Omar Apollo

Omar Apolonio Velasco was born on May 20, 1997, in Hobart, Indiana to Mexican parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Guadalajara.{{Cite web |title=Disha Hot |url=https://dishahot.com/ |access-date=November 9, 2022 |website=dishahot.com}} He grew up in Indiana with his three older siblings. Apollo's parents both worked multiple jobs to support the family.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-latin/omar-apollo-interview-866248/|title=Omar Apollo Wants to Inspire Young Latinx Musicians to 'Go Crazy'|first1=Jon|last1=Blistein|magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 6, 2019}} {{Cite web|last=Exposito|first=Suzy|url-access=limited|date=October 16, 2020|title=Meet Omar Apollo, the blue-haired, gender-rebellious, Mexican American Prince|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-10-16/omar-apollo-mexican-american-prince|access-date=October 21, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times}} As a child, Apollo was a ballet folklorico dancer and he was also a part of his Catholic church choir.

At the age of 12, Apollo's parents bought him a guitar at his request; however, it was an electric guitar without a guitar amplifier. Apollo traded the electric guitar for an acoustic guitar at a pawn shop.{{cite web |author=Tony Dominguez |title=Meet Omar Apollo, the 21-Year-Old Chicano Making Homegrown, Bilingual Soul |url=https://remezcla.com/features/music/omar-apollo-profile/ |access-date=November 19, 2018 |website=Remezcla, LLC}} At age 17, he worked at McDonald's to save up enough money to buy a laptop and then a microphone which he used to learn how to sing and play by watching and mimicking YouTube cover videos.Omar Apollo taught himself how to sing from YouTube. Now he's up for a Grammy

Apollo was also taught by his uncle and he played music at church; he formed a short-lived band with a friend at the church.

File:Omar apollo bk (cropped 2).jpg

Apollo created and uploaded his songs to SoundCloud, a platform with DIY streaming. At the time he worked at Jimmy John's and Guitar Center, and he lived in an attic.{{cite web|url =https://pitchfork.com/features/rising/get-to-know-omar-apollo-and-his-first-generation-love-songs/ | title = Get to Know Omar Apollo and His First-Generation Love Songs| author=Erika Ramirez | access-date = February 6, 2019 |website=Pitchfork| date = February 6, 2019}} In 2017, using $30 borrowed from a friend, he uploaded his song "Ugotme" to Spotify, where it was soon added to the platform's Fresh Finds and racked up 20,000 streams in a day.{{Cite web |last=Domanick |first=Andrea |date=June 11, 2019 |title=Omar Apollo's homegrown funk |url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/06/11/omar-apollo-friends-interview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014014621/https://www.thefader.com/2019/06/11/omar-apollo-friends-interview |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |website=The FADER}} A year later, the song had more than 15 million streams.

He released his first EP, Stereo, in 2018, which was similarly well received. In 2018 and 2019, Apollo went on two tours, the "Want Tour" and the "Voyager Tour." His second EP, Friends, was released in April 2019.{{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 |author=Evan Minsker|access-date=April 3, 2019|website=Pitchfork|date=April 3, 2019 }} The EP featured production by rock producer John Shanks, who had previously worked with artists such as Michelle Branch and Melissa Etheridge.{{Cite web |last=Norris |first=John |date=June 4, 2019 |title=A Conversation with Omar Apollo, the Soul, Funk, Rock and Hip-Hop Showman Who's One of the Most Refreshingly Real Rising Stars Around |url=https://lyricallemonade.com/p/a-conversation-with-omar-apollo-the-soul-funk-rock-and-hip-hop-showman-whos-one-of-the-most-refreshingly-real-rising-stars-around |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010214524/https://lyricallemonade.com/p/a-conversation-with-omar-apollo-the-soul-funk-rock-and-hip-hop-showman-whos-one-of-the-most-refreshingly-real-rising-stars-around |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Lyrical Lemonade}} Apollo is managed by Shanks' son, Dylan, whom he met over Twitter in July 2017 when the latter booked Apollo for a university show at NYU. Apollo signed with Artists Without A Label earlier that year and performed at SXSW as part of a showcase with the group. He went on a European tour in 2019 and played at Lollapalooza as well as Tropicália.{{Cite web|title=These Were Our Favorite Moments from 2019's Tropicália Music Festival|url=https://remezcla.com/lists/music/these-were-our-favorite-moments-from-2019s-tropicalia-music-festival/|access-date=February 22, 2022|website=Remezcla}} In late 2019, Apollo released the singles, "Frío" and "Hit Me Up" which are collaborations with producer Kenny Beats.{{Citation|title=Omar Apollo – Frío|url=https://genius.com/Omar-apollo-frio-lyrics|access-date=July 17, 2020}}{{Citation|title=Omar Apollo, Dominic Fike & Kenny Beats – Hit Me Up|url=https://genius.com/Omar-apollo-dominic-fike-and-kenny-beats-hit-me-up-lyrics|access-date=July 17, 2020}} In April 2020, Apollo released the single "Imagine U", another collaboration with Kenny Beats.{{Citation|title=Omar Apollo – Imagine U|url=https://genius.com/Omar-apollo-imagine-u-lyrics|access-date=July 17, 2020}}

