Omar Apollo rises above heartache with experimental elegance on God Said No

Following the success of his debut, Ivory, Apollo steps confidently into new territory on God Said No, but the experimentation isn’t just for the sake of variety – each track feels intentional, reflecting Apollo’s vulnerability as he navigates identity and heartbreak.

The album opens with "Be Careful With Me," where Apollo’s self-proclaimed fragility assumes the form of his falsetto gliding over delicate guitar plucks as he sings, “Sometimes I think we cross the line / You can’t release me, I’ll be fine I guess.” The track eventually transforms and sets the tone for a project that plays with the tension between intimacy and distance, mirroring Apollo’s journey, too, as he oscillates between yearning and self-protection in the aftermath of a relationship.

Standout track “Done With You,” highlights Apollo’s vocal prowess, reminiscent of Minnie Riperton, with bright horns and an upbeat 70s-inspired groove that captures a bittersweet realization: “Is the best feeling in the world being done with someone?” The song’s carefree energy belies that heavy question and showcases Apollo’s ability to put words to the often complex aftershock of a breakup.

Tracks like “Empty" and the soulful R&B indie-pop of “Dispose of Me” shed light on Apollo’s Mexican heritage and his love for corridos. In “Empty,” he shifts between English and Spanish, at one point singing, “Cantando en otro lenguaje pa’ que no me entiendes / No quiero que sepas cuánto me duele.” This bilingualism adds another layer of intimacy to the album: Addressed to his lover who cannot speak Spanish, Apollo reflects on the pain of trying to reach him as things fall apart, all while hiding that pain inside the very language his lover tries to understand. The soulful “Dispose of Me” finds Apollo begging, “It don’t matter if it’s twenty-five years, twenty-five months / It don’t matter if it’s twenty-five days, it was real love,” and “You can leave me for twenty-five years, I’ll never give up / We got too much history / So don’t just dispose of me.”

Apollo’s ability to blend genres and experiment with sound reaches its peak on God Said No. Tracks like "Spite" and “While U Can" showcase his versatility. Whether he’s leaning into 80s-inspired synths or R&B rhythms, Apollo manages to make most of these shifts feel cohesive. "While U Can" offers a moment of clarity, a ballad that strips away the layers to focus on Apollo’s pure vocal delivery. It’s a reminder that, beneath all the experimentation, Apollo’s strength lies in his ability to connect on an intimate level.

Not every risk lands perfectly, however. The heavily synthesised 80s production on “Less if You” feels out of place amidst the otherwise smooth flow of the album. Yet Apollo’s willingness to experiment, even when it falters, is part of what makes his work so engaging, just as his willingness to explore his queerness helps fill a gap left by Frank Ocean in the R&B scene. Like Ocean, Apollo is an artist unafraid to take chances, and for the most part, those chances work.

Omar Apollo has crafted an album that feels personal yet expansive. God Said No is a testament to Apollo’s evolution, especially his ability to push boundaries while staying true to the emotional core that has always defined his music.