Omar Apollo

Omar Apollo, born Omar Apolonio Velasco on May 20, 1997, in Hobart, Indiana, is a Mexican-American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who has become one of the most exciting voices in contemporary R&B and indie pop. The son of Mexican immigrants, he grew up in a working-class household where he was exposed to a wide range of music, from his parents’ Mexican records to the rock, R&B, and hip-hop he discovered on his own. He taught himself guitar at age 12 and began writing and recording his own music as a teenager, uploading tracks to the internet.

Apollo gained attention in 2018 with his debut single “Ugotme,” which went viral on Spotify and established him as a rising talent in the bedroom pop scene. His early EPs, Stereo (2018) and Friends (2019), showcased a versatile artist comfortable singing in both English and Spanish, blending R&B, funk, soul, and indie pop with Latin influences. His ability to move fluidly between languages and genres set him apart from his peers. By 2020, he had accumulated hundreds of millions of streams and built a passionate fanbase, particularly among young Latinx listeners.

His debut studio album, Ivory (2022), was released on Phenom Records and distributed by Warner Records, and it marked a major artistic leap. The album featured the hit single “Evergreen (You Didn’t Deserve Me at All),” which reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and collaborations with Pharrell Williams and Daniel Caesar. Ivory received critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2023. Apollo’s live performances became known for their energy and emotional intensity, leading to sold-out headline tours.

With a net worth of approximately $4 million, Omar Apollo represents a new wave of bilingual, genre-blending artists reshaping American popular music. His openness about his Mexican-American identity and his sexuality has made him an important figure for representation in the music industry. As he continues to release music and expand his artistic reach, Apollo is positioned to become one of the defining artists of his generation.