Latest news with #Hellbent
News.com.au
05-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Grafton preview: Trainer David Vandyke to unleash three strong contenders including Lucifer's Way to add to his impressive stats
Former Sydney and now Sunshine Coast based trainer David Vandyke is very astute in finding just the right race for his horses which is reflected in his amazing strike rate. Vandyke has prepared over 770 winners in his career at an amazing strike rate of 21 per cent along with over 980 placegetters at 48 per cent. Vandyke makes a rare trip back across the border this weekend ready to hit the target with three strong contenders and add to his impressive statistics. Leading the charge is Lucifer's Way who broke through for his maiden success at start three with a head win from Atomic Gozen on his home track on June 22. 'He's a lovely horse but just hasn't put it together as expected on race day,' said Vandyke. 'He got there last start. It wasn't impressive but the got the job done.' The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! The son of Hellbent is looking to make it back-to-back victories when he contests the Grafton Sheetmetal Class 1 Handicap (1190m). 'We didn't want to raise the bar too high and just wanted to go somewhere he was going to be competitive again and help build his confidence,' he said. 'This looks like a nice race for him to do that. 'I thought it was a drop back in quality in some ways when I saw this race going from provincial back to country grade. 'I don't think a bit of give in the track will worry him and he has drawn well so we are happy to go down to a race that doesn't look to have a lot of depth. 'He's a beautiful big horse, he makes his own luck racing on pace. 'He will probably be looking the winner when they straighten and hopefully he can go on it done again.' Vandyke was pleased with the development Private Equity made from her first campaign and that has been reflected in her two runs this time in. After a fourth to King Boom over 1200m at Ipswich first-up, she justified her short price with a win from He Is The Kiss at the Sunshine Coast on June 8. While the margin was only a nose, there was plenty of merit to the performance according to Vandyke. 'She was looking for 1200 metres but I took her back to 1000 metres because it looked a suitable race for her,' he said. 'She was ridden a little out of her comfort zone and she had a terrible run up the straight. 'She really had to bullock her way out into the clear but she hit the line very strong. 'She has come on nicely from the win.' The four-year-old will appreciate a step up in trip when she contests the Who's Charlie Here On South Cup Sunday Class 1 Handicap (1190m) where she is at double figure odds. 'I think this mare will be competitive if she gets a decent run from the gate,' Vandyke said. 'The distance will suit her much better and at the price, she is worth the price of a bus ticket each-way.' His other runner is Jimmy's Brother who makes his debut in the Williams Group Australia 2YO Springboard Prelude Maiden Plate (1015m). 'He is a half-brother to Slippin Jimmy who won at Grafton (on Cup Day) last year,' said Vandyke. 'He's showing some of the family traits. He's got speed and he's tough. 'We were keen to send down there this weekend from the good gate. 'He's got good speed, he a beautiful horse and it would be no surprise to see him finish in the top three.' ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 4 No. 5: STYLEBENDER Racing in terrific form and can bring up the hat-trick. NEXT BEST Race 1 No. 11: SECRET ROSE Nice efforts to place in both runs and can break through. VALUE BET Race 7 No. 7: PRIVATE EQUITY Gutsy effort to win last start and will make her presence felt again. \ QUADDIE Race 6: 1, 2 Race 7: 1, 4, 7, 8 Race 8: 2, 3, 9 Race 9: 2, 5, 6, 12 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW CEJAY GRAHAM has a strong book of rides and looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge. INSIDE MAIL – GRAFTON SECRET ROSE (11) was good in placing in her only two starts at the God