Indiana might not be the stereotypical answer you give people when they ask for an under-the-radar music hub that they should know about. I guess it’s not surprising because you don’t expect a place in the center of the Midwest that isn’t necessarily known as a destination in general to produce some remarkable talents, but it’s a place that I definitely think is slept on. The diverse list of emcees who are making a name for themselves in so many different facets of music that span genres and styles is insane, and I find myself becoming more and more obsessed with the scene there.
Whether you’re into hyperpop, pop punk, R&B, straight bars, or local legends, Indiana has an answer in the form of midwxst, Lil Aaron, Omar Apollo, Freddie Gibbs, and Drayco McCoy, but the list of names continues the deeper you look into the music there. R&B might not always be the go-to genre that I prefer, but Omar Apollo has been one of the powerful talents that has changed my outlook on the style of music, and he has continued to prove why he’s someone you need to keep up with as he keeps on dropping more music.
After embarking on his incredibly successful Desvelado Tour following the release of his album IVORY earlier this year, he has since announced even more fall performances on his Prototype Tour as well as the deluxe version of his album entitled IVORY (Marfil). This extended cut has been on my radar for a few weeks, but after he released his brand-new self and Manuel Lara-produced song “Highlight”, I couldn’t be more excited for Friday, August 12th to be here so we can enjoy the deluxe version in its entirety.
The reggaeton-injected instrumental simply makes you want to get up and dance, but Omar’s vocals are flawless and catchy, prompting you to want to sing along while moving your body. He swings his voice so effortlessly and naturally, rotating between lines spoken in English and others in Spanish, but my favorite part comes when his voice is injected with a slight hint of autotune that isn’t very common for the Midwestern crooner, but it was a fantastic change of pace that reinvigorated the already awesome song early on.
At this point, I don’t think Omar Apollo could do any wrong and his music is proof of this opinion, which means that you need to check out “Highlight” as we patiently yet eagerly wait for Friday to come so we can listen to even more indescribable music to be released from the 23-year-old phenom.