Omar Apollo - Apolonio

Omar Apollo's Apolonio is the sound of a bedroom auteur stepping into brighter light, nine songs that glide between R&B, funk and aching balladry.

Released in 2020, the project arrived ahead of his debut album Ivory and caught the Indiana-raised singer at a real turning point. The son of Mexican immigrants, Apollo had built a devoted following on self-made tracks, and here he widens the frame without losing the intimacy that drew people in. It plays like a mixtape with the polish of a proper record, loose in spirit and sharp in execution.

The guests are well chosen. Kali Uchis brings smoky warmth to "Hey Boy," a flirtatious duet that became one of the project's calling cards, while Ruel adds a gentle counterpoint on the slow, tender "Want U Around." Lead single "Stayback" struts on a funky, elastic groove with falsetto to spare, and "Kamikaze" shows how much fun Apollo has bending genre to suit his mood.

On vinyl, Apolonio feels like the snapshot it is: an artist months away from wider recognition, already sure of his voice and his style. For anyone who came in through Ivory or God Said No, this is where the falsetto, the heartache and the swagger first lined up, and it still sounds fresh from the first needle drop.