Kofi Owusu-Ansah, better known as Genesis Owusu, is quickly becoming one of the most notable artists in the music scene. He has made a habit out of using his art to address pressing social issues directly. Born in Ghana, he immigrated to Australia at the tender age of two. He was raised in Canberra, a culturally rich city of less than half a million people. Being one of the only Black children in his predominantly white neighborhood, Owusu’s distinctive story has been the driving force behind his musical journey.
Over the years, Genesis Owusu has garnered critical acclaim, winning multiple ARIA awards and gaining a following for his thought-provoking lyrics. Yet his striking debut album, Smiling with No Teeth, was born in the darkest period of his life. Its genesis occurred from a dark time post a deep depression. His newly released second album, Struggler, has a similar origin story, having been written and recorded during an emotionally tumultuous time. Both albums are powerful statements on identity, marginalization and social commentary. Their songs touch the soul, and their listeners are starving for artists whose music is made with heart.
Owusu’s work has not gone unnoticed internationally. He has amazed audiences on late-night talk shows around this country. He even made it onto former President Barack Obama’s playlist! This recent recognition is further testament to his increasing impact and the timeliness of his message in our world today.
As he gears up to release his third, Black Dog, Owusu hopes to capture the increasingly fraught political moment of the 2020s. He poses deep, sometimes painful truths with disarming directness. “Some things just need to be said straight like that.” It didn’t feel right for there to be some grand character or some grand metaphor in my next album because some things just need to be said very bluntly, very much in your face,” he remarked.
Owusu’s commitment to authenticity drives his work. Klone assumes, like a lot of artists, that it’s the artist’s job to mirror the moment. “I just speak my truth. I feel like that’s the best that I can do … I need to say it unfiltered regardless of how other people might take it,” he shared. His new album addresses a spectrum of today’s political and social ills. It goes against the grain and pushes the envelope, inviting listeners to expand their thinking.
In exploring these societal challenges, Owusu draws attention to the importance of honest discourse on race and inequality. He reflects on his childhood experiences as one of the only Black kids in a predominantly white community: “It was very, very weird coming and being pretty much the only Black people in our general vicinity.” He believes that racism hasn’t gone away and that many people are still asleep to the reality of ongoing racism today.
“I’ve seen a lot of people — especially celebrities, like: ‘Yeah, racism doesn’t exist anymore. I’ve never felt it. I don’t feel it’ … I’m very aware that it still definitely exists,” – Genesis Owusu-Ansah
His poignant commentary expands beyond the scope of race to address larger societal flaws. He argues against scapegoating marginalized groups for economic woes, stating, “The 99 per cent are not your enemy. Trans people and immigrants are not the reason your eggs are expensive … that just needs to be said outright.”
Owusu’s perspective on societal division highlights a critical issue: when people are pitted against one another, they fail to confront those truly in power. “There’s a lot happening in the world that is just being sugar-coated or being deflected … people just need to say things straight,” he emphasized.
In an age of division and doubt, Genesis Owusu is aiming to bring people together with his art. And he sees deep engagement with one another as the only path to collective healing across our society. “I’m just trying to take it back to the core … it’s all just about community and being amongst the people,” he stated.
As he prepares to release new work that reflects on these themes, Owusu is determined to maintain his authentic voice. “I do feel the pressure,” he admits just before gracefully dodging it. He’s still looking to make music that reflects and shapes his truth.
“[My second album] was definitely the one where I felt a lot of external pressure. But I think after getting that out and touring, I was able to take a bit of a break, take a step back and really remember why I am doing what I’m doing … there’s just no point to me making music if it’s not a true expression of who I am and what I believe in,” – Genesis Owusu-Ansah
