I recently came across Perfume Genius’s album Learning after reading an excerpt from an interview with the projects sole creator, Mike Hadreas, talking about the motivation behind his debut album.

“I spent my whole life hiding from the things that happened to me, to my family and friends … The entirety of all these experiences: abuse, addiction, suicide, all that cool stuff, I couldn’t bear to look at it.”

The devastating realities painted throughout Learning are apparent, especially in the albums third track “Mr. Peterson” where Hadreas sings about an inappropriate relationship with a school teacher who ends up committing suicide.
“My work came back from class

With notes attached
Of a place and time
Or how my body kept him up at night”

The subject matter is laid out painstakingly clear by Hadreas’ frail voice on top of delicate piano that is simple and somewhat happy, making for an interesting listen. check it out

MP3 // Mr. Peterson

No related posts.