Coast and Sunshine Coast in February. Readied for this with a handy second in her recent trial. EXOFLOW (2) raced wide without cover when third on debut at Coffs Harbour in January. Nice trial win at the Gold Coast on June 17. ZHONGXIN KOALA (6) worked home for third on debut at Ipswich. Left in front when sixth at Doomben last start. â– â– â– â– â– JIMMY'S BROTHER (2) is a half to the progressive Slippin Jimmy. Railed through to lead and kept under a hold when second in his May 27 Sunshine Coast trial. THE TORQUE XPRESS (5) is a first starter by Toronado. Rolled to the front to win his Deagon trial then came from back and wide to win his Murwillumbah heat. LA POTENZA (9) was backed from $4.60 to $3.10 when a neck third to Summation on debut. Will be better for the run. Bet: Jimmy's Brother to win â– â– â– â– â– INSINUATE (4) led and battled away when a half-length third to Under The Palais over 1550m at Murwillumbah last start. Won over 1400m at Casino two runs earlier and back to that trip here. BACKSTAGE (2) was a debut winner on the heavy and placed three of his next four. Worked from the widest gate to sit outside the leader when sixth at the Gold Coast last start. RONNY BEE (9) will be better for his first-up third over 1280m at Muswellbrook. Extra trip suits. â– â– â– â– â– STYLEBENDER (5) has found his best form this campaign winning three from five including his last two. Had to be checked at the 200m in his only failure at Canterbury. Big chance for the hat-trick. CASCADE MOUNTAIN (6) has been up a long while but continues to race very well. Back up to a suitable trip this time. FULL OF SINCERITY (1) comes off a half-length second to Feathertop at Murwillumbah last start. Wasn't far away in his three previous runs. Bet: Stylebender to win â– â– â– â– â– RACE 5: Maclean Hotel Country Boosted Mdn Plate 1720m GOLD PUMA (13) came from last when fourth at the Gold Coast two starts back. Held up rounding the turn when a half-length second to Rock The Machine at Port Macquarie on June 24. FLEE WITH ME (12) was a handy third over 1400m at Inverell before a three-quarter length second to Moana Kohala over 1630m here last start. Ready for the 1720m. FANTASTIC BEAST (2) was carried wider on the home turn when a length third to Fejer Dawn over 1600m at Tamworth last start. Bet: Gold Puma to win â– â– â– â– â– LUCIFER'S WAY (1) placed at his first two starts as favourite before breaking through with a head win from Atomic Gozen at the Sunshine Coast last start. Can go back-to-back. CITY GOLD SPEED (2) took improvement from his debut third to I Am Brace at Scone before winning at Inverell as a $1.30 fav last start. Will be prominent again. CHAMPONNET (4) will find this easier than his last run at Doomben. Resumed with a near three length win over 1200m at Casino. Bet: Lucifer's Way to win â– â– â– â– â– PRIVATE EQUITY (7) was held up rounding the home turn until the 200m when she pushed her way into the clear to score at the Sunshine Coast last start. Will make her presence felt again. DASHING BASICS (4) won nicely at Gatton before a second over 1100m at Ipswich last start. STAR PREDICTION (1) was good winning last start after two handy second placings. Bet: Private Equity each-way â– â– â– â– â– MAXIMUM VORTEX (2) has had a long preparation but continues to race well. Was third to Ouroboros at Eagle Farm three runs back and third at the Gold Coast last start. Has won five from seven here with three at this trip. MOSKEETA (3) has four wins and three placings from eight starts including two from two at the distance. YENDY (9) was just behind the placegetters at Eagle Farm and Doomben before a second at Coffs Harbour. Back to 1190m suits. WRITTEN FAME (5) resumed last campaign with a second over 1200m at Lismore before winning over 1100m on the heavy at Murwillumbah. Won first-up over 1010m the previous preparation. Can kick off with a win over 1115m. PIERRE CARDINNIGAN (6) was a narrow runner-up on debut. Trialled very well to win his Murwillumbah heat on June 22. JEWELS STATEMENT (2) is better than her last two runs. Go on her Apr 13 win here.
