Live Review: Noname, Genesis Owusu

Australian MC, Genesis Owusu proved just why he was the winner of triple j Unearthed, 2017, opening for Noname at the Metro Theatre. His voice heavy and deep, his lyrics cutting and infectious, his music is gaining newfound maturity. New song, Awomen, Amen epitomised this growth and so much more.

Noname burst onto the stage with characteristic effervescence, jigging about as the band kicked into gear. On the back of sold-out shows in 2017, the Chicago rapper returned to southern shores for Listen Out. Her sideshow had been moved from the Enmore Theatre to the Metro and failed to sell out, showing her following might be waning down under.

Nevertheless, Noname, real name Fatimah Warner, and her touring band gave an upbeat and spirited performance. The first three songs were brand new and all featured on her recently released second album, Room 25. The MC rose to prominence in 2016 with the release of her mixtape, Telefone. This new release had much of the same life-affirming lyrics but the sounds are definitely far more developed and mature.

Self was a triumphant introduction to the set, featuring the playfully meandering tone that Warner has made her own. Elements of soul blared onto this opening track, giving the audience a taste of what was to come.

The next two songs followed in much the same way; experimentation from the rhythm and drums with blues/soul inspired keys and Warner spitting out eclectic references at super-sonic speed.

She was thrilled to share this next chapter of her life with a warm crowd saying, “I had sexual intercourse for the first time and I wanted to write a whole album about it”.

The backing singer in the corner proved lacklustre and was often drowned out by the audience chiming in. This imbalance was at its most apparent during Reality Check. But the crowd absolutely raised the roof during the refrain: “Just let your light glow.”

Bye Bye Baby is always a bucketful of life. While the lyrics are deeply meditative, the refrain brings a joyful exhale that the entire crowd can’t help but join in on: “You my baby, you my baby/I’m your baby, I’m your baby/On the lonely road where happiness needs us.”

The addictive repetition of Freedom’s “dance with me, dance with me” was followed by Warner letting the band showcase their experimental prowess. “We gonna let them go crazy,” she said. The night carried on the same way: crazy and experimental and full of fun.