Friends (Omar Apollo EP)

2019 EP by Omar Apollo

Friends

EP by

Omar Apollo

Released| April 10, 2019 (2019-04-10)
Length| 22:37
Label|

* Omar Apollo
* AWAL

Producer|

* Omar Apollo
* Blake Slatkin
* John Shanks
* Oscar Santander
* Teo Halm[1]

Omar Apollo chronology
| Stereo (EP)
(2018)  | Friends
(2019)  | Apolonio
(2020)

|
|

Singles from  Friends

1. "Trouble"
Released: January 30, 2019
2. "Ashamed"
Released: February 27, 2019
3. "So Good"
Released: May 16, 2019

Friends is the second EP by American singer-songwriter Omar Apollo. It was released independently on April 10, 2019,[2] preceded by the singles "Trouble" and "Ashamed" .[3]

## Background

[edit]

On March 4, 2019, AWAL Recordings announced in a press release that Omar Apollo had joined their roster. This deal would serve to give him radio promotion, help him breach international markets and distribution of his music.[4]

In an interview with DJBooth.net, Omar Apollo revealed that his upcoming EP would be more funk-oriented, with "space-y" sounds, including ballads, and having a more themed sound compared to his debut Stereo.[5]

## Singles and music videos

[edit]

On January 30, 2019, Omar released Trouble[6] across all music platforms. He announced that it would be the lead single for his 2nd EP, the next body of work since his debut EP Stereo.[7] The same day, Apollo also released a music video for the song which features his nephew alongside him, the video details Omar's decisions viewed through his nephew's eyes.[8]

Ashamed was released as the second single on February 27, 2019.[9] It is described as a mainly funk and R&B track which he produced with Blake Slatkin. The accompanying music and lyric video starred him recording a day out with his friends.[10]

In the week anticipating the EP release, Omar Apollo released the title track Friends as a promotional single.[3]

A music video for the disco inspired track So Good was released May 16, 2019. Apollo is seen performing in a retro-inspired set.[11]

The final music video for the era was for the song Kickback which premiered on October 1, 2019. This video features Omar partying with friends on a yacht living a dream. At the end of the video he is seen being struck by lightning.[12]

## Tour

[edit]

On March 9, 2019, Omar Apollo embarked on the Voyager Tour in support of the EP which spanned 34 dates across the United States and Canada. The tour included festival dates at SXSW.[13]

## Track listing

[edit]

Friends track listingNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Ashamed"|

* Omar Velasco
* John Shanks
* Blake Slatkin

* Apollo
* Shanks
* Blake

| 3:24
2.| "Kickback"|

* Velasco

* Apollo
* Oscar Santander

| 2:51
3.| "Friends"|

* Shanks
* Apollo

* Apollo
* Shanks

| 3:07
4.| "There For Me (Interlude)"|

* Slatkin
* Velasco

* Apollo
* Blake

| 1:23
5.| "Hearing Your Voice"|

* Shanks
* Apollo

* Apollo
* Shanks

| 4:02
6.| "So Good"|

* Shanks
* Velasco

* Apollo
* Shanks
* Blake

| 4:27
7.| "Trouble"|

* Slatkin
* Velasco

* Apollo
* Blake
* Teo Halm

| 3:23
Total length:| 22:37

## Charts

[edit]

Weekly chart performance for Friends Chart (2019)  | Peak
position

|

US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[14] | 19

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Friends, retrieved January 31, 2020
2. ^ Friends by Omar Apollo, retrieved January 31, 2020
3. ^ a b "Omar Apollo Announces New Friends EP, Shares New Song: Listen". Pitchfork. April 3, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
4. ^ "Soulful R&B Singer-Songwriter Omar Apollo Joins AWAL". www.awal.com. March 4, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
5. ^ Draughorne, Kenan. "How Omar Apollo Is Turning His Passion into Inspiration: Interview". DJBooth. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
6. ^ "Trouble by Omar Apollo". iTunes. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
7. ^ Maicki, Salvatore (January 30, 2019). "Hear Omar Apollo's new song "Trouble"". The FADER. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
8. ^ "Omar Apollo's "Trouble" Video: Watch It Here". Highsnobiety. January 30, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
9. ^ "Ashamed by Omar Apollo". iTunes. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
10. ^ Castel, Gregory (February 28, 2019). "Omar Apollo delivers the blues on his newest single "Ashamed" [Video]". EARMILK. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
11. ^ "Watch Omar Apollo's discofied "So Good" video". The FADER. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
12. ^ Exposito, Suzy (October 1, 2019). "See Omar Apollo Captain a Yacht in New 'Kickback' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
13. ^ "Omar Apollo Announces 'The Voyager Tour' 2019". These Days. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
14. ^ "Omar Apollo Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Omar Apollo

Studio albums|

* Ivory
* God Said No

Mixtapes|

* Apolonio

EPs|

* Friends

Singles|

* "Go Away"
* "Invincible"
* "Killing Me"
* "Tamagotchi"
* "Evergreen (You Didn't Deserve Me at All)"
* "3 Boys"
* "Ice Slippin"

Concert tours|

* God Said No World Tour

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template