On August 7, 2020, Apollo released the lead single "Stayback" from his debut mixtape;{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Josh |date=August 7, 2020 |title=Omar Apollo drops first single, 'Stayback', from his forthcoming debut album |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/omar-apollo-announces-debut-album-first-single-stayback-released-this-week-2720790 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322032253/https://www.nme.com/news/music/omar-apollo-announces-debut-album-first-single-stayback-released-this-week-2720790 |archive-date=March 22, 2022 |website=NME }} and two weeks later released a remix{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=August 21, 2020 |title=Omar Apollo Recruits Bootsy Collins for Funky 'Stayback' Remix |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/omar-apollo-bootsy-collins-stayback-remix-1047942/ |access-date=May 18, 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} featuring Bootsy Collins, whom Apollo has cited as an influence.{{Cite web |last=Lounges |first=Tom |date=February 4, 2021 |title=Hobart native Omar Apollo picked to break big in 2021 |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/music/hobart-native-omar-apollo-picked-to-break-big/article_ed0a0c99-25ca-5f24-9104-021c68d2945b.html |access-date=May 18, 2024 |website=nwitimes.com |language=en}} On September 10, he released the second single "Kamikaze."{{Cite web|last=Ruiz|first=Matthew Ismael|title=Omar Apollo Shares New Song "Kamikaze"|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/omar-apollo-shares-new-song-kamikaze-listen/|access-date=October 26, 2020|website=Pitchfork|date=September 10, 2020 }} On September 25, Apollo appeared on alternative R&B Japanese singer Joji's second album Nectar on the track "High Hopes."{{Cite web|title=Joji Announces 'Nectar' Album Tracklist Alongside New Merch Collection|url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/9/joji-nectar-new-album-tracklist-merch-collection|access-date=October 26, 2020|website=HYPEBEAST|date=September 15, 2020 }} Apollo released two more singles, "Dos Uno Nueve (219)" and "Want U Around" (featuring Ruel) before releasing his first mixtape Apolonio on October 16, 2020.{{Cite web|date=October 7, 2020|title=Omar Apollo announces new project, 'Apolonio'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/omar-apollo-shares-details-of-upcoming-debut-album-apolonio-2774470|access-date=October 26, 2020|website=NME}}

File:Omar Apollo Interview Dec 2022 (cropped).png

Apollo was featured on "Te olvidaste" by Spanish artist C. Tangana on his 2021 album El Madrileño. The song received two Latin Grammy Awards nominations for Record of the Year and Best Alternative Song.{{Cite web |title=Omar Apollo nominated for two Latin Grammys |url=https://www.warnerrecords.com/news/omar-apollo-nominated-two-latin-grammys |access-date=January 9, 2022 |website=warnerrecords.com |date=September 28, 2021 }} At the 65th Grammy Awards, Apollo was nominated for Best New Artist, his first Grammy nomination.

