Genesis OwusuWhen it comes to Australian musicians performing at their peak, it's hard to look past Genesis Owusu.
Born in Ghana and originating his musical career in Canberra, Genesis (the moniker of Kofi Owusu-Ansah) first kicked things off more than a decade ago now, having first managed to break into the public consciousness thanks to appearances alongside his brother, who performs as Citizen Kay.
While there was a familial link to his origin, Owusu simply claims that when he first kicked things off, it wasn’t with the intent of following in anyone’s footsteps, rather, the initial goal was simply "just to make some crazy shit".
"[I was trying] to add a few things to the pantheon of boundary-breaking, timeless art, and join the lineage of black genius weirdos who came before me," he explains. "The André 3000s, Kendrick [Lamar]s, Kanye [West]s (RIP), Princes, [Jimi] Hendrixes, etc.
"But then I truly found art as a tool for therapy and catharsis, so I added the objective of unrelenting self expression on top of the initial goal."
Things quickly took off for the rising artist, however. A debut EP in 2017 was followed by an impressive run of singles, Gold certifications, and even an ARIA Award nomination.
That all culminated in the release of his debut album, 2021's Smiling With No Teeth, which not only scored four ARIA Awards – including Album Of The Year – but also took out the Australian Music Prize.
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It would be easy to say that his career growth was something of an explosive one, but as every journey begins with a single step, so too does Genesis believe that his career trajectory has been a "gradual climb".
"I’ve seen how it can be for artists who skyrocket out of the gate; it can be hard not to fizzle out from the suddenness of the bright lights," he explains. "But I’ve been able to slowly and intentionally carve out the building blocks of my own world, and cultivate a base of supporters who truly understand and resonate with the ethos, rather than just being fans of a viral song.
"Instead of trying to appeal to everyone in the world, I’ve cut out my own corner of the globe as a welcome home to all the kindred people who feel like they belong there."
One thing that most artists can typically look to in their careers is the tipping point – the moment at which they went from being something of a well-kept secret to breaking through onto the mainstream.
While the likes of triple j played a key role in the evolution of Genesis, so too did a voracious fanbase on streaming platforms help his music get heard by untold millions at home and abroad.
A lot of these artists, similarly, have a difficult time specifying one moment that it all took off for them. That's the case for Genesis, whose fanbase allowed him to realise that things were "different very early on".
"[It was] not necessarily due to the overwhelming number of supporters, but due to the dedication of the supporters as I gradually gained new fans," he explains. "I’m talking like 2016-2019, still years before the first album.
"I think because my work showed so much intention, the people that became fans were extremely intentional too. There was one guy who would immediately transcribe all my lyrics to Genius as soon as I put out a track on Soundcloud, and add his own breakdowns and annotations of the meanings, and this group of girls who would come to every single show I would do in Melbourne, whether I was the support act or otherwise.
"Then people started getting tattoos of my lyrics and such, and it just grew from there."
That rabid fanbase has followed Genesis with increasing intensity over this past decade, and especially in the five years since his debut album dropped.
In May, he released his third record, REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE, which found its way to No. 3 on the Aussie charts, and top of the Australian Albums chart.
While he admits it's a great feeling to be heard and appreciated by so many people, he also notes that it seems as though more people are listening to his music than ever before now.
"In a lot of ways, I feel like my career really kicked off after my first album, which was still a kind of COVID-era release," he explains. "This means so much of the success and support gained from the album, I mostly just received through a screen; numbers and Instagram comments.
"Don’t get me wrong, the love received from anywhere is always greatly appreciated, and it means that things are happening in real life, but I’ve become a bit numb to numbers and reports. Nothing can compare to really experiencing the love in real life, whether it's from a show, or someone just coming to chat when I’m walking around the area. That real human to human link is what it’s all about."
It's this human link that Genesis Owusu will be feeling in a real sense when he takes to The Bat & Ball in Sydney on Wednesday, July 29th as part of Spotify's Turn Up Aus celebrations.
Described as Spotify’s “love letter to the Aussie music industry and the fans behind it," it's an undertaking designed to celebrate Australia’s passion for homegrown sounds, with Turn Up Aus offering up exclusive fan-first events which look to put local acts front and centre.
With a penchant for intense shows, and a desire to keep the shows as intimate as possible, being part of Spotify's Turn Up Aus feels like a logical move for Genesis.
"Intimate shows are really special for me," he explains. "Knowing that thousands of people will come to your show is genuinely amazing, but being able to actually see everyone’s face, and connect with each person one-by-one is something else.
"And especially at my shows, which are super energetic, the energy in an intimate venue just gets concentrated to new heights. They go off."
Of course, a show like this means a different energy that will be present in the room. However, Genesis asserts that he's not a musician who changes his approach to a live show depending on the size or the vibe.
How does he prepare for a gig like this? Put simply, the same as any other gig.
"The way I performed at Madison Square Garden in New York was the way I performed at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, which was the same way I performed at the Worker’s Club in Melbourne, which was the same way I performed for 10 people at PJ O’Reilly’s pub in Canberra," he explains.
"Every show is 100%, energy-wise. I do like performing in these different contexts though, because I get to try out new configurations and modes creatively speaking. I’m building out an electro-club remix set for this show."
As one of the most exciting names in Australian music right now, Genesis Owusu is undeniably on his way to superstar status. As such, he's in a prime position to reflect on what it is that is the most exciting aspect about the local music scene.
While some might point towards the stellar talent we have on our shores, or the appetite for crafting huge tracks, Genesis singles out the status of Aussie musicians as the underdog.
"A lot of artists have a lot to prove on the world stage, and I think a lot of us really have the chops to be at the top," he explains. "Being in Australia, you have to have a different hunger to get there. Pressure makes diamonds."
Needless to say, he's definitely got the chops to make it to the top. He's already kicked off some amazing milestones in his career so far, but what's left on his musical bucket list?
"Living comfortably and happily off of my art," he admits. "This is something I’m able to do at the moment, which is incredible; the challenge now is making this a sustainable reality.
"After that, maybe a Grammy. Just for the flex."
Genesis Owusu will perform at The Bat & Ball in Sydney on Wednesday, July 29th.
