Northern Minnesota artist Lew Apollo’s new cinematic soul single “Diamonds and Gold” sounds fun, but lyrically offers a deeper theme than the groovy beat and relaxing vocals let on.
Originally written in 2020, the song came to life years later after Apollo discovered the band Jungle. He said that adding a driving beat and a falsetto bridge that broke its repetition was something he’d never done before, making the single stand out from his previous work. Apollo also said that he draws inspiration from Hozier, Leon Bridges, and Labrinth’s production style and that his songwriting and style are a fusion of his home state’s icons, Bob Dylan and Prince.
Apollo’s personal, genre-bending soul music reflects his own internal struggles. He said that lyrically, the song wrestles with “the fear of running out of time and spiraling mentally after my father’s suicide.”
Beautifully personal, the single undeniably offers range — the kind of production that makes you want to dance, but lyrics for when the party is over. In his smooth, falsetto voice, he sings, “I’ve got a feeling / Burn down the house to touch the ceiling / I’m out of my mind / Ran out of time.” “Diamonds and Gold” offers an experience for both the highs and the lows.
The song was released alongside “No Room In Hell,” an accompanying R&B bop, cohesive and equally intriguing in preparation for his album Fool’s Gold to be released on August 8, 2025.
