Omar Apollo
Biography
Omar Apolonio Velasco, known professionally as Omar Apollo, is a Mexican-American singer and songwriter born on May 20, 1997, in Hobart, Indiana. He is the son of Mexican immigrants from Guadalajara. Apollo's musical journey began at age 12 when he started playing the guitar. He initially learned to play by watching YouTube videos and playing in church. After a brief two-week stint in college, he decided to pursue music full-time.
Career Beginnings
Apollo started his career by uploading his songs to SoundCloud. In 2017, he borrowed $30 from a friend to upload his song "Ugotme" to Spotify. The song quickly gained traction, amassing 20,000 streams in a single day after being featured on a Spotify playlist. This early success set the stage for his first EP, "Stereo," released in 2018. He followed this with his second EP, "Friends," in 2019 and his debut mixtape, "Apolonio," in 2020.
Breakthrough and "Ivory"
Apollo's debut studio album, "Ivory," was released in April 2022 and received positive reviews. A track from the album, "Evergreen," went viral on TikTok, leading to his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The success of the album earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. He also received two Latin Grammy nominations for his collaboration with C. Tangana on the song "Te olvidaste." His sophomore album, "God Said No," is set to be released on June 28, 2024.
Musical Style and Influences
Omar Apollo's music is often described as a blend of R&B, pop, funk, soul, and Latin music. He sings in both English and Spanish, reflecting his Mexican-American heritage. His influences are diverse, ranging from his parents' favorite musicians like Pedro Infante and The Beatles to artists such as Prince, Neil Young, and D'Angelo. He has also cited indie rock bands like The Strokes and Tame Impala as inspirations.