Genesis Owusu Wins 2021 Australian Music Prize: ‘This Means A Lot’

Going from strength to strength, Ghanaian-Australian artist Genesis Owusu has today been awarded the coveted Australian Music Prize.

Owusu claims the prestigious music accolade and its accompanying $30,000 cash prize for acclaimed 2021 album Smiling With No Teeth.

“This means a lot. This is an award with a lot of esteem, not to mention putting real money back into music at a time like this is so crucial,” Owusu said.

“I'm super grateful, and I'm keen to use this prize to help spread my art across the world, shouting out Australian talent on the way.” 

Smiling With No Teeth beat out a massive 450 eligible 2021 releases to win, being selected by a diverse judging panel of over 30 industry experts, including artists, radio presenters, music writers, retailers and inaugural guest international judge Billy Bragg.

“When we appoint judges we don't tell them how to judge, or what we're looking for. We simply say that this prize is about the album format (so don't base your judgement on 1, 2 or 3 tracks) and that originality is the number one consideration,” AMP Founder/Director Scott Murphy said.

“Smiling With No Teeth stacks up perfectly as said so by at least 80% of our judging panel. Well done Kofi and your support team.”

THE 17th SOUNDMERCH AMP RECIPIENT

Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth

2021 FINALISTS

Amyl & The Sniffers –Comfort To Me
Baker Boy –Gela
Emma Donovan & The Putbacks –Under These Streets
Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth
Hiatus Kaiyote –Mood Valiant
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard –Butterfly 3000
Martha Marlow –Medicine Man
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis –Carnage
Odette –Herald

PREVIOUS AUSTRALIAN MUSIC PRIZE RECIPIENTS

2020 - The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You
2019 - Sampa the Great - The Return
2018 - Gurrumul - Djarimirri
2017 - Sampa the Great, Birds and the BEE9
2016 - A.B. Original - Reclaim Australia
2015 - Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
2014 - REMI - Raw X Infinity
2013 - Big Scary, Not Art
2012 - Hermitude, HyperParadise
2011 - The Jezabels, Prisoner
2010 - Cloud Control, Bliss Release
2009 - Lisa Mitchel, Wonder
2008 - Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Primary Colours
2007 - The Mess Hall, Devils Elbow
2006 - Augie March, Moo, You Bloody Choir
2005 - The Drones, Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By

Smiling With No Teeth picked up four ARIAs, including Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Release, Best Independent Release and Best Cover Art, before scoring Australian Video of the Year and Australian Album of the Year at the 2021 J Awards.

Genesis Owusu is currently touring the country, and accepted the prize via satellite from soundcheck at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre – for more details on upcoming dates, click here.