News.com.au
23-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Wyong, Port Macquarie previews: Ron Quinton's winter hot streak to continue
Ron Quinton can ensure the month of June is every bit as merry as the month of May with two more of his hot-winter stable dressed up and ready to win at Wyong on Tuesday. Hall of Famer Quinton led in five winners from just 13 runners in May, three of them attributable to his Wyong -bound Are Ee Que. Quinton's first June winner Signor Tortoni earned the honour and distinction of becoming Quinton's 750th winner. Sydney's eight-times Premiership winning jockey and now six-times Group 1 -winning trainer can take his tally to 751 if and when the lightly-raced Fiery Lass can cash in in the Austbrokers 2YO Maiden Handicap (1350m). Bred by Gall Bloodstock – that's long-term Quinton client and friend Ray Gall – Fiery Lass showed significant improvement from her provincial debut to her second outing, that one at the midweeks. Last of 11 400m out from the winning post at Canterbury, Fiery Lass was warming to the task late, clocking in a diminishing three-and-a-quarter lengths behind the winner Pillow Fight. 'I thought she ran fair the other day but she needed to finish two lengths closer for me to be getting excited,'' Quinton said. 'But I will give her another run. It is only going to be a small field on Tuesday by the look of it. 'The wide draw won't matter to her, she'll probably settle back anyway. 'We'll know a bit more after (Tuesday) but a suitable for her if she is any good.' Fiery Lass is a daughter of William Reid Stakes winner Hellbent who stands alongside his illustrious father I Am Invincible (a Gall-owned racehorse back in the day) at the Mitchell's Yarraman Park Stud. 'I like Hellbent,'' Quinton said. 'I think they (his progeny) just need a fraction of time but I don't mind him at all. 'I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.' Fiery Lass boasts a pedigree so revered that she is destined to one day join Gall's elite broodmare band. Serious breeding buffs will need only to learn that Fiery Lass's sixth dam is the famed Almahmoud. Foaled in 1947, Almahmoud is the grand-dam of breed shaper Northern Dancer and the fourth dam of the incomparable, Danehill. Still on breeding, Quinton has shown himself to be a master of the art, having bred Mnemosyne whose wins for Jack and Bob Ingham included the MRC Thousand Guineas and STC Queen of the Turf Stakes. The Wyong-bound Are Ee Que is another Quinton design. Quinton trained her dam Skein whose short, sharp racing career boasted a barnstorming last to first win at Canterbury. Daughter Are Ee Que's racing pattern couldn't be more different; she's fast from beginning to end – so much so that the daughter of Sidestep has led throughout to win three of her last four starts, all perfectly executed by jockey Madeline Owen. 'Are Ee Que is in good form,'' Quinton began. 'She's been lucky because she's had all these wet tracks which has helped her so much. 'We're hoping she'll run well again (but) there's a pretty big rap on Kris Lees ' horse (Flame Of Hestia) so we'll see what happens. 'Barrier 4 won't be any harm to Are Ee Que. She's not hard to ride, you've just got to rate her a bit and Madeline's been doing that well.' â– â– â– â– â– Minervini chasing more BOBS riches Former South Australian-based trainer Mark Minervini is intent on collecting as much extra cash as he can courtesy of his adopted state's BOBS incentive before the season ends. The one-time master of Morphettville, now a firmly ensconced Novocastrian, Minervini heads to Port Macquarie on Tuesday with BOBS eligible stablemates Mirai San and Tickle Me Pink. Supido gelding Mirai San is sure to have his share of admirers, Minervini being one, when he makes his debut in today's Coolcene Air Conditioning Maiden Plate (1006m) after back to back seconds in his June trials. 'He's had two trials and he trialled well both times,'' Minervini said. 'We're going there anticipating him to run really well. 'He is very athletic and quite sharp, I think the 1000m will be perfect for him. He's drawn well and he's got Luke Rolls to guide him.' Mirai San is a son of former rocket Supido. His grand-dam is Princesa who won the VRC Straight Six and would go on to deliver stakeswinners Star of Giselle and Solicit. Stablemate Tickle Me Pink earned the dubious honour of 'certainty beaten' when she clocked in second to last at Muswellbrook on June 13 when sent out a red-hot $1.85 favourite. 'Wherever she went, she ran into dead-ends,'' Minervini said. 'All things being equal, I really thought she would have won and won easily and I don't often say that after the race. 'She's drawn well on Monday so I would say you might find her in the first two or three, we'll keep her out of trouble. 'I think she is quite a smart filly.' Both of Minervini's Port Macquarie participants will be ridden by Luke Rolls who has built an incredibly successful relationship with Vormista's old trainer. There winning strike-rate going into Monday stands at an enviable 22.7 per cent which increased to 36.4 per cent when placings are added. Minervini meanwhile has paid homage to his one-time 'banner horse' Quick Tempo upon his retirement this week. A winner of more than $500,000, Quick Tempo's premium performances include placings in the Ortensia, Warra and Maurice McCarten Stakes. 'He was fantastic for my stable,'' Minervini says. 'Just after we lobbed up here, he was the flag-bearer for quite a while; I owe him a lot,'' Minervini says. 'We found a great 'forever home' for him. He'll be a pleasure horse for a girl who works for Kris Lees, she always liked him and always wanted him so she's taken him on.'
