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'Screaming, crying, throwing up': Omar Apollo's new album 'Ivory' sends fans on rollercoaster of emotion

Apollo, whose real name is Omar Apolonio Velasco, announced the release of the album on Twitter Friday, April 8

Omar Apollo has sent his fans on a rollercoaster of emotions following the release of his hotly-anticipated debut album 'Ivory', which features popular singles 'Tamagotchi', 'Killing Me', and 'Invincible.' 

Apollo, whose real name is Omar Apolonio Velasco, announced the release of the album on Twitter Friday, April 8. The record also includes the single 'Bad Life' in collaboration with Kali Ulchis, which the Mexican-American artiste shared in November last year. Furthermore, 'Ivory' boasts production from the likes of Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo and features vocals from Daniel Cesar and Ulchis.

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Fans couldn't help themselves but gush all over the album on social media. "Screaming crying throwing up," one fan tweeted. "IVORY KILLED ME ALREADY," another wrote. "ITS SUCH A GOOD ALBUM AND I'M NOT EVEN DONE LISTENING," a comment read.
 
"This is definitely your best one to date... so proud and happy for you! #ivory," someone else offered. "Ivory is brilliant. I have long followed you since you first dropped Ugotme in 2017 and I must say, this is the best work of your career. I’m so excited to see you in concert at the Shrine :D" one gushed. "Crying at 'Petrified' but I'm memorizing it for the Saturday concert," another chimed in. 

The first single of Apollo's 16 track debut album, titled Go Away, was released on July 8, 2021. The singer was even invited to perform the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on July 20, 2021. Writing for the Dork magazine, journalist Neive McCarthy described 'Ivory' as "a bilingual exhibit of soulful, shape-shifting musings." She continued, "Omar Apollo manages to weave everything from his heritage to loneliness, sex, love, and toxicity. It’s a mammoth effort and one that bridges the gap between his earlier releases and who he is now. It’s a world in itself: billowing shirts, candle-lit rooms, careful contemplation in the midnight hour, the strain of trying to discover who you are." McCarthy added, "Unpredictable and deeply transformative, ‘IVORY’ is a poised statement from someone possessing absolute multitudes, and extending them out with every track."

Like many aspiring musicians, Apollo started his career by creating and uploading his songs to SoundCloud, while working at Jimmy John's and Guitar Center and living in an attic. In 2017, he borrowed $30 from a friend and uploaded his song "Ugotme" to Spotify, where it was soon playlisted on the platform's Fresh Finds and garnered over 20,000 streams in a day. The song, however, would cross more than 15 million streams a year later. In 2018, Apollo released his first EP, Stereo, which was also well received, and there has been no stopping the singing sensation since.

Over the years, he has collaborated with several artists, including producer Kenny Beats, R&B Japanese singer Joji, Australian singer Ruel, Colombian diva Ulchis, and Canadian artist Cesar. In February 2022, Apollo announced his debut album IVORY set to release in April 2022. This was followed by the release of singles "Killing Me" and "Tamagotchi". This month, Apple Music Up Next selected Omar Apollo as its featured artist for the month.