{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Friends | type = EP | artist = Omar Apollo | cover = Friendsomarapollo.jpg | alt = | released = {{start date|2019|04|10}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = | length = {{duration|m=22|s=37}} | label = {{flatlist| *Omar Apollo *AWAL}} | producer = * Omar Apollo * Blake Slatkin * John Shanks * Oscar Santander * Teo Halm<ref name="Friends">{{Citation|title=Friends|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3yuV4GeplvzBIiYGhQp2nd|language=en|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref> | prev_title = Stereo (EP) | prev_year = 2018 | next_title = Apolonio | next_year = 2020 | misc = {{Singles | name = Friends | type = EP | single1 = Trouble | single1date = January 30, 2019 | single2 = Ashamed | single2date = February 27, 2019 | single3 = So Good | single3date = May 16, 2019 }} }}
'''''Friends''''' is the second EP by American singer-songwriter Omar Apollo. It was released independently on April 10, 2019,<ref>{{Citation|title=Friends by Omar Apollo|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/friends/1458144010|language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref> preceded by the singles "Trouble" and "Ashamed" .<ref name=":0" />
== Background == On March 4, 2019, AWAL Recordings announced in a press release that Omar Apollo had joined their roster. This deal would serve to give him radio promotion, help him breach international markets and distribution of his music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.awal.com/blog/omar-apollo-joins-awal|title=Soulful R&B Singer-Songwriter Omar Apollo Joins AWAL|website=www.awal.com|date=4 March 2019 |language=en-us|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
In an interview with DJBooth.net, Omar Apollo revealed that his upcoming EP would be more funk-oriented, with "space-y" sounds, including ballads, and having a more themed sound compared to his debut ''Stereo.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://djbooth.net/features/2019-03-19-omar-apollo-interview-turning-passion-into-inspiration|title=How Omar Apollo Is Turning His Passion into Inspiration: Interview|last=Draughorne|first=Kenan|website=DJBooth|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
== Singles and music videos == On January 30, 2019, Omar released ''Trouble''<ref>{{cite web |title=Trouble by Omar Apollo |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/trouble/1449258497?i=1449258505 |publisher=iTunes |access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> across all music platforms. He announced that it would be the lead single for his 2nd EP, the next body of work since his debut EP ''Stereo''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/01/30/omar-apollo-new-song-trouble|title=Hear Omar Apollo's new song "Trouble"|last=Maicki|first=Salvatore|date=January 30, 2019|website=The FADER|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-01-30}}</ref> The same day, Apollo also released a music video for the song which features his nephew alongside him, the video details Omar's decisions viewed through his nephew's eyes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/omar-apollo-trouble-video/|title=Omar Apollo's "Trouble" Video: Watch It Here|date=2019-01-30|website=Highsnobiety|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
''Ashamed'' was released as the second single on February 27, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ashamed by Omar Apollo |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/ashamed-single/1451974062 |publisher=iTunes |access-date=25 January 2020}}</ref> It is described as a mainly funk and R&B track which he produced with Blake Slatkin. The accompanying music and lyric video starred him recording a day out with his friends.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://earmilk.com/2019/02/28/omar-apollo-delivers-the-blues-on-his-newest-single-ashamed/|title=Omar Apollo delivers the blues on his newest single "Ashamed" [Video]|last=Castel|first=Gregory|date=2019-02-28|website=EARMILK|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
In the week anticipating the EP release, Omar Apollo released the title track ''Friends'' as a promotional single.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/omar-apollo-announces-new-friends-ep-shares-new-song-listen/|title=Omar Apollo Announces New Friends EP, Shares New Song: Listen|website=Pitchfork|date=3 April 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-25}}</ref>
A music video for the disco inspired track ''So Good'' was released May 16, 2019. Apollo is seen performing in a retro-inspired set.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/05/16/watch-omar-apollos-discofied-so-good-video|title=Watch Omar Apollo's discofied "So Good" video|website=The FADER|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
The final music video for the era was for the song ''Kickback'' which premiered on October 1, 2019. This video features Omar partying with friends on a yacht living a dream. At the end of the video he is seen being struck by lightning.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/omar-apollo-new-video-kickback-2019-tour-891903/|title=See Omar Apollo Captain a Yacht in New 'Kickback' Video|last=Exposito|first=Suzy|date=2019-10-01|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
== Tour == On March 9, 2019, Omar Apollo embarked on the ''Voyager Tour'' in support of the EP which spanned 34 dates across the United States and Canada. The tour included festival dates at SXSW.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thesedaysmag.com/news/2019/2/5/omar-apollo-announces-the-voyager-tour-2019|title=Omar Apollo Announces 'The Voyager Tour' 2019|website=These Days|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref> The opening acts were Role Model, Dreamer Boy, Mk.gee and Ambar Lucid.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dance With Omar Apollo in the "Ashamed" Music Video And On Tour This Spring |url=https://www.onestowatch.com/en/blog/dance-with-omar-apollo-in-the-ashamed-music |website=Ones To Watch |publisher=Live Nation |access-date=16 October 2025}}</ref>
== Track listing == {{Track listing | headline = ''Friends'' track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 22:37
| title1 = Ashamed | writer1 = {{hlist|Omar Velasco|John Shanks|Blake Slatkin}} | extra1 = {{hlist|Apollo|Shanks|Blake}} | length1 = 3:24
| title2 = Kickback | writer2 = {{hlist|Velasco}} | extra2 = {{hlist|Apollo|Oscar Santander}} | length2 = 2:51
| title3 = Friends | writer3 = {{hlist|Shanks|Apollo}} | extra3 = {{hlist|Apollo|Shanks}} | length3 = 3:07
| title4 = There For Me (Interlude) | writer4 = {{hlist|Slatkin|Velasco}} | extra4 = {{hlist|Apollo|Blake}} | length4 = 1:23
| title5 = Hearing Your Voice | writer5 = {{hlist|Shanks|Apollo}} | extra5 = {{hlist|Apollo|Shanks}} | length5 = 4:02
| title6 = So Good | writer6 = {{hlist|Shanks|Velasco}} | extra6 = {{hlist|Apollo|Shanks|Blake}} | length6 = 4:27
| title7 = Trouble | writer7 = {{hlist|Slatkin|Velasco}} | extra7 = {{hlist|Apollo|Blake|Teo Halm}} | length7 = 3:23 }}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Weekly chart performance for ''Friends'' ! scope="col" | Chart (2019) ! scope="col" | Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|19|artist=Omar Apollo|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 9, 2023}} |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Omar Apollo}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Blake Slatkin Category:2019 EPs Category:Contemporary R&B albums by American artists Category:AWAL EPs