With his rousing new single reminding us of his cutting-edge credo, Ghanaian-Australian provocateur Genesis Owusu talks impact, fluidity and building out his visual world.

Visually and sonically, Genesis Owusu’s “DEATH CULT ZOMBIE” carries a visceral, vital vivacity. Returning from the second time this autumn, following the politically potent avant-electro-punk cut “PIRATE RADIO” in September, the Ghanaian-Australian is building out the new era of his artistry, once again reinventing himself after 2023’s breathtaking sophomore full-length STRUGGLER.

The new track is another sign of the sonic breadth that Owusu has to offer. It’s Bloc Party-indebted, built from walls of snappy guitar and enveloping percussion, a sharp surveillance of simplicity done right. Lyrically, “it’s much less a battle cry and more just a cathartic yell into the ether,” the artist tells Wonderland. And whilst that can easily be described as defeatist, below the surface there’s a rousing, rallying tone to the cut, a call of collectivity against the tyranny of our epoch. 

Discussing the track, his visual world, and what’s to come, Owusu gets candid. Keeping scrolling…

Watch the video…

Read the interview… 

The track’s title itself, “DEATH CULT ZOMBIE”, is striking. What does that phrase mean to you?

It speaks to people who will choose a “truth”, an ideology, a dogma, and will uncompromisingly die by it, no matter what fact or reality contradicts it. I was thinking about it after watching some videos interviewing Trump supporters on what it would take for them to stop supporting him. Answers ranged from “after he shoots somebody” to after he does some other egregious thing that it turns out he’s already done. The affliction isn’t exclusive at all though – there are many people across the political spectrum, under completely different ideologies and walks of life who are in this camp, because admitting that the framework that you’ve lived your life under could be wrong is terrifying to a lot of people. Reality shattering. So the delusion is more comfortable and more convenient. But succumbing to that just makes you a zombie.

“DEATH CULT ZOMBIE” feels like a battle cry — what first sparked the idea for this track?

It’s much less a battle cry and more just a cathartic yell into the ether. I don’t have much interest in battling anyone who’s net worth is under $1bn, but it’s like when your sibling says some dumb shit; sometimes you have to smack them upside the head and tell them to stop being a fucking idiot. All my brothers and sisters around the globe have to stop being so easily susceptible to the suits with silver tongues who’s objectives are purely to enrich themselves at the expense of everyone else.

The song carries a rebellious, 80s Brit-rock energy. What drew you to that sound palette for this release?

I never go into the studio like “today I’m going to make a hip hop track” or “today I’m going to make a folk song”, the energy and emotion of the moment usually informs the sound of the track, or vice versa. So when it came to this topic, which I felt that I wanted to scream about, but which was also a bit tongue-in-cheek and didn’t take itself overly seriously, this sound just seemed to make sense. Probably didn’t help that I made it in Britain too, so maybe the environment seeped in as well. 

You’ve always built vivid visual worlds around your music — what was the concept or inspiration behind the video?

When it comes to world building for me, usually it’s so steeped in metaphor and literary reference, but I think because the phrase “DEATH CULT ZOMBIE” has so much imagery to it already, it gave us the space to just be really literal with it, and create a really fun, classic, zombie chase flick, paying homage to the greats (like Thriller) just in time for Halloween. We took the opportunity to go action movie instead of art house, and just have fun with it.

You’ve spoken before about reflecting the times through your work. How does this single continue that conversation for you?

The song is very much in the here and now. The themes of indoctrination and polarisation aren’t just 21st century problems but they are definitely more relevant than ever. That’s not to say this song needs to stay in 2025 though. I wouldn’t mind it being a Halloween staple, I’m tryna be Halloween Mariah Carey.

After channelling so much intensity into “DEATH CULT ZOMBIE,” what helps you reset or come down from that creative headspace?

I’m never really trying to come down from a creative headspace, but when it comes to emotionally resetting, music itself is the reset. In real life I think I’m pretty calm and quiet, but that’s because I get to scream into a microphone as a job.

What’s next for Genesis Owusu? 

More music. More life (no drizzy). Album coming soon.