MUSIC

Genesis Owusu ★★★★

Crowbar, August 19

On Friday, 25-year-old Ghanaian-Australian artist Genesis Owusu released his second album, Struggler. Before his run of Australian shows in December, Owusu will tour North America, capped off by gigs in London, Paris and Berlin. His last Sydney concert was with the 40-piece Sydney Symphony Orchestra in March. When he’s back, he’ll play the Hordern Pavilion. Owusu’s silhouette on stage is growing increasingly remote.

Genesis Owusu performs at Crowbar to launch his new album Struggler. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Which explains the buzz about his secret show in the front bar of Parramatta Road pub Crowbar. But buzz alone can’t explain how we end the night kneeling on the sticky carpet, our faces upturned like blossoms to the sun as Owusu spins in slow circles in the middle, conducting us through A Song About Fishing and calming the packed-out, jacked-up room like a rocked baby.

A few plays of Struggler’s immaculate mash of rap, soul, rock, R&B and G-funk, threaded together by a dark and twisted genius that’s all Owusu’s own, confirms his days of small venues are done.