Omar Apollo
Omar Apolonio Velasco (born May 20, 1997), known professionally as Omar Apollo, is an American singer and songwriter. After signing a record deal with Warner Records, his debut album, Ivory, was released in 2022 to positive reviews and earned him a Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. Apollo sings in both English and Spanish.
Omar Apollo
Omar Apolonio Velasco
May 20, 1997
Hobart, Indiana, U.S.[1]
Singer-songwriter
- Vocals
- guitar
2017–present
Early life[edit]
Omar Apolonio Velasco was born to Mexican parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Guadalajara.[4] A first-generation immigrant, he grew up in Hobart, Indiana with his three older siblings.[5] Apollo's parents both worked multiple jobs to support the family.[6]
Apollo was a ballet folklorico dancer when he was a child and he was also a part of his Catholic church choir.[5] Apollo's parents bought him a guitar when he was 12 at his request;[7] however, it was an electric guitar without an amp. Apollo traded the guitar for an acoustic guitar at a pawn shop.[7] At age 17, he worked at McDonald's in order 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. [8]
Apollo was also taught by his uncle and he played music at church;[7] he formed a short-lived band with a friend at the church.[1]
Artistry and influences[edit]
Apollo's music has primarily been described as R&B, alternative R&B, and pop[37][38][39][40] with elements of soul, funk, hip hop,[40][41] latin music, trap,[37] and bedroom pop.[41]
While growing up, he listened to his parents' favorite musicians such as Pedro Infante, Los Panchos and the Beatles.[5] 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.[1] When speaking to Billboard, Apollo listed Minnie Riperton's Perfect Angel, Whitney Houston's self-titled project, 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.[39]
Personal life[edit]
Apollo's parents encouraged him to attend college; however Apollo dropped out after two weeks in order to pursue a musical career.[8] He has Mexican citizenship.[42]
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.[43][44] 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."[45][37][46]
Omar Apollo discography
1
17
3
30
1
1
2
5
Headlining
Supporting