As an aspiring music artist and now groundbreaking actor, Omar Apollo is quickly paving his own unique path in the entertainment industry. His debut album 2022, ivoryearned him his first Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. Next, you can see Apollo, 27, in Luca Guadagnino’s highly anticipated film. Strangealongside film stars like Daniel Craig.

As the son of Mexican immigrants and growing up in the American Midwest, I recently sat down with Apollo and began by wondering what his upbringing in Hobart, Indiana originally inspired him to pursue music and the arts.

Apollo said, “Being from the Midwest, there isn’t a lot of music played unless the parents are directors, stylists or set designers. Your parents worked in a restaurant or at school, so all these things about art are far-fetched and not real. And yet I had a mindset that was a little more open to the arts. Other than that, it was great (growing up in the Midwest). I love it there – I just came back to see my family.”

If we talk about the evolution of his music so far, especially with his new one God said no Reflecting on the album, Apollo said: “I really tried to create this introspective, inner dialogue. The writing style is much more poetic (than my previous music). The opportunity to tour was great because I wrote it for a live audience. So I feel like it would only be represented properly if I went on tour. So, that’s what I’m doing now – it means a lot to me. It’s a very emotional album, but I try to make it entertaining.”

With the U.S. presidential election just a month away and hot topics like immigration and border control continuing to be front and center for many, I was curious to hear Apollo’s thoughts on the latest immigration developments in the country he continues to call home.

Apollo said, “I mean, it’s a lot different than when I was younger. It used to be completely different – the naturalization process. Now it’s almost impossible. Especially when family and friends have to deal with the impact of political events in the United States, it’s really, really frustrating to deal with the different forms of grief over it. I speak on behalf of my family and my friends and cousins ​​who constantly have problems with their citizenship.”

Today, Apollo is expanding his business opportunities while honoring his parents’ former family restaurant, El Super Taco, by partnering with Taco Bell to bring his mother’s popular hot sauce recipe, Disha Hot Hot Sauce, to menus nationwide.

Commenting on the outcome of this new partnership, Apollo said: “When Covid started in 2021, I always thought my mother’s recipe was the best. I had already traveled a lot to try a lot of hot sauces and thought: Yes, my mother’s was the best. Then my first album took priority and I put the Disha Hot business on the back burner for a while. Then Taco Bell came to us: “Do you want to do a collaboration?” That’s how it came about and it kind of felt right because (Taco Bell) is what we grew up with and especially among chain restaurants, it’s the number one one.”

On Apollo’s growing fame over the course of his career, he added: “My parents, the biggest question I ask them is, ‘How do you feel about the visibility that I have – the people coming up to you?’ (They say) “We’re just proud” – and honestly, that’s all I really need to hear. I also feel a little guilty because the restaurant (El Super Taco) had to close due to poor infrastructure and the way of running a business was very new to them. They were younger and had this dream, and when I was born they had to give it up, so I felt guilty. I want to continue to share this with the world and I love hot sauce – it’s just a part of my youth.”

About his newfound status as a film star, the role in the A24 film, StrangeI was curious how this first screen role for Apollo came onto his radar.

Apollo said: “Well, someone from (filmmaker) Luca’s side reached out to me, like an Instagram DM. The next thing I know, I’m on FaceTime with him the next day. I was really excited to even be considered because plus the cast – Drew (Starkey), who’s already a friend, and Daniel Craig, a prolific actor – is my first film and it’s wild and crazy. ”

Following his more glamorous experience as a presentation artist Strange Along with his cast and crew at the Venice Film Festival last September, I wondered what Apollo enjoyed most about being part of this prestigious cinematic event.

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

What does it mean for Apollo to be able to call himself an entrepreneur in 2024, after a music career, the start of a film career, and his family’s hot sauce in the world?

“It feels good! I feel like my parents – I feel like I live their ideas and feelings and their way of looking at the world.”