Fragrance Genius
Cody Critcheloe/Courtesy of the artist
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Cody Critcheloe/Courtesy of the artist
Set Record
“It is a Mirror””In a Row” “Me & Angel””Fade Into You”
As a younger boy, Mike Hadreas remembers seeing a information report about two youngsters getting kidnapped in a white van. It was clearly scary, however Hadreas was additionally intrigued.
“I type of began fantasizing about getting kidnapped,” he says.
Ever since, entering into harmful conditions “for the story” has been a horny prospect for Hadreas, who performs as Fragrance Genius.
“I knew I used to be going to do this once I obtained older,” he says. “I used to be, like, ‘I will transfer to town, and I will be an alcoholic and an artist.’ … I type of engaged in a number of issues at first for the story — to be the wild artist that I assumed I used to be, despite the fact that I used to be making zero artwork. I used to be simply doing a number of medication.”
Hadreas, now almost 20 years sober, has adopted a special outlook on life, and his musical storytelling has flourished because of this.
“You may make one thing actually demented with out referencing a demented reminiscence that you just really lived via, and you may make one thing deeply unhappy and shifting with out being in that place,” he says.
His newest file follows presumably the least harmful situation — albeit harmful in one other sense: On account of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Hadreas discovered himself — for the primary time — with nothing to do however mirror on his 15 years of creating music.
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Fragrance Genius acting at Union Switch in Philadelphia on June 8, 2025
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Paige Walter/WXPN
Disguise caption
Fragrance Genius acting at Union Switch in Philadelphia on June 8, 2025
Earlier
Subsequent
Paige Walter/WXPN
Disguise caption
Fragrance Genius acting at Union Switch in Philadelphia on June 8, 2025
Earlier
Subsequent
Paige Walter/WXPN
Disguise caption
Fragrance Genius acting at Union Switch in Philadelphia on June 8, 2025
Earlier
Subsequent
Paige Walter/WXPN
Disguise caption
Fragrance Genius acting at Union Switch in Philadelphia on June 8, 2025
Earlier
Subsequent
Paige Walter/WXPN
Disguise caption
Fragrance Genius acting at Union Switch in Philadelphia on June 8, 2025
Earlier
Subsequent
Paige Walter/WXPN
Disguise caption
Fragrance Genius acting at Union Switch in Philadelphia on June 8, 2025
Earlier
Subsequent
Paige Walter/WXPN
In at present’s session, Hadreas joins us to speak concerning the album he made within the aftermath of that stillness. Glory is, amongst different issues, a meditation on his profession to date; on demise; on his worry of males; and on the soundness he is discovered together with his longtime romantic and artistic associate, Alan Wyffels.
Glory additionally options contributions from New Zealand singer-songwriter Aldous Harding, and producer Blake Mills. We even have unique reside performances of songs from Glory recorded by our mates at WFUV in New York.
On his expertise self-isolating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
“I type of simply tanked, truthfully. The music is a reasonably constant schedule of vitality. You isolate. You write. Then you definately go into the studio. Then you definately tour for a yr and half. It is this built-in stability of inner and exterior.
“Plus, the entire thing is so overwhelming that I have never actually had an opportunity to finalize any of my ideas … I simply did it on stage or with the music. I believe having that every one be on maintain, in a approach, I simply began spiraling and making up for misplaced time.”
On his nervousness round males and “It is a Mirror”
“Small discuss makes me actually nervous, and I believe it is as a result of I am scared that I will get came upon. It is not that you may’t — with any type of discuss — most likely make some assumptions about me fairly shortly that, rising up, obtained me into hassle and had been very obvious from a younger age.
“I believe I simply have this concept that males, particularly, are going to not like me and I have to keep away from them for my very own security … I do not suppose it really is true anymore, however when you have an expertise if you’re 11 or 8 or no matter, it shapes your worldview … Sadly, a number of issues have lasted into my 40s that I most likely determined once I was 7 that are not true anymore.”
Fragrance Genius
Cody Critcheloe/Courtesy of the artist
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Cody Critcheloe/Courtesy of the artist
On his love of “disgusting” issues
“I believe I like when issues are off, after they’re imperfect or comprise a bunch of issues without delay; they’re humorous and so they stink…
“I similar to the opposite aspect of every little thing. It is enjoyable to go there. Someone despatched me a meme they wrote displaying a bunch of topic issues from a few of my songs, and it was so demented … Like, lesbian cannibalism planet, which is a track that I wrote. Then, giving start to a demon out of your butt. I did that track too…
“Although the topic feels very campy or ‘an excessive amount of,’ I felt a way of energy inside (these songs). That is a part of it too — I like making silly or disgusting issues really feel highly effective and delightful or worthwhile.
This episode of World Cafe was produced and edited by Miguel Perez. Our senior producer is Kimberly Junod and our engineer is Chris Williams. Our programming and reserving coordinator is Chelsea Johnson and our line producer is Will Loftus.