Daily Telegraph
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
Canterbury previews: Payne's prized pair primed to parlay his success
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. FRESH from his Saturday win at Royal Randwick, trainer David Payne aims to carry over his success into Monday's King's Birthday meeting at Canterbury via two of the stable's mid to long term prospects. Two-year-old duo Cosmonaut and Funky Tilda were both selected and purchased by Payne at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale in 2024. They were the only two lots which Payne signed off on the day. Whereas Cosmonaut was a bargain at $17,000, Funky Tilda was a much-admired filly at the sale. So much so that her $115,000 price-tag made her the third most expensive yearling of the 162 sold. 'She is quite well bred,'' Payne said. 'She's by Hellbent who is doing well out of a quite a nice damline.' Funky Tilda was the seventh foal of her Flemington-placed dam, Another Sunday, whose best performer to date is the Magic Night runner-up Blanc de Blanc who happens to be a daughter of Hellbent's famous father – I Am Invincible. Funky Tilda also boasts Flight Stakes winner Oohood as well as crack two-year-olds King's Legacy, Zizou and Not A Single Doubt as relatives. Despite the presence of so many precious horses on her family tree, Rory's Jester, Redoute's Choice, Canny Lad, Snippets and Rory's Jester among them, Payne is playing a longer-term game with his blueblood miss. Though quietly confident she will hold her own on debut in Monday's ATC Chase The Dream Maiden Plate (1250m), an awkward draw coupled with a lack of experience may hold her back for now. 'She will need a race,'' Payne said. 'She'll have that run then she'll most probably go to the paddock. 'She is still a bit of a baby but just from what she has shown me in work, she'll most probably run 1600m.' Payne is understandably more bullish on the winning prospects of Cosmonaut which lines-up in a must-see ATC Drinkwise Plate (1250m) to start the day. Payne's colt will be the only one of the eight participants with race experience having two starts on his C.V ahead of today's third. The baldy-faced bay caught the eye in more ways than one when clocking in third at his debut in the $200,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge on Scone Cup Day. He followed up with another honourable effort, this time at Kembla, when making ground late on a testing heavy (8) surface. 'Both times he found the line well which is good,'' Payne said. 'He is still learning. He did a few things wrong both times but I think he'll be better with the step-up in distance (on Monday). 'Just looking at him as a type, he looks like he would get up to a mile (but) he has drawn well on Monday and if he can maybe box-seat, that would be ideal.' Cosmonaut is a member of Cosmic Force's second crop of foals that arrived during the spring of 2022. He is the second foal of his dam, Vodianova, who won twice at Moe over 1623m. His most famous relative is Handsome Ransom who collected the Black Opal Preview and Black Opal Stakes, beating Exceed And Excel, in his first two starts. Cosmonaut is rated a $23 chance in Monday's opening race at Canterbury which is assured a widespread audience given the presence of the much touted $1.4 million yearling Central Coast. The Chris Waller-trained colt is a son of the all-conquering Wootton Bassett and the second foal of the triple Group 1 winner Sunlight. Sunlight's first foal is Dawn Service who won the Listed VRC Exford Plate (1400m) on Makybe Diva Stakes Day at Flemington on September 14. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ SHOULD Dollar Magic finish runner-up, again, at Canterbury on Monday, she will have equalled racing's perennial placegetter Tom Melbourne's extraordinary tally of 14 seconds. Scott Singleton's mare posted the 13th second of her career when beating all bar Zealously when she resumed at home on the same day as her stablemate Melody Again won the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic. Dollar Magic's numerous seconds have been as close as a nose and as far off the winner as 2-1/4 lengths. Dollar Magic is chasing another placing at Canterbury on Monday. Photo: Bradley Photos. Sometimes it has been a better horse that has beaten her, sometimes not. 