Acclaimed Australian-Ghanaian artist Genesis Owusu has surprise released his powerful new single, “HUMAN AGAIN,” alongside an official music video, continuing the momentum behind his critically celebrated third studio album, REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE. The release also arrives ahead of his completely sold-out U.S. leg of the Red Star Wu’s Pirate Radio Tour, which begins this November.
Released via OURNESS, “HUMAN AGAIN” expands on the themes explored throughout REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE, blending experimental electronic production with Owusu’s unmistakable vocal intensity. The track wrestles with emotional exhaustion, digital overload, and the challenge of maintaining empathy in an increasingly polarized world, while ultimately landing on a message of resilience and collective humanity.
Glitching electronic textures pulse beneath Owusu’s urgent delivery, mirroring the psychological tension of navigating misinformation and constant digital noise. Despite its anxious atmosphere, the song ultimately argues against apathy, embracing compassion and community as acts of resistance. The accompanying music video reinforces that duality, juxtaposing elaborate baroque imagery against contemporary European cityscapes in a surreal visual that matches the song’s emotional weight.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the track, Owusu explained:
“I wrote this song when I was thinking about apathy. Living in the digital age of misinformation is genuinely brain-frying sometimes. So much global gaslighting, so much to cry and scream about; it’s easier to just flip the switch off and sink into base hedonism to feel human again. But it’s really important to care. You can party too. Care about the rights and freedoms that let you party. Care about all the people around the world who wanna party just like you. Keep fighting, kicking and screaming so the party doesn’t die.”
The single follows the May release of REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE, an ambitious genre-defying album that combines hip-hop, indie rock, synth-pop, funk, and electronic music while examining political division, cultural identity, and modern society through Owusu’s distinctive lyrical lens.
The record has earned widespread acclaim from critics worldwide. Pitchfork praised its blend of styles and timely social commentary, while The New York Times highlighted its class-conscious songwriting. NME, The Needle Drop, DIY Magazine, NPR Music, The Guardian Australia, and Genius all recognized the album as one of the year’s most compelling releases, with several calling it the strongest work of Owusu’s career.
Since the album’s release, Genesis Owusu has maintained a relentless touring schedule, selling out headline performances across Australia, London, and Paris while also supporting IDLES on tour. His upcoming Red Star Wu’s Pirate Radio Tour continues that momentum, with every U.S. headline date already sold out, including stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, and two nights at Brooklyn’s Baby’s All Right.
Owusu’s growing international profile follows years of critical acclaim and more than 130 million Spotify streams. His career has included standout performances at Lollapalooza, Primavera Sound, and Splendour in the Grass, tours with Paramore, Tame Impala, and IDLES, as well as a landmark sold-out performance with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House.
With “HUMAN AGAIN,” Genesis Owusu continues to push artistic boundaries while delivering music that feels both intensely personal and socially urgent. The single serves as another compelling chapter in one of alternative music’s most adventurous creative runs.
Featured image credit: Isaac Brown
