Perfume Genius Biography

Mike Hadreas, known professionally as Perfume Genius, is an indie rock singer and musician from Seattle. He debuted in 2010 with the album “Learning”, praised by critics.

Early Years & Style

Hadreas was born in the suburbs of Seattle, Washington, in 1981 and is of Greek heritage. During his childhood, he studied painting and learned to play the piano. He struggled with bullying in school, due to being openly gay. Eventually, he dropped out of high school but the bullying continued. Mike moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn and worked as a doorman for a club, until 2005. In 2008 he officially began recording songs and uploading them on his MySpace account. His music focuses on the subject of sexuality, identity, his own fight with Crohn’s disease and the way gay men are viewed in society.

Music Career

Perfume Genius released his debut album in the summer of 2010. The record, titled “Learning” received critical acclaim. Pitchfork rated it 8.2. Two years later, he dropped another album, Put Your Back N 2 It, which received even more praise. However, it was 2014 when Perfume Genius made his commercial breakthrough, with his third album, “Too Bright”, which peaked at number 83 in the US and 77 in the UK. “These songs feel less like songs and more like treasures, ones that fill you with power and wisdom”, declared Pitchfork in regard to the album. In 2016, the Seattle-basted singer covered Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, for a Prada La Femme and L’Homme fragrances ad campaign. In 2017, Hadreas released the singles “Slip Away” and “Go Ahead”, preceeding his fourth album, “No Shape“.

Photo credit: Rolling Stone