In 2021, Apollo released the single "Go Away", including a music video and a live performance on The Tonight Show.{{cite web |title=Omar Apollo, 'Go Away' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/now-playing/2021/07/13/1014283975/omar-apollo-go-away |publisher=NPR |date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=November 10, 2021|last1=Hale |first1=Chasity }}{{cite magazine |title=Watch Omar Apollo's Dramatic Performance of 'Go Away' on 'Fallon' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/omar-apollo-go-away-fallon-1200003/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 21, 2021 |access-date=November 10, 2021}} He followed up with the single "Bad Life" featuring Kali Uchis, their second collaboration; "Hey Boy" from Apolonio was the first.{{cite web |title=Omar Apollo (feat. Kali Uchis), 'Bad Life' |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/now-playing/2021/11/08/1053024800/omar-apollo-ft-kali-uchis-bad-life |publisher=NPR |date=November 8, 2021 |access-date=November 10, 2021|last1=Sposato |first1=Cat }} In February 2022, Apollo released the single "Invincible" featuring Daniel Caesar and announced the release date for his debut album.{{Cite magazine|last=Mier|first=Tomás|date=February 9, 2022|title=Omar Apollo and Daniel Caesar Reminisce About a Love that Once Was in Beautifully Queer 'Invincible' Video|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/omar-apollo-daniel-ceasar-invincible-1296454/|access-date=February 22, 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone}} The next month he released the singles "Killing Me" which included a live performance on The Tonight Show as well as "Tamagotchi," which was co-written and produced by The Neptunes.{{Cite web |title=Omar Apollo joins up with The Neptunes for "Tamagotchi" |url=https://www.thefader.com/2022/03/23/omar-apollo-joins-up-with-the-neptunes-for-tamagotchi-listen |access-date=April 14, 2022 |website=The Fader}} With the release of "Tamagotchi", Apple Music Up Next selected him as its featured artist for the month in April 2022.

Apollo released his debut studio album Ivory on April 8, 2022, and embarked on the Desvelado tour supporting the album. The album received mostly positive reviews with praises going towards Apollo's musical growth and vocal performance.{{cite web|title=Omar Apollo - Ivory|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/ivory/omar-apollo|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=May 11, 2022}} It entered the Billboard 200 chart, marking his first-ever entry on the chart. The deluxe version of the album, Ivory (Marfil), was released on August 12, 2022.{{cite web |title=Omar Apollo Unveils Deluxe Album 'Ivory (Marfil)' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/omar-apollo-unveils-deluxe-album-ivory-marfil/ |website=Clash |date=August 15, 2022 |access-date=September 4, 2022}} In September 2022, the track "Evergreen" went viral on TikTok which helped boost the song to enter the Spotify and Apple Music charts and eventually debut on Billboard Hot 100 at number 62 for the week ending of October 1, 2022, earning Apollo his first-ever entry on the chart.{{Cite tweet|number=1574502114008743964|user=billboardcharts|title=@omarapollo's "Evergreen" debuts at No. 62 on this week's #Hot100. It's his first career entry on the chart.|work=Billboard|date=September 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927041920/https://twitter.com/billboardcharts/status/1574502114008743964|archive-date=September 27, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |title=Billboard Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2022-10-01/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 29, 2022}} In response to the rapid success, the song was chosen as the album's next single and was sent to contemporary hit radio on October 4, 2022, making it his first-ever radio single.{{Cite web |title=Top 40/M Future Releases {{!}} Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates |url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003021739/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases |archive-date=October 3, 2022 |access-date=October 2, 2022 |website=All Access}}

In addition to solo tours, Apollo also performed at the Coachella, Something in the Water, and All Points East music festivals in 2022. In early 2023, he opened for SZA on her SOS Tour.{{cite web |title=SZA Announces 'SOS' Arena Tour With Omar Apollo |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/sza-sos-tour-tickets-omar-apollo-1235459258/ |website=Variety |date=December 13, 2022 |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=September 11, 2023}} Later in 2023, Apollo was announced as the ambassador for the skincare brand Youth to the People.{{cite web |title=Youth to the People announces Omar Apollo as first ambassador |url=https://www.glossy.co/pop/youth-to-the-people-announces-omar-apollo-as-first-ambassador/ |website=Glossy |date=July 18, 2023 |publisher=Digiday Media |access-date=July 20, 2023}} Omar also starred in the fall/winter 2023 men's campaign for the fashion house Loewe.{{cite web |last1=Chin |first1=Amos |title=Omar Apollo and Jamie Dornan are the Protagonists of the LOEWE FW23 Campaign |url=https://www.augustman.com/sg/fashion/omar-apollo-and-jamie-dornan-loewe-fw23-campaign/ |website=Augustman |date=July 20, 2023 |access-date=July 20, 2023}} In September, Apollo was honored with the Inspira Award at the 2023 Hispanic Heritage Awards.{{cite web |title=Omar Apollo, Café Tacvba and More to Receive Honors at 2023 Hispanic Heritage Awards |url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/omar-apollo-cafe-tacuba-cesar-conde-hispanic-heritage-awards-1235698952/ |website=Variety |date=August 17, 2023 |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=September 11, 2023}}

