I guess
some brilliant music's fantastic. Tommy is terrific and the speature
is a classic. So it's reached now heights. It's not
(07:44):
now we gain right, Thank god, it's Toby
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