A lot of your music sits in this space between vulnerability and escapism. Do songs usually begin from emotion, or from experimenting sonically first?

It changes every time, but more often than not I know what I want to write about before I start. I have pages of concepts in my notes app and usually a pretty clear sense of the emotions I want to explore in a song. That said, when I'm making music with other people, we’ll sometimes start by experimenting sonically and see where it takes us.

I think I’m always chasing something that feels honest but also transportive. Even when a song comes from a very personal place, I want it to create a world that people can escape into and find themselves in.

You’ve steadily built a really strong audience through your live shows and releases. Has your relationship with music changed as more people connect with it?

I think it’s made me appreciate how universal certain feelings are. A lot of the songs come from pretty personal places, so hearing that someone else sees themselves in them is still kind of wild to me. It makes the whole thing feel bigger than just my own experience.

You’re part of Live Nation’s Next On series this year, with a headline show at Palais Theatre coming up. What was your first thought when that opportunity landed?

Honestly, disbelief for a moment. The Palais is such an iconic venue and I've seen some incredible shows there over the years, so the idea of bringing my own project into that space feels pretty surreal. My first thought was how special an opportunity it is, and then immediately I started thinking about how to make the show feel worthy of the room. I'm excited to create something immersive and emotionally charged that draws people into the world of the music from the moment they walk in.

There’s a real contrast in your music between textured production and very exposed songwriting. Is that balance something you think about consciously?

Definitely. I love production and creating atmosphere, but I never want it to hide the heart of the song. Even when things get bigger sonically, I still want there to be something intimate sitting underneath it all. I think that tension is what makes music interesting to me.

With “blurryeyed” marking your first release of the year, what feels most exciting about the chapter ahead?

I think I’m in a place creatively where I’m trusting myself a lot more and not second guessing ideas as much. This next chapter feels a bit freer and more instinctive. I’m just excited to keep building the world around the music and share more of it with people.

Live Nation presents Next On: Jewel Owusu
Fri 12 Jun 2026 – Palais Theatre – Foyer Stage Melbourne, VIC

Live Nation’s Next On series returns to Melbourne this June with Filipino-Ghanaian artist and producer Jewel Owusu set to headline Palais Theatre alongside special guest Toy Shaw.

Tickets are now on sale - To apply for Next On, visit livenation.com.au/nexton

A Quick Chat with Jewel Owusu