After launching onto the global map with his critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Smiling With No Teeth’, Owusu now steps forth with STRUGGLER; an 11 track narrative journey which Owusu simply states is “a story about a Roach, that runs and runs, trying not to get stepped on by God.” Steeped in mystery and metaphor, the story is a celebration of the inspiring stubbornness of the human will to survive. “Through pandemics, bushfires and wars, we’re still going to find a way to make it to tomorrow, and I think that’s beautiful,” says Owusu. After doing his own soul searching, Owusu combed his eclectic taste, to form a cohesive, concept driven project, where Post-Punk blends Poetry, Theatre, Garage Rock, Funk Rock, Hip-Hop and Heavy Soul. Partly inspired by Owusu’s readings of philosopher Albert Camus, novelist Franz Kafka and Samuel Beckett’s theatre play Waiting for Godot, the record paints a portrait using genres like shades of paint, freely exploring topics of resilience, hope, doubt, as well as the most basic of human questions: what’s the point?
Recorded between the US and Australia, the album’s producers traverse musical genres; from Jason Evigan(RUFUS DU SOL, SZA), to Mikey Freedom Hart (Jon Batiste’s 2021 Grammy of the Year Album, We Are), Sol Was(Beyoncé’s Renaissance), Psymun (Jean Dawson, Yves Tumor), and original producers, Dave Hammer and Andrew Klippel, who captain the production when it comes to tracks created with Owusu’s acclaimed Black Dog Band – a band consisting of Australian musical icons, Kirin J Callinan, Touch Sensitive, Jonti, Julian Sudek and Klippel himself.
The album’s opening track and leading single “Leaving the Light” is a fervent siren; a moving wall of fire and chaos that dares the listener to try to outrun it. Opening to a spine-crawling bassline, the song’s immediacy sets the tone for the album to come. Brash, urgent and inescapable. Through a jolting mix of poetic punk and melodic catharsis, Owusu explores form and rhythm, which is continued on the sister tracks “The Roach”, and “The Old Man”. Through a fever dream of chugging guitars and spitfire drum fills, we are introduced to our main character, The Roach, as well as the grand, looming forces that it has to struggle against. Tiny, but never defeated, The Roach hurdles through punk-rap fury, before crash landing into a soul-soaked, whiplash-inducing fourth track. The slow introspection of “See Ya There” showcases the honey-coated falsetto of Owusu. Beneath organs and a soul-derived composition, the song comments on how chaotic our world is, but how we’re all in it together nevertheless. “You’re going to hell, baby, and I’ll see ya there,” Owusu sings with a wink.
The fifth song, “Freak Boy” is a crisply frank track where nonchalant bass riffs meet new wave vocal stylings, which somehow result in the catchiness of a 2000s pop heater. Something’s got to give in, but it won’t be Owusu; The Roach keeps Roaching. The hybrid new wave/pop catchiness continues on “Tied Up!” before “That’s Life (A Swamp)”enchants with a disco-ready rhythm, layered in percussion, electronic tweaks, squeaks and an all-over funk smoothness. The irrefutable defiance of “Balthazar” embodies a musical middle-finger to the shackles of our own doubt. “I won’t wait my turn / the way I live is the way I’ll burn / what’s the point when we all end up in the urn? / The point’s whatever I discern!” The Roach chants like an immovable brick wall. This is the discovery that life is what we decide to make it, and that newfound empowerment soaks right into the next track, “Stay Blessed”. “What Comes Will Come” is conscious hip-hop wrapped in a black Moncler puffer – sleek and brimming with attitude, before it erupts into a euphoric UK garage dreamland, releasing all the tension we’ve been holding onto thus far. The grand finale “Stuck To The Fan” seeps itself in a soulful meditation of everything that our hero has experienced in their journey. These two tracks welcome and accept the absurdity of life, rather than trying to fight it. We’re told to stop viewing life as peaks and valleys, and rather like a rollercoaster, which needs ups and downs in order to make a wholly electrifying ride.
Owusu collaborates with globally-celebrated Aotearoa New Zealand artist, Lisa Reihana, on STRUGGLER’s complete visual identity. Having been showcased in elite institutions throughout the US and EU, including the Venice Biennale for her critically-acclaimed video installation, In Pursuit of Venus [Infected]Reihana’s work spans a diverse range of mediums. From film, to costume and body adornment, plus video installation, Reihana has rightfully earned a reputation as a world-renowned artist and producer, engaging in thought-provoking dialogues around the concept of culture.
As the world welcomes to its stage the brightly burning star of Genesis Owusu, the limelight continues to hold following the release of his debut album, Smiling With No Teeth in March 2021. Owusu completed a sold-out 22 date tour in 2021 alongside his Goon Club, before another sold-out national theatre tour with The Black Dog Band (his recording band) in 2022 – now immortalised via triple j’s Live At The Wireless. Next, Owusu jetted to the United States for his first ever international tour, performing 16 shows with his Goons. Owusu also made his U.S. late night television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. A 13-date European tour followed with sold-out stops in London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Berlin’s Berghain, as well as a performance at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound. After his wildly talked-about Splendour in the Grass performance in July, Owusu returned to North America for performances at Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, Osheaga Festival in Montreal, This Ain’t No Picnic Festival in California and Austin City Limits. He also supported Khuranghbin in Austin alongside Thundercat, and joined Glass Animals for a string of shows hitting Nashville, Toronto and Cincinnati. Genesis Owusu closed out 2022 supporting Tame Impala and further festival appearances at Spilt Milk, Lost Paradise and Falls Festival. He resumed in 2023 with a two-city performance series, Red Bull Symphonic, which saw him perform to a sold out Sydney Opera House, a US tour support slot for Paramore and Bloc Party, including dates at Madison Square Garden, as well as Groovin the Moo festival back home.
Now one of the country’s most-celebrated new albums, Smiling With No Teeth demonstrated the beginning of Owusu’s profound artistic revolution and soul-bearing expression. The album secured triple j’s Album of the Year and x4 ARIA award titles, including Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Release, Best Independent Release and Best Cover Art, alongside radio support from triple j and BBC Radio, and global acclaim from tastemakers and critics alike, including The Needle Drop, NME, Line of Best Fit, The Guardian, Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone, The Australian, ICON and many more. Owusu additionally saw his album track, “Gold Chains” included in President Obama’s Favourite Music of 2021.
Today, Genesis Owusu, one of the most exciting and new emerging voices in Australia, ushers in a new chapter and follow-up record. STRUGGLER is your bold soundtrack to uncertain times, open for exploration as Owusu invites you to join him on a world tour this October.
UK / EU TOUR DATES
15 November – Heaven – London, UK
November 16 – Cafe De La Danse – Paris, France
17 November – Hole44 – Berlin, Germany
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