‘Apolonio’ represents the artist’s debut album

As with most artists, indie singer Omar Apollo struggled to grapple with the after-effects of quarantine due to COVID-19. The artist claimed to have been hard at work on multiple projects, music-related and not, but decided to scrap any progress he’d made due to going stir crazy.

After losing many of his outlets to destress and find creative peace in, such as touring and interacting with fans, the singer sat down and focused on narrowing his songwriting skills. What came out of the extremely personal, inward-looking meditation sessions was his debut studio album, Apolonio.

The title, taken from the artist’s middle name, is a nod towards his family, childhood and Mexican heritage. The debut album delivers Apollo’s standard polished, eclectic sound that his fans have come to know and love, only on a slightly larger scale. After two successful EP’s, Stereo and Friends, Apollo was ready to deliver something more than a simple, seven-track EP.

Known for his unique, soulful swagger, Apollo can capture a listener simply with his voice and his guitar or bass. Since his debut EP, Stereo, was released in 2018, Apollo has picked up new fans and followers consistently over the last two years.

On Apolonio, Apollo showcases his talents and what he’s been hard at work on for the past year. With no shortage of time to practice, Apollo delivers his bittersweet lyrics in a voice more skilled than ever before. With a lush falsetto that can blend with any instrument he plays, the combinations of voice and guitar have never sounded better.

Apollo also explores his Spanish roots on this project further than ever recorded before, as the new project includes his first commercially advertised Spanish song, “Dos Uno Nueve (219).” The song is a clear standout on the album, as he celebrates his traditional roots in an ode to his family.

Other standout hits include lead single “Kamikaze,” the R&B fused track “Stayback,” as well as “Want U Around” featuring rising talent Ruel. His range across the album is second to none, as he offers soulful blues on one track and stylistic borderline rap flows on another.

Another aspect that cannot be overlooked within this album is the lyrical content, as Apollo wrote most of this album sheltered within his confines. On the upbeat indie ballad, “Useless,” Apollo sings: “I’ve been watchin’ you and I’ve been tryna decide / If I could ever remind you of what you really liked / And I know it’s not possible, but I wish you would try / ‘Cause it keeps on playing back in my head a million times.”

The largest complaint to take away from this album is it’s unsurprising, disappointing short duration. While the artist is somewhat known for having short songs on projects that are typically nine tracks or less, fans can’t help but clamor for more content from him. One of the most interesting collaborations on the project, “Hey Boy” with Kali Uchis, is one of the highlights of the album. However, the song is a mere 1 minute and 42 seconds. With the simple addition of one more verse per song, fans could enjoy his music more and still sit on the edge of their seats for the arrival of his next release.

Despite the project’s short length, it’s clear that Apollo was striving for quality over quantity. After sheltering away and crafting Apolonio, it’s clear that it was a massive success, as he delivered one of his most polished and repeat-worthy projects to date.

Review: 4/5