New York – Perfume Genius is the moniker of Seattle’s own singer-songwriter Mike Hadreas. Since his debut, this soloist’s tracks have crashed through playlists with unforgiving, tidal might. But Hadreas’ power is neither loud nor sonically invasive. Rather, his work carries a message that’s both apt and vital. With melodically demure ballads, this is a musician who confronts societal biases and challenges intolerance with unwavering insistence. Perfume Genius is forceful as a hurricane, and his latest single, Queen”, is no exception to his inimitable reputation.
Hadreas’ discography churns in the ethers of piano-heavy composition. Both ambient and lo-fi, his work strikes calmly, ebbs gently and unpacks enough emotional complexity to crumble mountains with its weight. Much adored since his debut, Hadreas has just surfaced with a track from his next record on deck. “Queen” is the sterling first cut off Too Bright, which is slated for release on September 23rd via Matador Records.
“Queen” is an instant knockout. The perfect mélange of substantiating percussion and vocal experimentalism, the single incorporates just a hint of eastern-inspired riffs that transport a listener to the beautiful nothingness of a desert landscape. Lyrically, the track cuts to the gut with caustic attitude and a healthy dose of snark. “No family is safe when I sashay,” sings Hadreas, somehow sewing together humor and protestation.
The video accompaniment to “Queen” is both breathtaking and whimsical. Directed by SSION, Hadreas invites us into a narrative that bridges the divide between magical realism and the most confusing elements of self-discovery. If we thought we’d gleaned for a second who Hadreas is or how his mind works, this video proves we’ve not but scratched the surface of this man’s inner workings.
Perfume Genius first came to us in 2010. After independently releasing a handful of tracks on Myspace, Matador Records wisely took note and swiftly sighed the act. His first LP was Learning, which surfaced that June. The next year, Hadreas solidified his place in the spotlight though a nation-wide tour supporting Beirut. The Put Your Back N 2 It LP was subsequently released in February of 2012 and, ever since, fans have been waiting with great curiosity for what’s to come next.
Markedly, controversy has run ramped throughout Hadreas’ career, particularly in the wake of the video to “Hood.” The footage depicts Hadreas in the arms of adult film star Arpad Miklos, with the pair clad in nothing but underwear. After its release, YouTube deemed the video unsafe for family viewing and promptly barred its contents. But a particularly stunning take of “Hood” lives on at La Blogothèque, amidst Vincent Moon’s catalogue of much-adored mini-series of musical performances. Irrelevantly, or not, this video was shot beneath a chandelier made entirely of moss at the ever-affecting Greenpoint piano bar/elite hideout, The Manhattan Inn. This cut and its recorded counterpart are documented proof that it takes but seconds for Hadreas to command the attention of the masses, and underscores this act’s faculty to captivate his audience with incomparable precision.
Due to its nature, Hadreas’ work has always served as a floodlight on prejudice. But his proclivity towards empowerment is the arsenal that ultimately fuels his music. “I’ve seen faces of blank terror when I walk by,” Hadreas is quoted via his label. “There is a strange power to it that I’ve only recently begun to understand and embrace. After many years trying to sort out exactly what they are scared of, most of the time converting the result into personal shame, there are now moments of monstrous pride.”
Always pushing the envelope of comfortability, whilst guarding an air of comedic relief, Perfume Genius is a mastermind who brilliantly melds the art of performance with sharp-edged realism. If you can sit with the strangeness of the deliberately eccentric themes imbedded in his work, Hadreas is poised to unveil numerous avenues of personal and public discovery. Of course, the undercurrent of this act’s talent is his unassuming intel – Hadreas is in on the joke, but he is ten-steps abreast of his flock. Go here for a list of tour dates, and brace yourself for the impact of this act in person.
Liz Rowley
Latest posts by Liz Rowley (see all)
- firekid Dazzles New Yorkers With His Metropolitan Mountain Music - September 14, 2015
- Caveman Blows New Yorkers Out Of The Water - July 16, 2015
- Danielle Miraglia Explores The Paradox Of Egotism - May 4, 2015