'There have been a few of them that have been quite cruel seconds,'' Singleton says. 'Definitely when Fire Star beat her last prep was a cruel one, but she always does her best so I can't begrudge her. 'If she wins on Monday she is getting towards $600,000 and she hasn't won one fancy race. She's won it from just keeping on turning up and trying hard so she's terrific.' Dollar Magic has finished on the podium at 20 of her 25 starts. One of her four wins was at Canterbury which was also the venue for her only taste of black-type racing on New Year's Day. 'She got caught a little bit with no cover in the Canterbury Sprint and I thought she toughed it out really well,'' Singleton said. 'She's come on a little bit from that first-up run and gets there in really, really good order so I expect her to run well. 'Whether she can beat Zealously is the thing. It went terrific at Scone the other day but if the track is going to be a bit softer than maybe it was at Scone, I think it will suit her more than him.' Dollar Magic will have company in the float from Scone to Sydney from her in-form stablemate Fiorsum Fred which could and perhaps even should be on a hat-trick leading into the ATC Ranvet Handicap (1550m). Fiorsum Fred will be back in action at Canterbury on Monday. Photo: Bradley Photos. 'He was good the other day (in the Gunnedah Cup), he only needed another half a stride,' Singleton said. 'He has been going particularly well at home and pulling up well from his runs. He's in good shape.' For all his recent heroics Fiorsum Fred was allotted 62.5kg in Monday's mission. 'I know it sounds a lot when you say it but after the 3kg comes off and when you look at what everyone else has got comparative to you, I don't think he is that badly treated to be honest,'' Singleton said. Originally published as Shayne O'Cass' Canterbury previews: Payne's prized pair primed to parlay his success
News.com.au
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass' Canterbury previews: Payne's prized pair primed to parlay his success
FRESH from his Saturday win at Royal Randwick, trainer David Payne aims to carry over his success into Monday's King's Birthday meeting at Canterbury via two of the stable's mid to long term prospects. Two-year-old duo Cosmonaut and Funky Tilda were both selected and purchased by Payne at the Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale in 2024. They were the only two lots which Payne signed off on the day. Whereas Cosmonaut was a bargain at $17,000, Funky Tilda was a much-admired filly at the sale. So much so that her $115,000 price-tag made her the third most expensive yearling of the 162 sold. 'She is quite well bred,'' Payne said. 'She's by Hellbent who is doing well out of a quite a nice damline.' Funky Tilda was the seventh foal of her Flemington-placed dam, Another Sunday, whose best performer to date is the Magic Night runner-up Blanc de Blanc who happens to be a daughter of Hellbent's famous father – I Am Invincible. Funky Tilda also boasts Flight Stakes winner Oohood as well as crack two-year-olds King's Legacy, Zizou and Not A Single Doubt as relatives. Despite the presence of so many precious horses on her family tree, Rory's Jester, Redoute's Choice, Canny Lad, Snippets and Rory's Jester among them, Payne is playing a longer-term game with his blueblood miss. Though quietly confident she will hold her own on debut in Monday's ATC Chase The Dream Maiden Plate (1250m), an awkward draw coupled with a lack of experience may hold her back for now. 'She will need a race,'' Payne said. 'She'll have that run then she'll most probably go to the paddock. 'She is still a bit of a baby but just from what she has shown me in work, she'll most probably run 1600m.' Payne is understandably more bullish on the winning prospects of Cosmonaut which lines-up in a must-see ATC Drinkwise Plate (1250m) to start the day. ðŸ'¸ Cashbook cashes the cheque and wins at Scone with Adam Hyeronimus in the saddle! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 16, 2025 Payne's colt will be the only one of the eight participants with race experience having two starts on his C.V ahead of today's third. The baldy-faced bay caught the eye in more ways than one when clocking in third at his debut in the $200,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge on Scone Cup Day. He followed up with another honourable effort, this time at Kembla, when making ground late on a testing heavy (8) surface. 'Both times he found the line well which is good,'' Payne said. 'He is still learning. He did a few things wrong both times but I think he'll be better with the step-up in distance (on Monday). 'Just looking at him as a type, he looks like he would get up to a mile (but) he has drawn well on Monday and if he can maybe box-seat, that would be ideal.' Cosmonaut is a member of Cosmic Force's second crop of foals that arrived during the spring of 2022. He is the second foal of his dam, Vodianova, who won twice at Moe over 1623m. His most famous relative is Handsome Ransom who collected the Black Opal Preview and Black Opal Stakes, beating Exceed And Excel, in his first two starts. Cosmonaut is rated a $23 chance in Monday's opening race at Canterbury which is assured a widespread audience given the presence of the much touted $1.4 million yearling Central Coast. The Chris Waller -trained colt is a son of the all-conquering Wootton Bassett and the second foal of the triple Group 1 winner Sunlight. Sunlight's first foal is Dawn Service who won the Listed VRC Exford Plate (1400m) on Makybe Diva Stakes Day at Flemington on September 14. â– â– â– â– â– SHOULD Dollar Magic finish runner-up, again, at Canterbury on Monday, she will have equalled racing's perennial placegetter Tom Melbourne's extraordinary tally of 14 seconds. Scott Singleton 's mare posted the 13th second of her career when beating all bar Zealously when she resumed at home on the same day as her stablemate Melody Again won the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic. Dollar Magic's numerous seconds have been as close as a nose and as far off the winner as 2-1/4 lengths. Sometimes it has been a better horse that has beaten her, sometimes not. 'There have been a few of them that have been quite cruel seconds,'' Singleton says. 'Definitely when Fire Star beat her last prep was a cruel one, but she always does her best so I can't begrudge her. 'If she wins on Monday she is getting towards $600,000 and she hasn't won one fancy race. She's won it from just keeping on turning up and trying hard so she's terrific.' Dollar Magic has finished on the podium at 20 of her 25 starts. One of her four wins was at Canterbury which was also the venue for her only taste of black-type racing on New Year's Day. 'She got caught a little bit with no cover in the Canterbury Sprint and I thought she toughed it out really well,'' Singleton said. 'She's come on a little bit from that first-up run and gets there in really, really good order so I expect her to run well. 'Whether she can beat Zealously is the thing. It went terrific at Scone the other day but if the track is going to be a bit softer than maybe it was at Scone, I think it will suit her more than him.' Dollar Magic will have company in the float from Scone to Sydney from her in-form stablemate Fiorsum Fred which could and perhaps even should be on a hat-trick leading into the ATC Ranvet Handicap (1550m). 'He was good the other day (in the Gunnedah Cup), he only needed another half a stride,' Singleton said. 'He has been going particularly well at home and pulling up well from his runs. He's in good shape.' For all his recent heroics Fiorsum Fred was allotted 62.5kg in Monday's mission. 'I know it sounds a lot when you say it but after the 3kg comes off and when you look at what everyone else has got comparative to you, I don't think he is that badly treated to be honest,'' Singleton said.
