Immy Owusu's New Single: 'Hard People' Out now
Immy Owusu’s ‘Afrodelik’ sound weaves together psychedelia, Zamrock, and Highlife, informed by his family’s musical roots and a desire to explore the trans-Atlantic ties between African rhythm, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. With several releases under his name (2023’s Australian Music Prize nominated LO-LIFE! and 2025’s collaborative EP ‘Spiritual War’ with producer Sensible J) Immy now returns with new single ‘Hard People’. The track serves as a tribute to his time spent under the tuition of his grandfather Koo Nimo, a legendary practitioner of Ghanaian ‘Palm Wine Highlife’ music. Produced by Henry Jenkins of the Grammy Award winning Frollen Music Library, Hard People is released on Friday 25th September.
Growing up in the Australian coastal surf town of Torquay, Immy divided his time between the beach and the bush; playing in rock bands, honing his songwriting in his caravan and venturing to Ghana to study with his grandfather. Hard People is bolstered by an uplifting 12 voice choir, featuring Immy’s own father Kojo Noah Owusu, elders and peers from the Melbourne African music scene, who collectively echo the songs’ main chorus refrain. Choir leader Liona Tatafu (head of Halo Vocal Ensemble), directed the choir, referencing traditional Highlife which toomuch inspiration from Gospel and Akan music. Whirling synthesisers played by Matt Hall reference those heard in recordings from artists like Alhaji Waziri Oshomah, Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy and William Onyeaboor.
Hard People explores the impact of difficult individuals and the importance of protecting your peace whilst staying true to yourself. Musically dedicated to Immy’s Grandfather and the Ghanaian ‘Palm Wine Highlife’ sound, the distinctive instrument in the track is the Frikywa (“free-chwaa”) thumb bell, a type of metal castanet that adds a rhythmic offbeat. This particular type of Highlife borrows significantly from flamenco traditions introduced to Ghana by Portuguese merchants, and can be heard within the open guitar chords which create a sense of warmth and space. Immy’s father, master Ashanti percussionist Kojo is a prominent feature of the live act, tying Immy’s foundational musical roots tightly into his present. The adinkra symbol in the right hand corner of the single artwork is the ‘Son Onyankopon’ (Of the creator), which teaches humility, trust during hard times, and the acknowledgement of divine authority (Faith) which provides inner peace, purpose and guidance. The single is accompanied by a heartwarming video in the backyard of Immy’s sharehouse, showing a glimpse into his life with friends and family sharing a Ghanaian-Australian BBQ whilst playing music together, filmed by Emmalene Vidot.
Immy says of the single, “My parents often played my grandfather’s music while I was still in utero, and these familiar chords continue to bring me a sense of peace, calm, and comfort. At its heart, it carries a simple message: remain calm, stay authentic, and do not become overwhelmed by the difficulties of others.”