Today, in conjunction with Spotify and Electric Lady Studios, Perfume Genius (a.k.a. Mike Hadreas) releases Live at Electric Lady. The four-track EP features “Whole Life,” “Photograph,” and “On the Floor” – re-imagined versions of tracks off his most recent albums Ugly Season and Set My Heart On Fire Immediately, as well as a cover of Radiohead’s “4 Minute Warning.”
As part of the Live at Electric Lady series, participating artists were invited to record their own compositions as well as cover songs by artists connected to the history of the legendary recording studio, resulting in truly unique recordings that showcase each artist’s creativity and musical style. The high-quality live audio recordings are distributed exclusively on Spotify.
When providing commentary on the EP, Perfume Genius shared:
“Touring over the last year has been really inspiring after so long away. I am happy to have a document of the new vibrancy and rousing spirit my band brings to the live versions of our most recent albums. “4 Minute Warning” became a favorite of mine during lockdown, something I would sit and sing over and over on the piano in my room. I’m happy to be out of that room now and sharing again.”
You can listen to Perfume Genius’ Live at Electric Lady EP HERE.
Perfume Genius – Live At Electric Lady EP – Tracklist:
- Whole Life
- Photograph
- On The Floor
- 4 Minute Warning (Radiohead)
NEW ALBUM UGLY SEASON OUT NOW, ACCOMPANIED BY JACOLBY SATTERWHITE SHORT FILM PYGMALION’S UGLY SEASON
“A mode of experimental pop music that is ecstatic, healing, modern, and queer.” – Pitchfork, ‘Best New Music’
“… the album is a culmination of one of the most consistent and emotionally generous artists today (…) the onus is on the listener to concentrate – but the rewards are as rich as ever” – The Telegraph
“Ugly Season is a scenic route to the world’s end that finds hope in bodily beauty, however ravaged” – Crack
More About Perfume Genius
Hadreas grew up in Seattle, WA and started his music career in 2008. He released his debut album Learning in 2010 via long-time label home Matador, and it instantly caught the attention of critics. “The songs on Hadreas’ full-length debut are eviscerating and naked,” said Pitchfork, “with 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.
His following album, Put Your Back N 2 It was released in 2012 and continued to build both his audience and critical acclaim. 2014’s Too Bright, exhibited a massive leap forward in both production and confidence. Co-produced by Adrian Utley of Portishead, the album featured the stand-out single, ‘Queen’. The track quickly became a queer anthem and a powerful statement of being. Hadreas performed the song on Late Night with David Letterman.
In 2017, Perfume Genius released the GRAMMY-nominated No Shape, an album that would crystalize his fan base world-wide and bring mainstream awareness to his art. The record was produced by Blake Mills (Fiona Apple, Alabama Shakes). “If you listen to the four Perfume Genius albums in chronological order, you can hear Hadreas healing himself in real time, moving toward an emancipation that seems, suddenly, to have come to pass,” said The New Yorker. “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.” Over the course of the campaign he appeared on multiple late-night television shows and graced the cover of The Fader.
In 2020 Hadreas released is critical masterpiece Set My Heart On Fire Immediately and appeared Jimmy Kimmel Live! performing “Jason,” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert performing “Whole Life” and performed “On The Floor” on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Set My Heart On Fire Immediately was released on Matador Records to worldwide acclaim. The album was also produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Blake Mills and featured contributions from musicians Phoebe Bridgers, Jim Keltner, Pino Palladino, Matt Chamberlin and Rob Moose with longtime partner and musical collaborator Alan Wyffels. The album explores and subverts concepts of masculinity and traditional roles, and introduces decidedly American musical influences.
2021 saw the release of Ugly Season, an album born out of Hadreas and choreographer Kate Wallich’s 2019 dance piece, The Sun Still Burns Here. He went on to team with visual artist Jacolby Satterwhite for a 30 minute film, Pygmalion’s Ugly Season, featuring Hadreas and the music of Ugly Season.
Perfume Genius’ music has played a central role in a number of films and television including The Goldfinch, The Society, 13 Reasons Why, Booksmart and Eighth Grade. He has collaborated with artists including Christine And The Queens, Sharon Van Etten, Weyes Blood, Cate Le Bon, Anna Calvi, King Princess and more. Hadreas has also collaborated with brands like Prada and W Hotels on special projects. His albums have been nominated for a GRAMMY Award and a GLAAD Media Award and have topped numerous Decade-end lists including Billboard’s, Pitchfork’s, Crack’s, Paste’s and more.
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