In April 2024, Omar released the single "Spite," the first release from his second album God Said No.{{Citation |title=Omar Apollo – Spite |url=https://genius.com/Omar-apollo-spite-lyrics |access-date=May 4, 2024}} This was followed by the May 16 release of the second single "Dispose of Me".

The 14-track set was written over the course of a three-month stay in London in 2023, and was inspired by poets Mary Oliver, Victoria Chang, and Ocean Vuong. God Said No was recorded in London's Abbey Road Studios with executive producer Teo Halm with features from Mustafa and actor Pedro Pascal. The title was inspired by a friend's assessment of his recently ended relationship, which Apollo described as "I gave it my everything, and God said 'no.'" The album was released on June 28, 2024.{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2024 |title=Omar Apollo Announces His New Album 'God Said No' |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/omar-apollo-new-album-god-said-no-release-date-tracklist/ |access-date=May 16, 2024 |website=UPROXX |language=en-US}} In September 2024, Apollo made his acting debut in the Luca Guadagnino film Queer.

In December 2024, Omar was named as part of Forbes magazine's 30 Under 30 Music 2025 list.{{cite web |title=30 Under 30 Music |url=https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2025/music |website=Forbes |access-date=December 4, 2024}}

Apollo's music has primarily been described as R&B, alternative R&B, and pop{{Cite web |title=R&B singer Omar Apollo: 'Growing up, I was called slurs. But on the internet people are very open' {{!}} Music {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/12/rb-singer-omar-apollo-growing-up-i-was-called-slurs-but-on-the-internet-people-are-very-open |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Omar Apollo - Ivory |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/omar-apollo-ivory/ |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=Clash }}{{Cite magazine |last1=Havens |first1=Lyndsey |date=April 5, 2022 |title=Why Omar Apollo Scrapped the First Draft of His Debut Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/omar-apollo-debut-album-ivory-interview-1235053786/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 2, 2022}}{{cite web |author=Eric Skelton |date=April 12, 2022 |title=How Omar Apollo Became One of Pop's Most Exciting New Stars |url=https://www.complex.com/music/omar-apollo-interview-ivory/ |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=Complex}} with elements of soul, funk, hip hop,{{Cite web |last=Arunarsirakul |first=Alissa |date=April 11, 2019 |title=Omar Apollo Revives Indie-Funk with 'Friends' EP Ahead of 'The Voyager' Tour |url=http://www.onestowatch.com/en/blog/omar-apollo-revives-indie-funk-with-friends-ep |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020065304/https://www.onestowatch.com/en/blog/omar-apollo-revives-indie-funk-with-friends-ep |archive-date=October 20, 2022 |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=Ones to Watch }} latin music, trap, and bedroom pop.

While growing up, he listened to his parents' favorite musicians such as Pedro Infante, Los Panchos and the Beatles. His own influences include diverse musicians like Neil Young, Paul Simon, John Mayer, Prince, Bootsy Collins, Rick James, and The Internet, a r&b band. When speaking to Billboard, Apollo listed Minnie Riperton's Perfect Angel, Whitney Houston's self-titled album, Nirvana's Nevermind, Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as inspiration for his musical career.

