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The Prototype Tour: Omar Apollo & Ravyn Lenae

  • honey
  • Nov 11, 2024
  • 5 min read

Updated: Nov 15, 2024



Everyone likes to say that recording videos at concerts is pointless because you'll never look at them again.


I want to say that is a lie, but I think that sounds kind of harsh. So, instead I'll say that this is an opinion by everyone.. meaning it's subjective... meaning it doesn't really matter to everyone else as much as it should to the person recording that video with their last bit of storage right?


On Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, I attended my first, real concert [not counting my time seeing Mindless Behavior & The OMG Girlz though I thoroughly enjoyed myself] seeing Omar Apollo and Ravyn Lenae live on The Prototype Tour. You may be thinking, "girl, why are you writing about this in 2024?" The answer is simply that's how MOVING it was for me.


Ravyn Lenae is a Chicago singer-songwriter, combining different sounds like neo-soul and electronic jazz to make some of the most heavenly music you've ever heard. She produced her first song, Greetings, which can be found on her debut EP, "Moon Shoes." She took the world by storm with her debut album, Hypnos, and has recently released her sophomore album, Bird's Eye.


I won't spend too much time on Apollo or Lenae's upcoming, but I will link some other articles that you may find interesting.


Omar Apollo is a first-generation Mexican-American singer, songwriter and producer. Apollo began releasing music in 2017, uploading his track "Ugotme," to Spotify after gaining a significant following on SoundCloud. Known for his vulnerable vocal harmonies that range from funk, alternative R&B, and latin music, Apollo has recently released his sophomore album "God Said No."


Apollo's immense talent has granted him a somewhat quick rise to fame, with "Ugotme" reaching 15 million streams after its first year and continued acceptance and success since then.


Prior to this concert, I didn't really listen to Omar Apollo, only knowing "The Two of Us" and the feelings that it wrapped me in.


I feel like you read that line and were like, "Well girl, why would you buy tickets to go to a concert where you only know one song?" I'll gladly give you three reasons.


  • Reason 1: Ravyn Lenae. I've been listening to Ravyn Lenae since she began releasing music and I've always wanted to hear that voice live. This concert granted me the opportunity to see her perform live where I can cry while she sings my favorite songs.


  • Reason 2: The tickets for the concert were not as expensive as the concerts we've been seeing lately, so I figured why not? Also, don't gatekeep. Concerts are another way for us to find music that we enjoy and love. For me, personally, I walked out of the concert with a newfound love for Omar Apollo's music and the creativity and vulnerability that he exhibits in songwriting.


  • Reason 3: My friends who did listen to Omar Apollo were going. Who wouldn't want to go with their friends to see one of their favorite artists and honestly just spend time with them? Exactly. Going to concerts alone can be fun because you can make new friends, but whenever you have your pre-established friends that you've already bonded over on that music, it can definitely be a more intimate experience.


Now onto the actual concert itself, Ravyn Lenae opened for Omar Apollo and boy did she come out singing [Haha, you get it right?]. Imagine my surprise when she opens with my favorite song, "Satellites" off her new album, Hypnos [at the time] that has gotten me through so many late nights and depressive days.


The strums of the guitar leave us with a floating, soulful feeling with the harmonizing behind it almost haunting, but speaks to some of the deepest parts of my soul. The drums behind Lenae's voice gives way to some of her hip-hop influences, making the song feel semi-upbeat, yet still solemn.


Lenae's set was full of songs from her most recent album at the time such as "Where I'm From," a song that literally feels like a dream, touching on the topic and love for heritage. Lenae even performed songs from Crush, her third EP, which was definitely a full circle moment for me as this is where I first came across her music.


As for Omar Apollo, there's so much that I can say. I truly did not know much about Omar Apollo or his music beforehand, but I left that concert with the streaming numbers to match the amount of people in the venue. Apollo's songs are incredibly vulnerable, some being a bit more upbeat than others, but overall truly pulling you into the soul of Apollo.


Apollo performed many songs from not only his newest album at the time, Ivory,

but also his prior album, Apolonio. Beginning with Talk, which I think definitely set the stage for the concert, bringing a rhythmic energy with its upbeat feeling that reflects his butterflies to this person and the feelings that he wants to bottle inside. Shifting to different songs like Archetype, where he continues to reflect on the feelings that he doesn't want to end and how this particular person is special to him.


The entire reason why I was moved to write this article about this concert was because of the experience that I had when Apollo brought out his acoustic guitar and began strumming the melody to Dos Uno Nueve (219). The passion and raw voices of the crowd who were already tired from singing the first few songs, gathered all of their emotions and strength to embody this song.


Looking around and hearing the strained voices belting their hearts out.. it genuinely moved me in a way that I have never been moved before. Though never having heard this song before, I felt unified with the people around me listening and trying to sing along to the little bit of Spanish that I learned in college. I enjoyed the performance so much that I have the whole 2 minute song on my phone and I'm sharing a small clip with you all here.



Moving on to Tamagotchi, which emanates latin music with hints of hip hop thrown in. The catchy percussion of the song goes perfectly with Apollo's adlibs while the snapping blends in perfectly with the beat and the acoustic guitar in the background.


Could be because it was my first real event, but you really see the connectedness and the experience that everyone talks about when hearing the artistry of the music live. It is a whole different experience when you are there with people that have their own personal connection and interpretation to the music, but also to feel the spirit and passion of the person who actually wrote and composed the sound.


Ending with Evergreen (You Didn't Deserve Me At All), which had also began blowing up on TikTok around the time of this tour. This is truly one of my favorite songs of Apollo's and the only song that I missed him perform that night because apparently I'm incredibly claustrophobic and will pass out if standing for a long time with that amount of people. Who would have thought?


Overall, this concert was an amazing experience. A night of true fun, good music and living in the present. I write all of this just to say. If you've never been to an Omar Apollo concert, he is on tour right now. You should go see him. You will not regret it. If I didn't convince you, maybe you just don't like music enough, I don't know.


 

Everyone say thank you to the cool sources that helped me to write this piece. check them out if you wanna know more about these artists:



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you're the real mvp.

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