Omar Apollo’s momentum heading into 2020 was serious. His buzzy “Friends” EP was turning heads, the ink was still fresh on his label deal with AWAL, and he’d just completed a slew of noteworthy shows and performances at showcases like SXSW. So, when the brick wall of our quarantine-filled year hit, it would have been easy for him to coast. Instead he did the opposite, doubling down on his music, while also pursuing a series of other interests including designing his own clothing line and creating a hot sauce brand based on his mom’s homemade recipe. While the rest of the world was on pause, Apollo was rising. The soulful singer’s first full debut album, “Apolonio,” came out in October, he was featured on a Spotify billboard in Times Square, and kicked off the Prince estate’s new Paisley Park concert series with a live stream performance.

It’s all a far cry from where he started. A few years ago, the 23-year-old was working at a Guitar Center near where he grew up in Indiana, struggling to pull enough money together to put his music up on Spotify. Once the breakout hit “Ugotme” found its way onto the platform, and into a series of popular playlists, he started to rack up the streams along with the buzz. Apollo continued to self-produce and release his own tracks from his room in Indiana, generating excitement not only for his obvious talent but for his cool demeanor and unique blend of style and aesthetics.

His rise has come with a growing following, equally enamored by his music as they are his relatability. Born to immigrant parents in an Indiana suburb, Apollo is not afraid to blur the lines of sexuality and style, and his music easily drifts between genres in the way anybody raised with the accessibility of the internet can relate to. He is the latest iteration of an American dream where the classic troupes of talent and hard work are present but, perhaps most refreshingly, diversity and an insistence on being exactly who he wants to be are at the forefront.

Now in LA, it’s clear even in the busy day-to-day of his current life that Apollo is enjoying himself. He’s enjoying being able to delve deep into fashion now that he has the means, he’s enjoying working with artists like Kali Uchis and Albert Hammond Jr. and most importantly he appreciates where he came from and the opportunity in front of him.