Curly Hair by Immy Owusu
Immy Owusu's new track Curly Hair captures the rebellious energy of being the ‘weird, troublesome neighbour’ in an otherwise quiet Australian suburb. The song channels the frustration of being misunderstood and judged, and in this case is a direct response to years of nosy neighbors who viewed the artist’s lifestyle and music with suspicion - skewed by sensationalized portrayals of African youth in Australian media. Musically, juxtaposing the message are vibrant highlife melodies and crunchy flavoured rhythmic production by Sensible J (Sampa The Great, Cool Out Sun). Curly Hair is released on Thursday 20th February.
The title is a playful nod to a comment one of Immy’s neighbors made, referring to him as “the curly-haired one”, even though his caucasian housemate had far curlier hair. The song references the neighbor’s complaints about band practices and music, which they described as a fusion of 'Bob Marley, Hip-hop, and heavy metal’, being taken as disruptive to the delicate balance of suburban life. Meanwhile, these same neighbors were perfectly fine revving chainsaws at the crack of dawn on a Sunday.
Immy also recounts various strange moments from his young life, such as the local pastor accusing him of stealing items from the church for 'black magic' or people snooping around his backyard for illicit substances. Ultimately, Curly Hair serves as a kind of break up song, signaling the artist’s departure from his coastal hometown, where the weird and the unconventional felt unwelcome. It’s a call for freedom and self-expression, and a reminder that sometimes leaving is the only way forward.
Immy aka Immanuel Kwabena Dreessens-Owusu grew up in two worlds: the sea bleached lifestyle of the Australian Surf Coast with its rock n roll soundtrack, and the musical heritage of his Ghanaian / Dutch family. Immy’s father Kojo Noah Owusu is one of Australia’s best regarded West African musicians and his grandfather Koo Nimo is a legend of Ghanaian Highlife and Palm Wine music active since the 1960s. From them Immy learned Ashanti music and its instruments, added a fuzz pedal and began to experiment, coining the sound ‘Afrodelik’ or ‘Lo-Fi Highlife'.
The accompanying music video was created by Swedish animator Freddy Wallin and features Ghanaian rollerblader Samuel Tuffour @arrest_them rollerblading through Immy's family hometown Kumasi.
Tracklist
| 1. | Curly Hair | 3:39 |
Videos
Lyrics
We are going to hear some fine music
We want to start the party
What are we going to do
About the curly hair?
You know the one that I mean
You know the one that I am speaking of my friends yes yes
What are we going to do
Going to do
About the curly hair?
Wo ya
Woo ya oo
Have you met the demon moved next door? (door)
Walk barefoot no shoes on the floor (floor)
In the driveway a ‘99 Rodeo (ooo)
With a lion on fire spray painted on the trailer
I said he better not bring trouble (trouble)
Been living on this court in a 50 year bubble (bubble)
My brother-in-law plays golf with the police constable (trouble)
And I oh so subtle told him of our struggles yeah
Better clutch your bag and think twice
Knocking at your door with spicy red rice
Though he may speak and talk very nice
Linda won’t you please just take my advice
And run for your life
Ah ah ah ah yeah
What are we going to do
Going to do
About the curly hair?
You know the one that I mean
You know the one that I’m speaking of yes yes
What are we going to do
Going to do
About the curly hair?
A woo ya ey
A woo ya oo
And a woo ya oo
One is fine
Two is trouble
Three and I’m calling the police constable
If you’re gonna have any of them here
Best to have a mix
You don't want too many in the same place yeah
I don’t want any of that voodoo
There must be something for us to do
The priest thinks they’re stealing eucharist for black juju
For the safety of this town yes I fear
And I worry
Don’t you?
The one the one the one
You know the one
The young man with the curly hair my friend
Never to be seen here again
Ah yeah
Ah yeah
The one the one the one
You know the one
The young man with the curly hair my friend
Never to be seen here again
Never to be seen here again
I smell it late at night
Better not break into this house of mine
I jump over the back fence
To the garden
Nothing to find
Yet the smell drives me outta my mind
Honestly I don’t feel safe
Doesn’t he know it’s 1pm on a Wednesday
In the shed blaring that
‘Bob Marley Hip Hop Metal Marijuana Music’
I can barely hear sky news it’s so intrusive
Doesn’t he know that I have to get up at 6am to chainsaw and mow the lawn?
Move them on
Move them on
Yeah get em out get em out get em out get em out
What are we going to do about the curly hair?
We are known everywhere
Everybody deserves a great day
Oooh it be a fine day oh
With a serious vibe
We are not going to break the mould today
We are not going to break the mould today
Bye bye my friend
Never to be seen around here again
We treated him so nice what’s he after
Says he’s leaving town for the darker pastures
Serious music
Packing up and off he goes
Leaving town and all that he knows
And you I’m gonna miss my friend
Now this small little town is so quiet again
It’s a fine day
The young man with the curly hair my friend
Never to be seen here again
Ah yeah
Ah yeah
We are going to continue our reputation
The young man with the curly hair my friend
Never to be seen here again
Ah yeah
Ah yeah
Are you people ready?
What are we going to do about the curly hair?
The young man with the curly hair my friend
Never to be seen here again
Ah yeah
Ah yeah
It’s a fine day
What are we going to do about the curly hair?
The young man with the curly hair my friend
Never to be seen here again
Ah yeah
Ah yeah
Credits
License
All rights reserved.