Apollo's parents encouraged him to attend college; however Apollo dropped out after two weeks to pursue a musical career. He has Mexican citizenship.{{Citation |last=Gobierno de Mexico |title=Ficha de registro CURP mexicana de Omar Apolonio Velasco Velasco |date=October 19, 1999 |url=http://archive.org/details/curp-de-omar-apollo |access-date=August 15, 2023}}

Apollo is gay and has denied queerbaiting allegations saying, 'It's not a choice, it's just what I am. [...] I'm totally aware of the privilege we have now to be ourselves and still have a career [...] people thought I was queerbaiting before. I wasn't super open about my sexuality, but people were hearing things. [...] It had a lot to do with me growing up in Indiana which is very conservative. I stopped putting pronouns in my music for a couple of years then I just realized, I can't let other people's opinions influence and dictate my life.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/omar-apollo-grammy-best-new-artist-nomination-interview-1235183428/ | title=Omar Apollo on His Best New Artist Grammy Nod & That NSFW Viral Tweet | magazine=Billboard }}{{cite web | url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/omar-apollo-queerbaiting-claims_n_63866e2ee4b0e4c77597ccc4 | title=Omar Apollo Responds to 'Queerbaiting' Accusation in NSFW Detail | date=November 29, 2022 }} In an interview in 2022, Apollo said, "I feel like in the beginning, [...] I was trying to keep the mystique. But I don't even care anymore [...] now I'm just like, I'm very gay."{{Cite news |title=After years of early success, Omar Apollo releases full debut album 'Ivory' |publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/04/10/1091927709/after-years-of-early-success-omar-apollo-releases-full-debut-album-ivory |access-date=April 12, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Alex |title=Omar Apollo on How His 'Fluid' Debut Album Speaks to a New Generation: 'Queer Kids Don't Want to Label Themselves' |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/omar-apollo-album-ivory-debut-1235228138/ |website=Variety |date=April 8, 2022 |publisher=Variety Media |access-date=October 12, 2022}}

{{Infobox artist discography

| Artist = Omar Apollo

| Studio = 2

| EP = 3

| Singles = 30

| Music videos = 17

| Option = 1

| Option name = Mixtapes

| 1Option = 1

| 1Option name = Reissue

| 2Option = 2

| 2Option name = Other charted songs

| 3Option = 5

| 3Option name = Guest appearances

}}

Headlining

• The W.A.N.T. Tour (2018){{cite web | title=Omar Apollo Announces 15-Date Headlining 'The W.A.N.T Tour' | website=These Days | date=May 9, 2018 | url=https://thesedaysmag.com/news/omar-apollo-announces-15-date-headlining-the-want-tour | access-date=May 8, 2024}}
• The Voyager Tour (2019){{cite web | last=Welby | first=Patrick 'Pwelbs' | title=Omar Apollo Announces 'The Voyager Tour' 2019 | website=These Days | date=February 7, 2019 | url=https://thesedaysmag.com/news/2019/2/5/omar-apollo-announces-the-voyager-tour-2019?format=amp | access-date=May 8, 2024}}
• The Speed of Sound Tour (2019){{cite web | title=Omar Apollo | website=Speed of Sound Tour | date=May 7, 2024 | url=https://www.flaunt.com/blog/omar-apollo-tour | access-date=May 8, 2024}}
• Desvelado Tour (2022)
• The Prototype Tour (2022)
• God Said No World Tour{{Cite web |last=Hodges |first=Dylan |date=August 14, 2024 |title=Get ready for Omar Apollo's North American headline tour |url=https://www.wishtv.com/news/allindiana/get-ready-for-omar-apollos-north-american-headline-tour/ |access-date=August 21, 2024 |website=Indianapolis News {{!}} Indiana Weather {{!}} Indiana Traffic {{!}} WISH-TV {{!}} |language=en-US}} (2024)

Supporting

• SZA - SOS Tour (2023)
• Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever, The World Tour (2023)

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{sister project links|d=Q65675682|c=Category:Omar Apollo|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|species=no|wikt=no}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{AllMusic}}
• {{Discogs artist}}
• {{MusicBrainz artist}}
• {{SoundCloud|omarapollo}}

{{Omar Apollo|state=expanded}}

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Category:1997 births

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century American male writers

Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters

Category:American gay musicians

Category:American gay writers

Category:American LGBTQ singer-songwriters

Category:American musicians of Mexican descent

Category:Gay singer-songwriters

Category:Hispanic and Latino American musicians

Category:LGBTQ Hispanic and Latino American people

Category:LGBTQ people from Indiana

Category:LGBTQ people in Latin music

Category:Living people

Category:People from Hobart, Indiana

Category:Singers from Indiana

Category:Songwriters from Indiana

Category:Spanish-language singers of the United States