Omar Apollo ‘Apolonio’

Omar Apollo has made the most of his time in quarantine. The 23-year-old musician threw out everything he’d been working on before the pandemic swept the world and re-focused his songwriting.

Seven months later, Apollo emerged from a sparkly purple bath to deliver us a project that is equally as gleaming. 

Apolonio isn’t technically an album -  he doesn't want to release a full-length record without going on tour - but there is no doubt this 26-minute experience will leave you feeling complete and perhaps a little high on timeless funk grooves.

After two independently released EP’s, spending the better part of his last two years on tour and signing a deal with Warner Records back in April, we are hearing what a seasoned, grounded and introspective Apollo has to offer. 

Apolonio is an autobiographical stream-of-consciousness written in the spirit of Prince, he told the L.A. Times. 

The title is taken from his middle name. Born in rural Indiana to immigrants from Guadalajara, Omar Apolonio Velasco makes many nods to his Mexican heritage throughout the project and expresses an undeniable theme of heartache. 

And he doesn't do this alone. The project has an eclectic range of features: Colombian singer-songwriter Kali Uchis, Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins, Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr and up-and-coming British-Aussie singer Ruel. 

As a result, this project has a diverse range of neo soul, funk, pop and even up-beat hip-hop elements. 

Here are the top 3 tracks that make me this hype to tell you about them: 

“Kamikake”:

This track was released in September and is arguably his best single to date. It's made its way onto a number of my playlists due to its irresistible funk bounce and catchy chorus.

Apollo wrote this track when he was reminiscing on an old relationship; he feels good that he can hold on to the memories without the feelings it gave him. It’s nostalgic, but Apollo still makes it an upbeat jam.

This track has an oddly specific yet epic lyric that can’t go unnoticed: “I ain't really know you was freaky though, ass round like cheerios.”

“Want U Around” ft. Ruel:

This track dropped last week as the final single before the project release. I was so excited to see this collaboration.

I’ve been listening to Ruel, a 17-year-old breakthrough artist, for quite some time now and I knew before even listening that their vocals would blend beautifully. This track slows it down and gets you real deep in your feels in the best way possible.  

“Bi Fren”:

Here’s where Apollo dabbles in hip hop. I love that it lies in between an alt-rock heavy track and an incredibly smooth, groovy ballad - truly showing he can do a little bit of everything. “Bi Fren” is a meditative exploration of his anger toward a boy who broke his heart.

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Even though these tracks and many others on the project are about unrequited love, Apollo is badass as ever. I’ll leave you with this quote:

 “I get lots of beautiful messages from people. It feels good to know that people find comfort in me expressing myself. If I want to wear a skirt, I wear a skirt. If I want to put on glitter, I’mma wear glitter, you know? I can’t make people like my music, or like me as a person. I put it out in the world, and you do what you want with it.”