Hadreas, a Seattle native, began his music career in 2008 and released his debut album,
Learning, in 2010 via long-time label home Matador. The album immediately captured critics’
attention, with Pitchfork praising its “eviscerating and naked” songs, marked by “heartbreaking
sentiments and bruised characterizations delivered in a voice that ranges from an ethereal
croon to a slightly cracked warble.” These descriptors became the hallmarks of Perfume Genius
– Hadreas’ unique ability to convey emotional vulnerability not only lyrically, but with his
impressively nuanced vocals.
In 2012, Hadreas released Put Your Back N 2 It, further growing his audience and critical
acclaim. His 2014 album, Too Bright, marked a bold evolution in production and confidence. Co-
produced by Adrian Utley of Portishead, it featured the standout single “Queen,” which quickly
became a queer anthem and powerful statement of identity. Hadreas later performed the track
on Late Night with David Letterman.
In 2017, Perfume Genius released the GRAMMY-nominated No Shape, a breakthrough album
that expanded his global fan base and brought mainstream recognition to his art. Produced by
Blake Mills (Fiona Apple, Alabama Shakes), the record earned high praise, with The New
Yorker noting, “The center of his music has always been a defiant delicacy—a ragged,
affirmative understanding of despair. No Shape finds him unexpectedly victorious, his body
exalted.” During the album’s campaign, Hadreas appeared on multiple late-night shows and
graced the cover of The Fader.
In 2020, Hadreas released Set My Heart On Fire Immediately, a critical masterpiece on Matador
Records that garnered worldwide acclaim. Produced by GRAMMY winner Blake Mills, the album
featured contributions from Phoebe Bridgers, Jim Keltner, Pino Palladino, Matt Chamberlin, Rob
Moose, and longtime collaborator Alan Wyffels. It explored and subverted concepts of
masculinity and traditional roles, introducing distinctly American musical influences.Hadreas
promoted the album with performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (“Jason”), The Late Show with
Stephen Colbert (“Whole Life”), and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (“On The Floor”).
He followed with Ugly Season, a project born from his collaboration with choreographer Kate
Wallich on The Sun Still Burns Here, a dance piece commissioned by Seattle Theatre Group
and Mass MoCA and performed across major cities in 2019. The release included a stunning
30-minute film, Pygmalion’s Ugly Season, created with renowned visual artist Jacolby
Satterwhite, blending surreal visuals with Hadreas’s music.
Mike Hadreas is now based in Los Angeles with his partner in life and music, Alan Wyffels.