Apollo LTD

Jordan Phillips and Adam Stark, the duo behind Apollo LTD, formed their musical partnership after meeting as roommates at Nashville’s Belmont University in 2004. Both friends had previously earned recognition with their band, The Kicks, which included opening performances for John Mayer and appearances on the Vans Warped Tour, alongside placements on various television shows. Motivated by a desire to explore a different creative direction, Phillips and Stark departed to pursue music with greater artistic freedom. Initially, they experimented with diverse musical projects and collaborations, focusing on the unrestricted joy of creation without predefined genre boundaries. The band’s name, Apollo LTD, draws inspiration from NASA’s Apollo program, reflecting their ambition to venture into uncharted musical territory, a theme articulated by Phillips: “It was our version of going to the moon in a tin can.” Their early work saw them independently releasing an eponymous EP in 2015, which garnered critical attention from publications like Consequence of Sound and The Atlantic, leading to sync placements on networks including Comedy Central, ESPN, FOX Sports, NBC, and ABC.

The duo’s career trajectory shifted in August 2017 when they signed with Residence Music, an imprint of Centricity, designed to support artists of faith exploring broader musical expressions. This partnership led to the release of their single “One in a Million,” a track noted for its blend of synths, arena-ready guitars, and U2-esque hooks. Subsequent releases in 2018 included the singles “Gold” and “On the Way Up,” followed by “Heaven (All Around You)” and “DNA” in early 2019. Their song “Gold” achieved significant success, reaching No. 28 on the US Christian Songs chart and No. 22 on the US Christian Airplay chart in 2018. Subsequent singles like “You” (2020), “Patient” (2020), and “Sunday Morning Feeling” (2021) also saw chart performance on Christian music listings. Phillips and Stark maintain a core belief in creating authentic music, regardless of its classification, striving to connect with listeners who resonate with their art, whether in a club setting or through Christian radio.

Over the years, Apollo LTD has released several albums and EPs, including “Out of Body” (2019), “Nothing Is Ordinary. Everything Is Beautiful.” (2020), and “Hello Human” (2024). They have toured extensively and established diverse collaborations, including a notable partnership with Baylor University for their “Run” music video in 2022. The band’s approach emphasizes introspection and empathy, aiming to create music that fosters connection and a sense of belonging among their audience. As Phillips notes, “We want people to understand that we’re all experiencing many of the same things… Art and creation come from a place of introspection and self-awareness, but also a desire to serve. We want to create art to connect with people—to bring them together.” Adam Stark also expressed their commitment to engaging with any audience that connects with their art, stating, “If they want to be a part of the conversation and it’s resonating with them, we want to go there, too.”