ALBUM REVIEW: Omar Apollo – GOD SAID NO

Born Omar Velasco, the singer-songwriter has been creating a unique blend of alternative R&B, soul, latin music, and pop under the name Omar Apollo since 2017. He quickly rose to fame following the release of his first single “Ugotme”, his first EP Stereo, and debut album Ivory (2022). On June 28, 2024, Apollo released his sophomore album, God Said No, an emotional rollercoaster following a complex relationship, under Warner Records. Over the years, Apollo was defined by his moody, almost exclusively heartbroken sonics, yet his latest elevates this with its genre-melding and production by himself, Teo Halm, Carter Lang, and Blake Slatkin. God Said No shines from Apollo’s heightened vulnerability and compact songwriting, creating a tense feeling of nostalgia across its fourteen tracks.

The album opens with the heartbreaking “Be Careful With Me,” on which Apollo softly sings: “Sometimes I think we cross the line / You can’t release me, I’ll be fine I guess / Do those thoughts ever cross your mind?” Once the drums kick in during the chorus, the song transforms into a pop-infected song covering Apollo’s frustrations with an ex. Following track, “Spite” switches the mood with its electric guitars and uptempo, summer energy. Despite the upbeat vibe, the singer questions his partner’s tendency to hide their long distance relationship. “Why you going out your way to hide me? / Every night that you spent beside me / It don’t matter, in my head, it’s been working / Ain’t been picturing another person.”

Featuring Canadian singer-poet Mustafa, the fifth track “Plane Trees” is a reflective ballad carried by the duo’s delicate harmonies, Halm on piano, and the expressive strings section by artist Rob Moose. “Slow, so slow / All that we give makes this ground too cold / Slow, so slow / All that we give makes this ground too cold.”

Apollo continues this vulnerable, string-heavy run on track seven “Empty.” The blend of English and Spanish throughout the song accompanied by soothing melodies, Apollo tugs on heartstrings and invites listeners into his post-breakup headspace. On the bridge, he sings: “Cantando en otro lenguaje pa’ que no me entiendes / No quiero que sepas cuánto me duele / No quiero verte / Quiero tenerte / Todos los días, todos los días” or “Singing in another language so you don’t understand me / I don’t want you to know how much it hurts me / I do not want to see you / Want you / Every day, every day.” 

Tracks “Against Me” and “How,” ninth and twelfth respectively, lean heavily into R&B and trap productions despite their differing themes. On the former track, the singer embraces his self-worth and confidence. “Swear I used to be more intimate, but have you heard? / I changed so much, but have you heard? / I can’t move how I used to / What you’re used to, yeah.” Backed by echoed vocals on “How,” he wonders about all the things his ex has been up to since their breakup. “How are you living your life? / Oh / How you keep livin’ a lie? / You do.”

Thirteenth track, “Pedro,” features a surprise monologue introduction by actor Pedro Pascal following an interlude by Apollo. The actor shares a story about a past heartbreak. “I remember just literally being kind of brought to my knees / By a park bench / And I remember asking the park bench to come alive and save me / ‘Cause I didn’t feel like there was kind of any moment past that moment / But there was, there was.”

The album closes as it started with another heartbreaking genre-shifting track. On final song “Glow,” Apollo sings about acknowledging grief backed by a heartfelt string and piano section and synth. “You’re my only one, I can promise that / If we go to hell, you can hold my hand / Brace yourself, water pulls the sand / Before you leave, give me one more dance.” This album closer paints a specific picture of catharsis and heartbreak without straining or diving too deep into itself and its themes. With a flux of experimental production and mixing of genres, Apollo’s God Said No emphasizes his unique voice and seamlessly creates a dynamic journey across fourteen songs.