Friends

Friends is the second EP from Omar Apollo, released in 2019, and serves as a pivotal bridge between his DIY bedroom-pop origins and his later major-label polish. Recorded partly in a house in Los Angeles, the project showcases Apollo's growth as a multi-instrumentalist and producer. Sonically, it is a departure from the more acoustic-leaning 'Stereo', leaning heavily into funk, disco, and neo-soul influences. The track 'Ashamed' highlights his ability to channel Prince-esque energy, while 'Hearing Your Voice' maintains the intimate, guitar-driven vulnerability that first gained him a following. Critically, the EP was praised for its seamless integration of bilingual lyrics and its ability to modernize retro soul tropes for a Gen Z audience. It solidified Apollo's position as a leader in the 'indie-soul' movement, proving his vocal range - specifically his mastery of the falsetto - was among the most impressive of his cohort.