On the midpoint of his second studio album, God Mentioned No, Omar Apollo’s vocals tumble out in Spanish for the primary and solely time on the report. “Cantando en otro lenguaje pa que no me entiendes,” the Mexican American musician sings over featherlight harmonies and lulling violins on “Empty.” On his 2022 debut, Ivory, Apollo used the language as a nod to his heritage, a mirrored image of who he’s and the place he comes from. However right here, it’s a defend, translating to: “[I’m] singing in one other language so that you don’t perceive me.” Within the security of that area, he makes two contradictory confessions: “No quiero verte,” or “I don’t need to see you,” adopted instantly by “Quiero tenerte,” or “I would like you.”
Apollo holds each of those truths in his coronary heart throughout God Mentioned No. The 14-track assortment mourns, in equal elements, the particular person he was and the connection that left him irrevocably modified. He was already altering as his star was rising within the aftermath of Ivory, an eclectic album that blended tender R&B with the radiant charisma of an absolute luminary. It featured “Evergreen,” his hottest launch up to now, and landed him a gap slot on tour with SZA. With God Mentioned No, over sprawling manufacturing helmed by Teo Halm, Apollo fights to shed the lingering weight of deteriorating communication, anxious attachment kinds, and crushing codependency.
“I attempted to be somebody you preferred, nevertheless it’s simply an excessive amount of compromise,” Apollo sings in a high-pitched vocal over the plucked strings of an acoustic guitar on album opener “Be Cautious With Me.” His supply is matter-of-fact, introduced as proof that he did attempt his finest to make a failing relationship work. He highlights warning indicators on “How” and the bitter lead single, “Spite,” a scarcity of constant safety being amongst them. Apollo’s masks of anger drops on the bluesy ballad “Get rid of Me,” the place he laments: “You’re making me really feel insecure about issues I ain’t considered in years.” There’s a quiet devastation in his examination of the facility we grant individuals over ourselves in love and, subsequently, how they select to wield it.
By means of distorted synthesizers on “Whereas U Can,” Apollo admonishes a companion for stealing “the sunshine within me,” however nonetheless sticks round. He communicates the sense that he doesn’t need to go away something left unsaid, or expertise the unresolvable ache of remorse. On the shock standout “Much less of You,” he pours his weak confessions and confusions out over a propulsive techno beat. “Is that this the final time I see you?” he asks. “Is that this goodbye?” He returns to this skittering Europop sound on “Drifting,” the place he considers, “Possibly I ought to let go.”
Apollo begins to, nevertheless it’s simpler stated than achieved. “Life’s Unfair” finds him confessing, “I’d’ve married you,” over silky synths earlier than the manufacturing absolutely trails off, like a dialog ending when neither aspect has something left to say.
Within the two featured collaborations on the album, Apollo finds hope, consolation, and reassurance in friendship. On the orchestral “Aircraft Bushes,” moody singer Mustafa guarantees, “Your open arms will open doorways once more.” And on “Pedro,” actor Pedro Pascal mirrors the singer’s vulnerability with a rambling spoken-word entry that concludes with “I can’t consider I’m sending you this.” As Apollo closes God Mentioned No with the wondrous piano ballad “Glow,” it’s with the acknowledgment that point is simply too valuable to danger operating out of probabilities to unload every part weighing on his coronary heart and thoughts.
God Mentioned No is an emotionally harrowing look contained in the psyche of a musician wringing each drop of that means from the outdated adage that nice artwork comes from nice ache. As a lyricist and vocalist, Apollo emerges as an artist not tortured, however remodeled.
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