Interview: Omar Apollo On Being Able To Financially Support His Family, Being A Romantic, Summer Walker, & More

Omar Apollo is a 22-year-old romantic with a unique R&B sound. With a mix of nostalgic sounds from the ’70s and ’80s, Omar makes funky music for the soul. Not only is his music aesthetically pleasing to listen to but from his style, his look to his music videos, Omar Apollo provides a visually tasteful music experience. With strong Mexican roots, Omar was raised in Indiana and now resides in the creative capital Los Angeles. His hit song “Ugotme” garnered him worldwide recognition in 2017 and that was only the start. Mans is making money moves and we’re living for it. As a first-generation American, Omar is setting a great example for other Mexican kids out there who want to pursue a career in music. Omar’s parents fled from Guadalajara, Mexico to America long before he was born to escape from gang violence. Omar is now in a position where he can do what he loves, as well as financially support his family. As he says below, it’s every kid’s dream and it’s beyond awesome.

Omar Apollo is heading to New Zealand for the first time ever on January 27th, Auckland at the annual Laneway Festival. We were fortunate enough to sit down and get to know Omar. He discusses being a romantic, gives us some great life advice, how Summer Walker is one of his fav musicians right now and how one day he wants to collaborate with Daft Punk. Check it out.

Hey Omar thank you so much for chatting with us today. How are you?

No problem. Good, how are you?

I’m good thanks. We’ll get right into it. So, you’ve kept your real first name as your stage name but you’ve changed the last to Apollo. Was that inspired by Greek mythology by any chance?

No, it wasn’t inspired by Greek mythology. I actually found that out after I made the name.

Yeah, apparently Apollo means the god of music and poetry.

(laughs) yeah that would’ve been kinda corny if I did it like that.

Fair enough!

My middle name is Apolonio but Apollo, um I also like the (mumbles something indistinguishable) so I thought that was cool.

Did you always know that music was your thing, your niche? Like, what made you decide to pursue a career in music?

Hmm, I don’t know. It was kind of like the only thing I was average at first and then it was like oh these sounds are unique. 

Yeah, your sound is fairly unique. It’s r&b, funky, indie, nostalgic. It’s beautiful. What and who inspired your music style?

Hm, I don’t know, just different stuff. Dance, grunge, Bowie… yeah (laughs)

When you were younger, did you ever in your wildest dreams imagine you’d be this famous musician?

Oh, um, yeah.. I don’t know. I think I-, maybe I did. I think so. I mean, I think I just always wanted to sing like I really wanted to sing so I guess I did (laughs)... like a little bit. 

Where do you hope to see yourself in a year’s time? Like, what’s the goal for 2020?

Hmm, I don’t know. I mean I don’t know what I’ll be doing today (laughs).

Fair enough man (laughs). So, the majority of your songs are love songs. Would you consider yourself as a romantic?

I think so, yeah.

Why is that, do you think that you’re such a romantic?

I don’t know. I always liked romantic movies growing up, thought it was cool and maybe I just like… yeah I don’t know.

What is a lesson you’ve learned from your first heartbreak that maybe you can give as advice for others out there who might be having a hard time?

Umm, well, like, listening to some music that helps you out, kinda like some trap or something. Some Future (laughs). Like, that way you can’t be sad listening to like Bad Bunny and stuff. I don’t know really cause like, I’m still learning. Honestly, time heals everything so I just say give it time.

Definitely. Where’s somewhere you would love to tour one day? Like if you ever do a show there you know you’ve made it type shit.

(laughs) fuck, uhhhh probably Italy ‘cause I heard it’s really hard to play in Italy unless you have a song that’s in Italian. So I might do that, have a song that’s in Italian. That’d be cool.

Who is someone you would love to collab with one day?

Daft Punk.

That would be a good song.

(laughs) I think so too!

Yeah, that would be crazy. Who are you currently listening to that you’re really enjoying?

Let me see. I’ll check my phone… Summer Walker. Summer Walker is really cool.

Yeah, her album was soo good.

Yep, and I’m digging Lil Flip, that song (starts singing Sunshine word for word), Sunshine, I can call you my baby boy, you can call me your baby girl, maybe we can spend some time (starts laughing).

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah! That’s a classic right there. Do you have a favourite track that you love to perform live?

Umm, Ashamed is really fun live!

So, do you know much about New Zealand or anything at all?

Um, do I? No, I’ve never been there. I’m not too familiar but I’m sure it’ll be fun.

Yeah, we have a lot of nature here. You seem like someone who is very secure in your identity and like, you KNOW who you are. What advice would you give to people out there who are still trying to find that confidence but struggle with that?

I didn’t even know I come off like that but…

Yeah, I read another interview you did and you seemed like you were very secure in yourself and I think that’s awesome.

Thanks, honestly, I mean when I was growing up I always wanted to be everybody’s friend and I kinda like, didn’t really think about myself and like what I like and what I like to do, if what I did was cool enough, you know. I would just say, do what you like and people will just kinda like, like it I guess. And I think it’s the same with everybody, I like it when my friends are passionate about things that aren’t like, people. It can be like action figures or whatever, that they’re really into or know everything about it. I think that’s cool. 

So I know you grew up in Indiana, a predominantly white area and I know you faced a lot of prejudice and racism there. Has anyone that has ever treated like shit there ever tried getting in touch with you now that you’ve made a name for yourself?

(laughs) yeah, definitely. One hundred percent, I just gotta ignore it. 

That’s pretty standard aye.

Yeah, people weird.

How good does it feel, knowing you’re so young but able to financially support your family?

That’s the best thing, like, everyday I just wake up grateful for that. Um, it’s like every kids dream so, yeah. 

So what do you think is the best place in LA for Mexican food?

(laughs) There’s this place called Tacos Y Birria La Unica in Marisco, they’re really good. It’s like a truck outside. The best tacos I had in LA were in Compton in somebody’s backyard. They just set up some tables, it was cool. 

So, I know your parents came to America to escape gang violence in Mexico and of course, to find a better life. When you think about that, how do you think your parents lives and the struggles they’ve gone through helped shape you as the person you are now?

My mum and my dad always told me to work harder than everyone you know so they really set a good example. So, now like they support everything I do and they give me the extra push I need when I’m tired and I just want to be home, like doing whatever, like press or shows, touring… it’s nice to know that like, you know, they understand that too.

Your parents, have they always been supportive of you wanting to pursue music as a career?

No, definitely not but they are now (starts laughing). 

Well, that’s awesome to hear. That’s all the questions I have for you today. Thank you again for talking with us, can’t wait to see you in New Zealand for Laneway 2020!

Interviewed By: Breanna Tugaga-Rogers
@bretugs