Boston Globe
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Mike Hadreas of Perfume Genius on what it takes to write with intimacy
After seven acclaimed albums of thorny, electronics-enhanced chamber pop, Hadreas seems to have figured out a system. The music of Perfume Genius (which plays Royale on Thursday) is naked and open even as it can feel inscrutable, with a direct intimacy that can evoke discomfort in listeners who are accustomed to looking away when someone in front of them is feeling strong emotions. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'I was just talking with my friend yesterday about [film director] Lars Von Trier and how I can understand that people would be really put off by that kind of sadistic, almost relentless tragedy and intensity of emotion and stuff [in his movies], but I find it really relieving,' Hadreas says. And though he admits to the inscrutability of some of his lyrics, he figures that the confessional nature of what he's singing about still comes through, even if only indirectly: 'I think it'll be an ASMR to the feeling I'm having regardless.' Advertisement It's that tendency to come at intense matters from angles that cause a tingle that naturally gives Perfume Genius songs much of their power. ('They have a familiarity and an alien quality at the same time, which is my favorite thing,' Hadreas says.) Many of the songs on 'Glory,' the new album, explore grief, either in the moment or in the anticipation of it. The singer attributes that to simply getting older. 'Dying doesn't feel real when you're younger. It feels like an idea. And then the older I get, the more it's in my body as something that's for sure going to happen,' he says with a chuckle. He also sees it when he visits his parents. 'Every time I go, they seem older in a way that maybe I wasn't present for or didn't notice before.' But there are other dimensions to the spiraling that Hadreas experiences on 'Glory.' With a chorus that leans into confusion and panic, 'Capezio' recounts a fraught sexual encounter with an unnamed woman and a man named Jason. It's a name that's run like a conceptual thread through Perfume Genius's last few albums, as the subject of 2020's 'Jason,' then popping up again in 2022's 'Hellbent.' Even though they're based on different real people (albeit 'dreamified and fictionalized'), Hadreas says that Jason represents a certain type of man he knows all too well. '[For] 'Capezio,' I had the real name in it, and then everyone's like, 'You can't do that.' I was like, 'Oh, yeah,'' says Hadreas with a laugh. 'It is a stereotypical male energy that isn't very generous and is kind of confusing. Part of that I fetishize or get off on, and part of it is really [that] I don't understand intellectually why I would be attracted to that or be activated by that dynamic.' Advertisement With such heavy subject matter and music, Hadreas needs substantial downtime before he's ready to dive back into writing after the work for the last album and tour is done. ('I feel like I need to empty my brain,' he says. 'I need to have, like, a smooth brain.') But it's not simply a matter of mental health preservation. It's a necessary part of his creative process. 'I tour for a year and a half and it's really overwhelming and amazing, but then I isolate and really go gremlin mode, just binge eat and play video games,' Hadreas says. 'I need to, like, do nothing, or else I'll kind of end up doing what I did before. I need to find out what's there now, which I can't really do if it's based off of the last thing I did.' To that end, Hadreas even embraces the dread fear of the blank page that refuses to be filled. 'Even writer's block is a part of writing to me,' says the man who's afraid to finish things. 'It all feels like the same thing. But then there's a part of it where it all opens up and you find it. I think a lot of that is just [that] there needs to be some grace in it. I need to be zoomed out. I can't have a lot of intentions. I can't think too hard about it.' Advertisement The cover for the new Perfume Genius album, "Glory." Courtesy The same holds true for the cover for 'Glory,' which sees Hadreas photographed in a home recording studio, immaculately lit and splayed out awkwardly on the floor while being watched by two indistinct figures, one sitting in darkness in the corner and one standing next to a pickup truck outside. 'I liked that it had that energy that we're talking about. It looked like I could be dancing. It could be kind of sensual seeming, or I could be sick or in trouble [or] look like I fell, which is funny, but, you know, sad to fall,' Hadreas says with a laugh. He adds of the setting for the shot, 'The house has a lot of energy, but it's still the big window to the outside that's all bright and pretty, but I'm not out there.' PERFUME GENIUS Royale, 279 Tremont St., June 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets $50. Marc Hirsh can be reached at officialmarc@ or on Bluesky @
