Omar Apollo, Ice Slippin | Track Review 🎵

Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Omar Apollo gets personal on his chilly ballad, “Ice Slippin” where home doesn’t feel inviting.

My ❤️ for 🏆 Grammy nominated singer/songwriter 🎙 Omar Apollo grows more and more each day… and most importantly, with every single release.  The handsome 😍, talented artist returns with 🎵 “Ice Slippin”, an advance single from his EP, 💿 Live For Me (arrives October 6, 2023). Early on in his career, there were questions regarding Apollo’s sexuality – was he gay? As he’s evolved, he’s clearly become comfortable living his truth and sharing it with the world.  “Ice Slippin,” an extremely personal song, deals with his family’s reaction to coming out and moving beyond his home state. 

Ice Slippin is about reliving the thoughts I had passing through my mind the winter I came out to my family. Receiving cold judgment as opposed to the acceptance I felt I deserved. This song is a reflection and reaction of all the emotions I had to face before and after I decided to leave the icy streets of Indiana.

Ugh, lack of family acceptance and conservative attitudes…. “Ice Slippin” commences with a minimalist sound initially, featuring unique production by Apollo and 🎛 Teo Halm.  This ballad embraces alternative R&B vibes, which look good on Omar. As always, he sings radiantly; he has a gorgeous tone.  In the chorus, the first section we hear beyond the intro, “Ice Slippin” is a tender piano ballad:

“When you comin’ home?

Home is where you’re supposed to be

Turn around, it’s not too late, did I hurt you?

You live too far away

Are you turnin’ off your phone again?

If I take back my words, would you return to me?”

Clearly, home is not a happy place for Omar, given his sexuality, which is sad. He contrasts his tender vocals with more coarse, bold vocals in the verses. Ice comes into the picture for the first time in the first verse:  “Ice slippin’, swear to God, could’ve hit the brakes, steering wheel locked almost said, ‘Fuck it’ (Fuck, fuck, fuck it).” This seems to capture the sentiment of non-acceptance, as well as literal coldness in Indiana during the winter.  Notably, both pre-choruses have different melodic identities, which adds an element of unpredictability – he keeps us engaged by not being complacent. The bridge is unique, with its unique wavy sounds and vocal effects. “Real life, real life, real life / You ain’t got no real friends in your life, your life, your life,” he sings, continuing, “You gon’ feel better by the springtime… / Slippin’ on ice in the meantime.” The depth of 🎵 “Ice Slippin”, as well as the personal nature, particularly from an LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 perspective, truly makes this a special record. Omar Apollo continues to slay.

🎙 Omar Apollo • 🎵 “Ice Slippin” • 🏷 Omar Apollo / Warner • 🗓 8.25.23

[📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Omar Apollo / Warner; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]