Perfume Genius Talks Heroes, Costumes, and Christmas Duets Ahead of Dec 12 Gig

After two solid albums, this fragrant young act is making a name for himself with sophisticated pop songs that would undeniably make his glamorous predecessors, like Marc Bolan or Scott Walker, proud. We sent over some questions to learn more about his life and influences before he embarks on his first gigs in China. Check him out this Saturday (Dec 12) at Mao Livehouse. Tickets are available here.

People often talk about their guitar heroes. Who’s your piano hero?
Nina Simone. Watching live videos of her playing are mystifying. Some of her arrangements are so mathematical and maze-like and she plays them with such ease, singing over everything all the while.

If you could make a scary or extravagant costume to perform in, out of any material on the planet, what would it be and what would it look like?
I wish I could carry the audience in a giant cashmere womb.

Where’s the weirdest place that you’ve written a song or been inspired to write a song about?
I used to write lyrics on receipts when I was a cashier at a grocery store.

If you were the first musician to perform on Mars, what song would you open with and why?
I would probably play my song “Learning”. It was the first song I ever wrote, the name of my first album.

Can you recommend a book to our readers? 
Winner of The National Book Award by Jincy Willett.

Your music videos are amazing. Do you have any more coming out soon or in the works?
I am actually talking with a friend about making a video for his project. It may be found YouTube footage, like the videos I used to make for my songs in the beginning. It could turn in to more of a big production with giant shrimp and baby pigs – we shall see.

Who would you most like to do a Christmas song duet with?
Uhhh Mariah Carey. Anyone who doesn’t answer Mariah to this question should be arrested.

More stories by this author here.

Email: danielkippwhittaker@thebeijinger.com

Photo: sokimak.com