Omar Apollo has achieved immense success with emotional hits like “Evergreen” and “Pretty Boy” off of his debut studio album IVORY. In just a few years’ time, the Indiana-raised Mexican-American singer-songwriter went from teenage strummer to one of the most hotly-tipped rising stars of his generation. Apollo has had a transformative but linear journey, from listening to Brandy and Stevie Wonder as a kid to plucking away at a guitar as a pre-teen, to self-releasing a pair of EPs as a young man—2018’s Stereo and 2019’s Friends—that established his signature “bedroom soul.” As unique as his sound is, Apollo has garnered just as much attention for his lyrics—themes of romantic yearning and self-improvement swirled up with expressions of cultural heritage and identity.
Apollo’s long-awaited debut album IVORY arrived in the Spring of 2022 and catapulted him to another level in his career while earning him critical acclaim from the likes of The New York Times who celebrated his “knack for jagged, irreverent pop songs” and Rolling Stone who declared him “one of the most exciting artists of his generation.”
With haunting lyrics, he croons:
She don’t know you like me
She could never love you more, more than me
But sometimes I pray that you fall in love
I’ve cried, I’ve cried so much for you, baby
Evergreen (oh, oh)
He tears me to pieces (oh, oh)
(Evergreen) (oh, oh)
Doesn’t even have to try
(Evergreen) (oh, oh)
In addition to his signature songwriting talent, heartfelt vocals, and undeniable swagger, there is also a bit of fun gossip circulating around this particular track. According to Out magazine, lots of social media sleuths think that the track “Evergreen” is a song about Apollo’s possible romantic relationship with Frank Ocean. Here, Out says “While there have been certain rumors about Ocean and Apollo potentially dating for a few years, it wasn’t until recently that fans started to compare images and build a dossier on this speculated relationship.”