Genesis Owusu’s third studio album has arrived.
Out today via OURNESS, REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE constructs an exposed state-of-the-day record, carving the purest of human emotions into song at a time when they feel most rife.
Experimental yet cohesive, desolate yet ecstatic, unflinching yet free – duality punctuates the album as he layers musings on an unsettled world with piercing reflections of his, and our own, places within it.
Sonically, the record found its inception from jam sessions with executive producer Dann Hume, where they enjoyed the freedom to be unbounded in their approach and weld Owusu’s wide taste palette seamlessly into an eclectic sound bed, threading neo-soul into alt pop, synth punk into deep funk, Brit rock and more.
Rich in lyricism and earnest in its message – bolstered by features from Ladyhawke and Duckwrth – the album confronts a divisive era that is ripping at the seams of humanity and heeds the need for unity.
“I started writing this album because I was seeing so much of the world and watching what was happening,” Owusu said. “I feel like I’m a student of Nina Simone, and she said, ‘the purpose of an artist is to reflect the times they live in’.”
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To celebrate its release, Owusu is taking his electrifying live show across the nation with a brand new tour, which kicked off last night in Newcastle.
Tonight (May 15th), the tour will continue on to his hometown of Canberra at UC Refectory, before stops at Brisbane’s Fortitude Music Hall on May 17th, Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on May 18th, Forum Melbourne on May 21st, Adelaide’s Thebarton Theatre on May 23rd, and Perth’s Ice Cream Factory on May 26th.
REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE follows his 2021 debut Smiling with No Teeth – which came in at No. 1 on our 100 Best Australian Albums of the 2020s So Far list, and 2023’s STRUGGLER.
The 2021 album scooped gongs at the ARIA Awards for Album of the Year, Best Hip Hop Release, Best Independent Release, and Producer of the Year (Andrew Klippel and Dave Hammer), and at our Rolling Stone AU/NZ Awards the following year, it won Best Record.
Genesis Owusu’s REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE is out now. For complete tour and ticket information, see here.
GENESIS OWUSU AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2026
Friday, May 15th (18+)
UC Refectory, Canberra ACT
Sunday, May 17th (18+)
The Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
Monday, May 18th (Lic. All Ages)
Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW
Thursday, May 21st (18+)
Forum Melbourne, Melbourne VIC
Saturday, May 23rd (Lic. All Ages)
Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide SA
Tuesday, May 26th (18+)
Ice Cream Factory, Perth WA
