Kwasi

About the Artist

Battling tensions of identity and alter-egos, proud misfit and Naarm/Melbourne artist Kwasi finds himself caught between going all in or running away from love. His new hip-hop and punk-infused lead single, ‘Room Full of Broken Hearts’, featuring Nathan Wong, is out now. Following two singles released earlier this year, ‘Room Full of Broken Hearts’, continues to piece together the story of ‘Outstanding MISFIT’, Kwasi’s forthcoming debut album, out October 16. Adding to his genre-bending catalogue, Kwasi has built a reputation for his signature hiphop, punk blend, earning industry recognition and praise, as well as sharing stages and collaborating with artists including Genesis Owusu, Illy and 360. Trading in his usual abrasive rap intensity for powerful vulnerability, ‘Room Full of Broken Hearts’, finds Kwasi embracing melancholic guitar, live drums and honest melodic crooning. Still carrying his high-energy blend of hip-hop, trap and punk influences, the track moves between Wong’s emo-inflated chorus and Kwasi’s signature gruff vocal inflections. The track's upbeat vocal blend creates a conflicted atmosphere, shifting between open vulnerability and darker, restrained vocals that mirror Kwasi’s internal conflict with himself and his misfit alter-ego. ‘Room Full of Broken Hearts’ offers a glimpse into Kwasi’s debut album, a fourteen-track collection, featuring several collaborations, that cohesively tells the story of identity, acceptance and embracing all parts of yourself. Across the album, Kwasi navigates feelings of alienation and belonging, struggling to find his identity alongside the ‘MISFIT’ alter-ego that shadows him throughout the album. Kwasi says: “‘Outstanding MISFIT’ is the story of an underdog and the rise of an anti-hero. It’s about learning to embrace the parts of yourself that make you feel like you don’t fit. I’ve spent a lot of my life feeling like I existed somewhere between different worlds, and for a long time I thought I needed to figure out which one I belonged in. This album came from realising that maybe I don’t have to choose.” Bringing the world of ‘Outstanding MISFIT’ to life, Kwasi will launch the album with ‘KWASI PRESENTS: THE SCORE — OUTSTANDING MISFIT’, an immersive live cinema experience at Village Cinemas Rivoli on Halloween, Saturday, October 31. Combining an original short film with live performances from Kwasi and his band, the screen and stage will unfold as one continuous narrative, inviting audiences to step inside the world of ‘Outstanding MISFIT’ for the night. Embracing genre-bending and his vulnerable side, ‘Room Full of Broken Hearts’ finds Kwasi chasing connections in a dynamic haze of uncertainty and struggles with identity. The single offers a peek into ‘Outstanding MISFIT’, his debut album arriving Friday, October 16, before Kwasi brings its world to life at Village Cinemas Rivoli with his immersive live cinema album experience on Halloween, Saturday, October 31.