Boyfriend Creates A New World With New Concept Album, In The Garden
MUSICAL PROVOCATEUR UNVEILS VISIONARY NEW WORK REIMAGINING THE STORY OF ADAM AND EVE.“FIGHT (FEAT. JAKE SHEARS),” PREMIERES TODAY - LISTEN
Photo courtesy of the artist
Boyfriend reimagines the story of Adam and Eve through feminist and queer lenses on In The Garden. The groundbreaking singer-songwriter/producer/performer/provocateur blends a radical fusion of music, theatre, and social commentary. The ambitious project features all-star collaborators including Scissor Sister’s frontman Jake Shears, Billy Porter, Peaches, and Big Freedia.
Following the release of In The Garden’s first single, “Curious” which was released last month, “FIGHT (Feat. Jake Shears)” is a fully realized artistic statement that breathes new life into an ancient narrative. Shears, known for his iconic roles on Broadway as well as his co-founding role in Scissor Sisters, plays a theatrically brash version of Adam, to the leading lady of the saga, Eve (performed by Boyfriend).
In The Garden includes feminist critique as well as queer casting and thematic subversions. Eden becomes an inherently queer space, as redefined by Boyfriend. Queerness is performed through Jake Sheers’ flamboyant Adam, a gender-subversive Serpent played by Peaches, the radical swag of Big Freedia’s God, and the authoritative narration provided by Billy Porter. Boyfriend’s Eden is fluid through its undermining of heteronormative assumptions embedded within the biblical text.
The subversions carry from narrative to sound thanks to executive producer Alex Krispin. Boyfriend describes the alternative pop and experimental storytelling demonstrated on In The Garden as “show tunes disguised as songs for New Music Friday”.
Photo courtesy of the artist
In The Garden will premiere as a live show on April 26 at Esplanade Studios in New Orleans, with more US dates to be announced. An album release party will be held at Joe’s Pub in New York City on May 6.
Boyfriend has received international praise for her provocative artistry, using burlesque, drag, radical social commentary on gender roles, and more. She has extensive writing credits with artists like Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, Pom Pom Squad, The Revivalists, and Rebecca Black. She has also collaborated with artists who similarly strive to push boundaries such as Pussy Riot, Cindy Wilson (The B-52s), Amanda Lepore, and of course Big Freedia.
After the release of her debut album Sugar & Spice in 2022, Boyfriend pushes boundaries even further with In The Garden; continuing a lifelong vision that avoids categorization while connecting generations and genres.
LISTEN TO “FIGHT (FEAT. JAKE SHEARS)”
LISTEN TO “CURIOUS”
PRE-ORDER IN THE GARDEN
Tracklist:
Prologue – Billy Porter
Creation – Big Freedia
Enter Eve – Billy Porter
Eve – Boyfriend
Enter Adam – Billy Porter
Adam – Jake Shears
Party – Boyfriend, Jake Shears
Protasis – Billy Porter
Rules – Big Freedia
Enter Serpent – Billy Porter
Serpent – Peaches
Epitasis – Billy Porter
Curious – Boyfriend
Catastasis – Billy Porter
Want – Boyfriend
Debate – Boyfriend, Peaches
Catastrophe – Billy Porter
Bite – Boyfriend
Curse – Big Freedia
FIGHT – Boyfriend, Jake Shears
Epilogue – Billy Porter
Paradise Lost – Boyfriend
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