OMAR APOLLO: WINNING HEARTS
25-year-old Mexican-American musician Omar Apollo was born and raised in Indiana. His musical journey is far from the usually carefully crafted careers that litter the American music landscape. Apollo became a musician at 17 and bought a microphone and a laptop from his savings. He started to record music in his parent’s garage. Apollo knew how to play the guitar, but he had never really sung, and he learned vocal techniques through YouTube tutorials. He also polished his guitar fingerwork via the video-sharing platform. Apollo’s nonchalant origins are even more awe-inspiring as he was recently nominated for a Grammy award for the category of ‘Best New Artist in 2023.’
Apollo released his first EP titled “Stereo” in 2018, followed closely by his second EP in 2019 titled “Friends.” Both projects found tons of appreciation from critics and listeners, with major publications, such as Pitchfork and Rolling Stones, giving rave reviews to his sound that they described as “bedroom soul.” While Apollo’s music is broadly categorized as R&B / Soul, his sound is much less restrictive and takes inspiration from everywhere. On his latest records, Apollo dabbles in chillwave, lo-fi, and Latin trap, showing that he can masterfully switch genres while maintaining his overall sound. This genre-hopping is on full display in Apollo’s debut album, “Ivory,” released after much anticipation in 2022. Ivory came after Apollo had released his self-recorded album, “Apollonio,” in 2020. The road to Apollo’s debut album vastly differed from most other new artists since he collaborated with big names like Kali Uchis and saw considerable success with singles like “Go Away.” Ivory cemented Apollo’s status and the niche he had already carved in the contemporary music landscape.
Apollo’s work is unique, but it is hard not to compare him to artists such as Frank Ocean. His songs centered on romantic yearning, and emotive lyricism provides parallels to Ocean’s work. However, Apollo’s uniqueness stands out in the homage he pays to his cultural heritage. Songs like “Tamagotchi” and “En el Ovido” are direct love letters to Apollo’s Mexican origins and break the language barrier. Latin music is experiencing unprecedented popularity, with acts like Bad Bunny becoming global, and Apollo can also be considered part of that movement.
According to Rolling Stone, Apollo is “One of the most exciting artists of his generation,” and their praise does not seem hyperbole when one looks at the response Apollo’s work has gotten from his audience. In April 2022, Apollo played to a vast audience enthralled with his sound at Coachella and headlined a sold-out tour shortly afterward. Apollo’s knack for encompassing different genres yet keeping a cohesive sound is rare in the industry, and the Grammy-nominated artist has enjoyed massive success. Despite being a recognized name, Apollo is only just getting started, and if his genre-hopping tendencies are anything to go by, his musical journey will hold plenty of surprises.
