Genesis Owusu will be touring in support of his highly anticipated sophomore album, STRUGGLER - due for release on August 18
Multi-ARIA award-winning Ghanaian-Australian artist, Kofi Owusu-Ansah aka Genesis Owusu has returned with news of his highly anticipated sophomore album, STRUGGLER – due for release on August 18 via OURNESS / AWAL. Alongside the news, he has announced a global world tour – including Australian headline dates in December.
On December 1, Owusu will take to the Ice Cream Factory in Perth, before heading to Melbourne’s Festival Hall on December 8. The following night, Owusu will perform at the UC Refectory in Canberra, followed by a final set of performances at the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane on December 14, Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on December 15, and the closing performance December 16 at Adelaide’s Hindley Street Music Hall.
Genesis Owusu Australian Tour
Friday, 1 December 2023 – Ice Cream Factory, Perth WA
Friday, 8 December 2023 – Festival Hall, Melbourne VIC
Saturday, 9 December 2023 – UC Refectory, Canberra ACT
Thursday, 14 December 2023 – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
Friday,Fri 15 December 2023 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney NSW
Saturday, 16 December 2023 – Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide SA
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Joining Owusu for each show (excluding Perth) will be very special guests, EARTHGANG. Hailing from Atlanta, the acclaimed hip hop duo have been taking the world by storm over the past 12 months; earning GRAMMY nominations of Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Album for their work on Dreamville and J.Cole’s Revenge Of The Dreamers III, and most recently performing their electrifying live show at Coachella. Coupled with Owusu, the shows are set to be an unmissable, high-energy end to what’s been an already incredible year for both artists.
After launching onto the global map with his critically acclaimed debut album, Smiling with No Teeth, Owusu next steps forth with STRUGGLER; an imminent exploration of the chaos and absurdity of life, and our ability to endure. Where Smiling with No Teeth uncovered the battle against depression and racism, STRUGGLER is about how to get through its struggle. The album takes inspiration from a close friend hitting the brink and coming through the other side, in conjunction with prompted questions of life and beauty that Owusu found himself contemplating during readings of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis. 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), and original producers, Andrew Klippel and Dave Hammer.
Additionally, Owusu collaborates with globally-celebrated Aotearoa (New Zealand) visual artist, Lisa Reihana, on the album’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.
Today, while Owusu tours the US in support of Paramore and Bloc Party, including dates at Madison Square Garden after recently wrapping Groovin the Moo festival, his newest chapter unfolds with the album’s leading single “Leaving The Light”. A fervent anthem about survival and perseverance, “Leaving The Light”, sets an urgent tone for the new album. Opening to a spine-crawling run of bass notes, the immediacy hits through Owusu’s feverish verses and echoed shouts. A jolting mix of poetic punk and melodic catharsis, Owusu explores form and rhythm across the new single.
Pre-sales open 10am AEST Thursday, May 18. General on-sale opens 10am AEST Friday, May 19. For all ticket information, head here.
