kid apollo’s ‘camera shy’ Offers Contemplative R&B

Despite only releasing their first material last year, Brixton trio kid apollo have steadily been making a name for themselves as one of the most exciting groups in the UK underground. With a concoction of R&B, lo-fi and electronica, the trio have already crafted a signature sound that has them standing out in the crowd.

New single ‘camera shy’ comes ahead of brand-new EP ‘u the real star here’ which is set for release on November 19th. With some huge names on the co-production front (Rina Sawayama and Joy Crookes), ‘camera shy’ continues to elevate and better the kid apollo sound the world was introduced to back in 2021. With the group having only existed for a short amount of time, some influences are worn on their sleeve, like Joji or the more ambient elements of The 1975, but from what kid apollo have delivered so far it won’t be long until they are running in a lane of their own.

The lo-fi percussive textures throughout paired with the ambient piano movements make for a haunting but chilled-out listen. Jimmy HM’s vocals sit smoothly on the immaculately polished production, giving a result that is inherently influenced by lo-fi sounds but is delivered in an incredibly crisp and hi-fidelity way. An oxymoron perhaps, but the polished edge never once deters from the intimate sounds kid apollo creates here.

From this track in particular there is potential for kid apollo to lead the next wave of underground lo-fi and electronica, dominated by the likes of Joji during the late 2010s. The trio aren’t afraid to blend genres, and if this new single is anything to go by, the new EP is something everyone should be listening to.

Words: James Mellen

Photo Credit: Milo Belgrove