Perfume Genius

Mike Hadreas is the Seattle native behind Perfume Genius, and two albums that are emotionally charged and at times even harrowing.

He pulls no punches with his largely piano-based music bringing an honest intensity that cuts straight to the bone. Hadreas’ debut album, Learning, ever so quietly landed in 2010, but those who heard it, felt its weight, with acclaim following its heels.

Learning was his collection of lo-fi, hand crafted MP3 recordings, that for Hadreas, was a form of therapy. The album is littered with poignant sentiments, arising from his drug and alcohol fuelled addictions.

“It’s just one of the ways that I figured out how to deal with all the things, if I’m having a problem it’s a way for me to look at whatever’s going on,” says Hadreas.

“I’m not sure why I’m always writing about that kinda stuff,” he ponders, “I mean when I grew up that was always the kinda music that I was listening to, (it’s) what people would think of as sad and depressing music, but in a way it’s my taste,” laughs the singer.

The 31-year-old pauses constantly to gather his thoughts, and as he speaks in a quiet manner, his voice sounds almost as fragile as his music.

The track, ‘Mr. Peterson’ is Learning‘s greatest example of the songwriter’s visceral lyrics. The song details a sexual relationship between a student and teacher, which inevitably ends with a traumatic death.“Touring Is very purposeful…I’ve got something to be nervous for each night.”

With stories like this, there is obviously an intent in Perfume Genius’ music to get an emotional response from listeners.

“That’s why I’m making music,” says Hadreas, “and those songs, the way that I did it, was hoping that other people would enjoy it or be comforted by it, or for it to be important to somebody like the music that I listen to where I’ve felt that way”.

Due to his lack of experience in playing live shows, Hadreas explains that when touring Learning, “it was very light with the scheduling.”

But since the release of his sophomore album, 2012’s Put Your Back N 2 It, the singer has been touring across the world non-stop.

His world trek will reach Australian shores in February for Laneway Festival, with sideshows along the way.

“Touring is very purposeful,” the singer affirms, “ I know exactly what I have to do each day, I’ve got something to be nervous for each night. You never have to clean the sheets or anything.”

“I’ve hopefully gotten good at it,” Hadreas tentatively laments, before concluding, “I think I’ve gotten a lot better at it.”

But perhaps the man behind the moniker is understating his live performance. While he admits that sometimes “some shows don’t go that great,” it is not uncommon for audience members to be crying at shows.

“It’s a good review as far as I’m concerned and I’ve had a lot of intense moments with people after shows as well,” he offers, “ you never really know though, a heavy moment like that doesn’t always happen when you’re playing, but sometimes it does”.

On Put Your Back N 2 It the singer-songwriter stepped up the production, added drums, and wrote songs that were far more accessible to a broader audience.

But Hadreas never loses his candid honesty. A track by track review, written by the man himself, lays every song bare, without even a hint of mystery.

The title track was written for the singer’s boyfriend, who performs on stage with him. Hadreas paints a portrait of his sexuality in a way that few other openly gay musicians do.

“I find it important to talk about my sexuality and to be open about it and I think that makes some people uncomfortable,” says the musician, “they feel like it shouldn’t be something, they feel that if I talk about it too much that I’m giving it too much ownership over who I am as a person.”

“I find it important to talk about my sexuality and to be open about it and I think that makes some people uncomfortable…”

“It is just part of me,” he concedes, “but it is part of me that has been misunderstood and that I’ve got shit for growing up and I don’t care about overcompensating for that or for whatever reason.”

Hadreas has received criticism from not only heterosexual people, but also homosexuals over his portrayal of his sexuality through his songs.

“Gay people say that I’m too gay,” declares the singer, “and you know people say that ‘I don’t care if someone’s gay as long as they don’t rub it in my face’ which I think is ridiculous, and it just really makes me want to rub it in their face,” he laughs.

“But that’s not why I’m doing all that,” Hadreas maintains, “I’m just doing whatever I fucking want, really… and I think if I wasn’t like that I wouldn’t have people writing and asking for advice or writing to me at all. I think that’s a big part of why I do it all,” he offers.

Hadreas though, doesn’t see himself as any sort of role model, but he admits that he doesn’t mind if other people do.

Speaking on equality, the singer believes that for many people “marriage equality just represents equality,” period.

Although now with gay marriage legalised in Hadreas’ home state of Washington, he has found himself in a strange predicament.

“Everybody there is asking if me and my boyfriend are going to get married, which I’ve never really thought about before. I never grew up thinking that I was ever going to get married. It’s not something that I’ve ever planned for, which is just a strange thing,” says the musician.

“It must be what straight people have to deal with forever!” Considers Hadreas. “It really drives me crazy, everybody asking if I’m getting married all the time.”

While Perfume Genius may not be certain of his personal future, one thing is for sure; his musical career is flying as high as ever.

Put Your Back N 2 It is out now through Matador. Perfume Genius will play Laneway Festival this February, details and set times here, and tickets are available from lanewayfestival.com.au Mike Hadreas also plays three special sideshows in February, dates below.