Omar Apollo • "Friends"
Omar Apollo has shown us what he can do within the framework of an extended play with Stereo, but as he continues to prep his follow-up EP, Friends, the California-based/Indiana native is looking at cementing his place as one of the most promising artists of his generation.
Apollo isn’t merely an ingenious songwriter with a knack for melody but a perceptive one. His newest, nylon-string driven eponymous single finds the singer attempting to level his feelings amongst miscommunication and timidity before coming back around at the slight opportunity of love blossoming: “and I never said it out loud, I’d end up looking like a fool / Am I the only one afraid to make a move? Maybe you’re feeling what I’m feeling too.” His songs make emotional sense but revel in acknowledging that these feelings can be disorienting, especially for someone entering his 20s. He poignantly sings “And I’m older now, but I’m still young,” yet it’s that middle ground that allows a record like “Friends” to impact his teenaged-heavy fan base and wistfully connect with the rest of us.