Centricity Music
Release Date: March 15th 2019
Reviewed by Joshua Andre
Apollo LTD– DNA (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- DNA
“…Every once in a while, an artist comes out of nowhere, surprising you in a good way as you hear a feel good song, bopping your head and tapping your toes, all the while connecting with the deep and meaningful lyrics and the relevant content. Such a song that has resonated with me to the degree I mentioned above is Apollo LTD’s “Gold”, which released in August this year, via Centricity Music. Now I don’t know anything in the slightest about Apollo LTD. In fact, when I heard “Gold” on my recommended Spotify playlist (as well as in my Release Radar!), I initially thought it was a one-man band from Josh Engler (frontman of Abandon!)- however I was later on mistaken as I searched online for more about the group. Turns out that Apollo LTD is a duo, comprised of Adam Stark and Jordan Phillips, and their music has been popular in the mainstream media…With both members having a strong sense of Christian faith, they are currently walking the same, or at least similar paths to artists like Switchfoot, Needtobreathe, Skillet, Relient K and Mat Kearney to name a few (which I probably why I haven’t heard much of them at all!) But “Gold” has put them on the map…” I wrote the single review of “Gold” way back in October- and here I am now writing about the band’s fourth single on Centricity Music- titled “DNA”; yet as I am now going to voice my thoughts, I reckon the intro still holds- right now I think they’re the catchiest band I’ve heard, that seem to have a foot in both Christian and popular mainstream circles. With Jordan and Adam possibly embarking on maybe releasing new singles in the coming year (sort of similar to what For All Seasons is doing!), let me dive in, and examine what their latest “DNA” sounds like.
“DNA” is pop music at its finest- if you want a description of the song in one sentence. Catchy and danceable, happy and bouncy and cheerful, we are met with a ball of EDM fun, as the duo create one of the most danceable and head-bopping pop tunes I’ve heard in recent memory (yep even better than “On The Way Up” by the same band!). Apollo LTD is certainly underrated however hopefully “DNA” will hopefully soon make its way to radio airwaves and the band will finally receive the recognition it deserves. Thematically, the track speaks about having a special someone in your life that is your constant, the one who is connected to your DNA- and again the song is vague in that we don’t know whether the group is singing about a special someone or about God. It’s ambiguous, but I reckon it’s good that Apollo LTD is reaching many music markets that overt Christians wouldn’t and couldn’t.
“Gold” has encouraged me to remember that Jesus makes everything around shine brighter; and has also encouraged me to check out the rest of Apollo LTD’s discography. While “On My Way Up” and “Heaven (All Around You)” has only further cemented my stance. Now that I’ve heard “DNA”, I’m a fan of these guys for sure. While only time will tell what kind of songs Apollo LTD record next, I am very intrigued and quietly excited, and will definitely check out the rest of their discography. So what are you waiting for guys! These guys have your anthems for at least the first half of 2019, even if you don’t believe in Jesus yet! So let’s get started, and let us know who is in your DNA!
Score: 4/5
RIYL: Abandon, Hawk Nelson, Kevin Max, Audio Adrenaline, Newsboys, Manic Drive, Capital Kings