After almost two years of interrupted gigs, album releases, festivals and cancelled shows, the Australian music industry pulled together last night at Taronga Zoo for the annual Australian Recording Industry Association Awards — or the ARIAs if you have no interest in a jaw spasm — to celebrate the best in Australian music for 2021.
And what a night it was, especially if you were Genesis Owusu. The 23-year-old Ghanaian-Australian took out four categories for his debut album Smiling With No Teeth making him the most awarded on the night. The four awards in question were the highly coveted album of the year, as well as best hip-hop release, best cover art and best independent release.
Upon accepting album of the year, Genesis said, “This is insane". "I used to get side-eyed a lot when I was younger for the way I dressed and the things I did but all the people I loved and respected always stood firm, immovable, unshakeable because we knew the power in who we were and what we created."
I’m lost for words honestly," he continued. "This means so much for me ... It’s not for us to change for people; it’s up to them to catch up, and see what they’ve been missing out on.”
Genesis Owusu was in good company with 19-year-old Budjerah Slabb awarded with the Michael Gudinski breakthrough artist award, while The Kid LAROI was recognised for best pop release and best artist.
Find the full list of winners for the 2021 ARIA Awards, below.
Album Of The Year
Genesis Owusu — Smiling with No Teeth
Best Artist
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber — 'Stay'
Best Dance Release
RÜFÜS DU SOL — Alive
Best Group
RÜFÜS DU SOL — Alive
Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist
Budjerah — Budjerah (EP)
Best Pop Release
The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber — Stay
Best Hip Hop Release
Genesis Owusu — Smiling with No Teeth
Best Soul/R&B Release
Tkay Maidza — Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3
Best Independent Release
Genesis Owusu — Smiling with No Teeth
Best Rock Album
Middle Kids — Today We're The Greatest
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Crowded House — Dreamers Are Waiting
Best Country Album
Troy Cassar-Daley — The World Today
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
Tropical F**k Storm — Deep States
Best Blues & Roots Album
Archie Roach — The Songs Of Charcoal Lane
Best Children's Album
Bluey The Album — Bluey
Best Video
Missing Piece — Vance Joy, Annelise Hickey
Best Australian Live Act
Lime Cordiale — Relapse Tour
Song of the Year
Spacey Jane — Booster Seat
Most Popular International
Taylor Swift — Evermore
Music Teacher Award
Zoë Barry — Sacred Heart School, Melbourne VIC
Best Cover Art
Kofi Anash & Bailey Howard for Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth
Engineer Of The Year
Konstantin Kersting
Producer Of The Year
Konstantin Kersting & The Rubens
Best Classical Album
Genevieve Lacey and Marshall McGuire — Bower
Best Jazz Album
Mildlife — Automatic
Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album
Angus & Julia Stone — Life Is Strange
Best World Music Album
Joseph Tawadros — Hope In An Empty City
Looking to refresh your mind on who else was nominated for the 2021 ARIA Awards? We've got you covered.
