Omar Apollo Taking Over the Music Scene

Where do I even begin with this one? Do I start with my discovery of his music, or do I just dive right in and talk about his new music? There are so many things that I want to say about Omar Apollo, but I don’t think anything I say will every truly suffice. The recently turned 22-year old (you heard me right...22-years old) Mexican-American has taken the alternative/R&B/ indie music scene by storm, and he shows no signs of stopping.

Apollo, real last name Velasco, carries himself with an air of ease and maturity that betrays his actual age. He’s the type of guy that could very easily be seen as the stereotypical, cool kid in school who never once tried hard to be cool—it just came naturally. And really, that sense of being natural is a true testament to his work. All of his releases, ranging from one of his earliest releases, “Pram,” to his newest EP “Friends,” reflect Apollo’s easygoing, romantic demeanor. So what sets him apart from everyone else? There are countless musicians of different backgrounds and ethnicities that create beautiful, catchy work for others to enjoy. Personally, I find Omar Apollo to be particularly unique for two reasons: 1. His music has a distinct variety of musical inspiration that blends in with his pure, authentic talent. 2. The inclusion of his heritage brings a sense of pride that many others, of Hispanic/Latinx background, can feel represented by.

For starters, Apollo’s age is something that I can’t seem to grasp completely with his discography displaying a sense of musicality that isn’t typically seen with someone so young. With only two EP releases and a handful of singles, Apollo has unequivocally declared his status as a force to be reckoned with. While only 22-years old, the Indiana native has a voice that could easily be mistaken as a force coming from a soulful, seasoned veteran of music. Songs like, “Ugotme,” from his 2018 EP, “Stereo,” and single, “Unbothered,” showcase his ability to hit notes reminiscent of the prolific, soulful R&B singer, Al Green, while also maintaining the crooner confidence heard in the love ballads of the late 1950s to early 1960s.

The recent, 2019 release of “Friends” continues to show off the singer’s chops with songs ranging from funk to pop to folky acoustic. Tracks like “Ashamed,” have Prince vibes written all over it—from the “wah” intro of the guitar to the ever-present, tasteful falsetto. Other tracks like, “So Good,” could easily fit into Michael Jackson’s 1979 album, Off the Wall, with the song having a strong, old school vibe reliant on piercing synths and disco beats. Then there is the more laidback side of Apollo that can be heard in songs like “Kickback” and “Friends.” “Kickback” has an infectious rhythm spurred on by the bass line along with effortless, “cool as a cucumber” vocals. This song is definitely one for cruising with your windows down, friends in the backseat, and shades on. “Friends,” on the other hand, is an acoustic piece that reflects on young love as well as one’s own path of growing pains—showing a more vulnerable side of Apollo. As a whole, this EP solidifies Apollo’s ability to respectfully take his influences and mesh them together, along with his own eccentric vibe, to create music that expresses who he is, and the messages he wants to convey.

Amidst all of his influences, Apollo still manages to incorporate his culture into his music— which for me, as a fellow Latina, is super inspiring and heartening. Apollo is a sign of a new generational wave that isn’t afraid to bring their culture into the mainstream media of America but is instead more willing and more motivated than ever to celebrate their heritage and take back the narrative that has been so falsely skewed in the political sphere of America. That pride can be seen in specific songs like, “Amor Malo” and “Hijo De Su Madre,” off his EP “Stereo.” “Amor Malo,” for example, contains a traditional Mexican guitar style of playing that can mainly be heard at the beginning of the song—a gesture small, but still significant enough to pay homage to his Mexican background. The more upbeat “Hijo De Su Madre” continues to carry that pride with a playful line, “You ain’t ever seen a brown boy like this,” perhaps highlighting the fact that Apollo is surpassing the stereotypes attributed to Hispanic/Latinx people. After all, Apollo is a “brown boy” that is thriving in the predominantly, white-dominated genre of indie/ alternative. His success can be seen as a declaration that whatever walls society builds up against you...you can surpass and create your own story.