Omar Apollo, Stayback | Track Review 🎵

Omar Apollo shines on the short but incredibly sweet “Stayback,” the soulful, R&B-infused promo single from his full-length debut album. 

Shirtless Omar Apollo on the cover artwork of “Stayback” suggests his new single is intended to have a sexier vibe. Omar, of course, is young and handsome, but most notably, a very gifted musician. If you haven’t been following the 23-year-old Mexican American musician from Indiana, well, you’re totally missing out.  After a number of singles and a couple of EPs, a proper debut album is on the horizon for Apollo, with the short, but sweet and incredibly soulful “Stayback” leading the way.

“I can’t help that you been on my mind…” So, the love-centric nature of “Stayback” is not only confirmed by shirtless cover art but also a key, recurring lyric.  Furthermore, check out the music video – a wild party and Apollo locking eyes with a former lover (or something along those lines) – and you get the gist of what “Stayback” is about.  Two minutes and 40 seconds is ample time for Apollo to provide us with a soulful hit, clearly diving into R&B, alternative R&B, and neo-soul. Amongst the cool sounds include distorted guitar, a rad guitar solo (Omar’s guitarist, Oscar), and a robust bass line. The groove is simple but incredibly effective, anchoring the record down superbly.

Vocally, Omar Apollo sounds utterly sublime.  He excels in the sexy vibe, no questions asked.  His falsetto is ripe, while his playful deliver is incredibly alluring.  As far as the songwriting, the catchy chorus is definitely the centerpiece:

“You know I been feeling you since way back
But I couldn’t even make the words to say that, say that
If I could switch bodies you know I’d change that, change that
But you could never love me so stayback, stayback.”

Final Thoughts

Omar Apollo remembers a relationship from the past but also seeks to move past it, having his former lover “stay back.” Essentially, his love issues/pain/plight are our listening pleasure, sigh. What makes “Stayback” so awesome are great vocals, great production and overall aesthetic, and relatable songwriting – we’ve all had our fair share of love struggles.  Apollo’s debut should be big-time. 

Omar Apollo • “Stayback” • Warner • Release: 8.7.20

Photo Credits: Warner