Friends (Omar Apollo EP)

On March 4, 2019, AWAL Recordings announced in a press release that Omar Apollo had joined their roster. This deal would serve to give him radio promotion, help him breach international markets and distribution of his music.{{Cite web|url=https://www.awal.com/blog/omar-apollo-joins-awal|title=Soulful R&B Singer-Songwriter Omar Apollo Joins AWAL|website=www.awal.com|date=4 March 2019 |language=en-us|access-date=2020-02-13}}

In an interview with DJBooth.net, Omar Apollo revealed that his upcoming EP would be more funk-oriented, with "space-y" sounds, including ballads, and having a more themed sound compared to his debut Stereo.{{Cite web|url=https://djbooth.net/features/2019-03-19-omar-apollo-interview-turning-passion-into-inspiration|title=How Omar Apollo Is Turning His Passion into Inspiration: Interview|last=Draughorne|first=Kenan|website=DJBooth|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}

On January 30, 2019, Omar released Trouble{{cite web |title=Trouble by Omar Apollo |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/trouble/1449258497?i=1449258505 |publisher=iTunes |access-date=25 January 2020}} across all music platforms. He announced that it would be the lead single for his 2nd EP, the next body of work since his debut EP Stereo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/01/30/omar-apollo-new-song-trouble|title=Hear Omar Apollo's new song "Trouble"|last=Maicki|first=Salvatore|date=January 30, 2019|website=The FADER|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-01-30}} The same day, Apollo also released a music video for the song which features his nephew alongside him, the video details Omar's decisions viewed through his nephew's eyes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/omar-apollo-trouble-video/|title=Omar Apollo's "Trouble" Video: Watch It Here|date=2019-01-30|website=Highsnobiety|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}

Ashamed was released as the second single on February 27, 2019.{{cite web |title=Ashamed by Omar Apollo |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/ashamed-single/1451974062 |publisher=iTunes |access-date=25 January 2020}} It is described as a mainly funk and R&B track which he produced with Blake Slatkin. The accompanying music and lyric video starred him recording a day out with his friends.{{Cite web|url=https://earmilk.com/2019/02/28/omar-apollo-delivers-the-blues-on-his-newest-single-ashamed/|title=Omar Apollo delivers the blues on his newest single "Ashamed" [Video]|last=Castel|first=Gregory|date=2019-02-28|website=EARMILK|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}

In the week anticipating the EP release, Omar Apollo released the title track Friends as a promotional single.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/omar-apollo-announces-new-friends-ep-shares-new-song-listen/|title=Omar Apollo Announces New Friends EP, Shares New Song: Listen|website=Pitchfork|date=3 April 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}

A music video for the disco inspired track So Good was released May 16, 2019. Apollo is seen performing in a retro-inspired set.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/05/16/watch-omar-apollos-discofied-so-good-video|title=Watch Omar Apollo's discofied "So Good" video|website=The FADER|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}

The final music video for the era was for the song Kickback which premiered on October 1, 2019. This video features Omar partying with friends on a yacht living a dream. At the end of the video he is seen being struck by lightning.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/omar-apollo-new-video-kickback-2019-tour-891903/|title=See Omar Apollo Captain a Yacht in New 'Kickback' Video|last=Exposito|first=Suzy|date=2019-10-01|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}

On March 9, 2019, Omar Apollo embarked on the Voyager Tour in support of the EP which spanned 34 dates across the United States and Canada. The tour included festival dates at SXSW.{{Cite web|url=https://thesedaysmag.com/news/2019/2/5/omar-apollo-announces-the-voyager-tour-2019|title=Omar Apollo Announces 'The Voyager Tour' 2019|website=These Days|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Friends track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 22:37

| title1 = Ashamed

| writer1 = {{hlist|Omar Velasco|John Shanks|Blake Slatkin}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Apollo|Shanks|Blake}}

| length1 = 3:24

| title2 = Kickback

| writer2 = {{hlist|Velasco}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Apollo|Oscar Santander}}

| length2 = 2:51

| title3 = Friends

| writer3 = {{hlist|Shanks|Apollo}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Apollo|Shanks}}

| length3 = 3:07

| title4 = There For Me (Interlude)

| writer4 = {{hlist|Slatkin|Velasco}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Apollo|Blake}}

| length4 = 1:23

| title5 = Hearing Your Voice

| writer5 = {{hlist|Shanks|Apollo}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Apollo|Shanks}}

| length5 = 4:02

| title6 = So Good

| writer6 = {{hlist|Shanks|Velasco}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Apollo|Shanks|Blake}}

| length6 = 4:27

| title7 = Trouble

| writer7 = {{hlist|Slatkin|Velasco}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Apollo|Blake|Teo Halm}}

| length7 = 3:23

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Omar Apollo}}

Category:Albums produced by Blake Slatkin

Category:2019 EPs

Category:Contemporary R&B albums by American artists

Category:AWAL EPs