Genesis Owusu adds the 17th annual Australian Music Prize to their bulging collection. With their debut full-length LP Smiling With No Teeth (Ourness/AWAL), the hip-hop and funk oracle wins the Soundmerch AMP, awarded to the 2021 Australian album of the year. Along with the winner’s spoils, Owusu snares A$30,000 ($22,000) in cash, thanks to headline sponsor Soundmerch. Owusu accepted the prize via satellite from soundcheck at his sold-out show at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre. “This means a lot,” comments Owusu. “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. 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.” Explore See latest videos, c...
Organizers said its longlist of 85 titles was whittled down to the nine finalists, which represent a “wide and diverse pool of talent from right around the country.” The feedback “directly from artists who released albums in 2020 has been quite incredible; much praise for us being able to keep The AMP alive in a year that wasn’t alive in so many ways,” comments Scott Murphy, founder and director of the SoundMerch Australian Music Prize. “It could not have been done without the help of long term industry friends, especially APRA and the Mushroom Group, whose financial support remained intact for the 16th year.” The winner will receive a check for A$20,000 ($15,000) check, courtesy of merchandise specialist SoundMerch, and is typically announced during the month of March. Previou...