Enshrined within an unstoppable break-out year of accolades, including multiple sell-out tours, U.S. late-night television debut and a recent run of dates across the U.S. and Europe, Genesis Owusu makes his returning statement and stellar follow-up with new single and video, “GTFO,” out now via OURNESS/AWAL.

On “GTFO,” a lullaby-like choir warbles on loop like a fantasy film’s opening credits, mysterious and cinematically thrilling, before Owusu unlocks his first verse atop its eerie echo. An unmistakable warmth and spoken word leads the track to a bridge and chorus, its analog instrumentation co-written by Genesis and a smaller version of his recording band including Michael DiFrancesco (Touch Sensitive), Jono Ma and OURNESS label founder, Andrew Klippel. Produced by Andrew Klippel, Dann Hume and Jono Ma, and mixed by Spike Stent, the accompaniment shifts with the band leader’s groove, as Owusu yells “get the f*ck out” over a marching beat and a crash of cymbals, kept in razor-sharp time. With “GTFO,” Genesis Owusu invites us once more to the listening party of his innermost thoughts, in which he simultaneously shares his compelling story and unreservedly expresses his truest opinions. 

The “GTFO” single comes accompanied by a music video directed by Rhett Wade-Ferrell aka Uncle Friendly. The clip opens to Owusu kneeling in prayer before a candle-lit shrine as he recites the song’s opening lines. After an escaped cockroach breaks his attention, the remainder of the video sees Owusu driven insane as he hunts down the insect, wreaking havoc to the house in the process.

Photo Courtesy: Bec Parsons