Omar Apollo Discusses Music, Upcoming ‘Queer’ Film, and His Family’s Spicy Sauce | Entertainment

Being an rising music artist and now a breakout actor, Omar Apollo is rapidly paving his personal distinctive path inside leisure. His 2022 debut album, Ivory, earned him his first Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Next, you possibly can see Apollo, 27, within the much-anticipated Luca Guadagnino movie, Queer, alongside the likes of film star Daniel Craig.

As the son of Mexican immigrants and rising up within the Midwest of America, I not too long ago sat down with Apollo, questioning first what it was about his upbringing in Hobart, Indiana that originally impressed him to need to pursue music and the humanities.

Apollo mentioned, “Coming from the Midwest, there isn’t much music being played when your parents aren’t directors or stylists or set designers. Your parents worked at the restaurant or the school, so all these things about art are far-fetched and aren’t real. And yet, I had the kind of mindset that was a little more open to the arts. Other than that, [growing up in the Midwest] was great. I love it there – I just went back to see family.”

When talking concerning the evolution of his music thus far, particularly together with his new God Said No album in thoughts, Apollo mentioned, “I was really trying to create this introspective, inner-dialogue. The writing is a lot more poetic [than my previous music]. Being able to tour, it’s been amazing because I wrote it for a live audience, so the only way I feel it would be represented correctly is if I went on tour. So, I’m doing that now – it means a lot. It’s a very emotional album but I try to make it fun.”

Being a month away from the U.S. presidential election, with sizzling subjects like immigration and border management remaining a serious focus for a lot of, I used to be curious what Apollo’s ideas are relating to the most recent on immigration within the nation he continues to name dwelling.

Apollo mentioned, “I mean, it is a lot different from when I was younger. It used to be very different – the process of getting citizenship. It’s now like impossible – so, especially to have those family and friends dealing with these ripple effects that happen because of politics – of what’s happening in the United States – it is really, really frustrating to deal with the different kinds of grief because of it. I’m speaking on behalf of my family and my friends and cousins, who are dealing with constant issues with their citizenship.”

Today, Apollo is increasing on his enterprise alternatives, whereas honoring his mother and father’ former family-owned restaurant El Super Taco, by teaming up with Taco Bell to share his mom’s beloved sizzling sauce recipe, Disha Hot Hot Sauce, on its menu nationwide.

Apollo mentioned on how this new partnership got here out, “So in 2021, when Covid started, I always thought my mom’s recipe was the best. I had already traveled a bunch on tour to try a lot of hot sauces and I thought, Yeah, my mom’s was the best. Then, my first album took priority and I put the Disha Hot business in the back for a bit. Then, Taco Bell approached us – ‘Do you want to do a collaboration?’ That was how it happened and kind of felt right because [Taco Bell] is what we grew up on and especially of the chain restaurants, it is number one.”

As for Apollo’s rising fame round his profession, he added: “My mom and dad, the biggest question I ask them, ‘How do you feel about the visibility that I have – people coming up to you?’ [They say] ‘We’re just proud is all’ – and honestly, that’s all I really need to hear. I also feel a little guilty because the [El Super Taco] restaurant had to shut down due to like the infrastructure and how to run a business was very new to them. They were younger and they had this dream, and as soon as I was born, they had to shut it down, so I felt guilty. I want to keep sharing this with the world and I love hot sauce – it’s just a part of my youth.”

Surrounding his newfound film star standing, appearing within the A24 movie, Queer, I used to be curious how this primary on-screen function for Apollo obtained on his radar.

Apollo mentioned, “Well, I had gotten reached out by someone on [filmmaker] Luca’s side, like an Instagram DM. Next thing I know, the next day, I’m on FaceTime with him. I was really excited that I was even considered because on top of that, the cast – Drew [Starkey], who is already a friend, and Daniel Craig, who is a prolific actor – this is my first one and it’s wild & crazy.”

Following his relatively glamorous expertise of showcasing Queer alongside his solid & crew on the Venice Film Festival this previous September, I questioned what Apollo loved most about being part of that prestigious cinematic event.

Apollo mentioned, “It was a really emotional. I had never been to Venice – it’s very luxurious. Knowing that all of my favorite actors like Paul Newman had been there – it just has a crazy history, and being my first [film] and attending it and the premiere with the cast – all of the talented actors that were a part of it – and also just Luca. I learned a lot from him and it’s just been a great experience.”

Now with a music profession, the beginning of a film profession and his household’s sizzling sauce out on this planet, what does it imply to Apollo to get to name himself an entrepreneur in 2024?

“It feels good! I feel like my parents – I feel like I’m living through their ideas and their emotions and their way of looking at the world.”