New Orleans-based singer-songwriter, producer, rapper, and all-around unique performer Boyfriend has released her latest album, In the Garden, an ambitious concept LP that reimagines the biblical story of Adam and Eve through a feminist and queer lens via a fusion of music, theater, and social commentary. The album, which mixes bold storytelling and an all-star cast of collaborators including Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears, Billy Porter, Peaches, and Big Freedia, is out today via Big Freedia’s Queen Diva Music.

A fully realized artistic statement that breathes new life into an ancient narrative, In The Garden was preceded by the release of its first single, “CURIOUS”. Next came “FIGHT (ft. Jake Shears).” The track sees Shears, the Scissor Sisters co-founder and Broadway star (Kinky Boots, Cabaret), bringing a spectacular theatricality to the role of Adam, here portrayed not as the first human but rather the brash foil to the saga’s leading lady, Eve (performed by Boyfriend). The album’s third single, “BITE”, an electro-pop soundtrack for the most famous bite taken in history, was released last month.

With In The Garden, Boyfriend rewrites the story of Adam and Eve entirely. At its core, the project is a feminist reclamation of the Genesis narrative, with Eve now presented as the central protagonist embodying intellectual curiosity, autonomy, and rebellion. In Boyfriend’s retelling, Adam is blissfully content with the status quo, unquestioning of the structures imposed upon him, while The Serpent (voiced by Peaches) does not coerce or deceive but simply inquires, asking Eve questions that resonate with anyone who has ever sought to challenge oppressive structures. Meanwhile, God—portrayed by Big Freedia—is a braggadocious, hot-tempered, and highly entertaining diva. In The Garden is, in that light, a direct confrontation to the foundational notion that women’s pursuit of knowledge is dangerous—a challenge that remains deeply relevant in contemporary conversation.

Beyond its feminist critique, the 22-track In The Garden is also a notably queer project, both in its casting and in its thematic subversions. The flamboyance and performative M.O. of Jake Shears’ Adam, the gender-subversive power of Peaches’ Serpent, the radical swag of Big Freedia’s God, and the omniscient authority of Billy Porter’s narration all serve to undermine the heteronormative assumptions that have always surrounded biblical texts. Rather than existing as a site of rigid binaries—man and woman, good and evil, obedience and rebellion—Boyfriend’s Eden is fluid, dynamic, and expansive.

Executive produced by composer/producer Alex Krispin (best known for his near-decade-long creative partnership with Daniel Lanois), In The Garden is just as sonically subversive as its narrative. Described by Boyfriend as “show tunes disguised as songs for New Music Friday,” the album balances its experimental storytelling with an alternative pop accessibility thanks to an award-winning production team that includes Asa Taccone (Portugal. The Man, Electric Guest, The Lonely Island, Carly Rae Jepsen), Little Shalimar (Run the Jewels, Killer Mike), film composer Joseph Shirley (Creed II, Trolls, The Mandalorian), and Gold Glove (Slayyyter, Big Freedia).

Long hailed for her riotously cheeky live shows, Boyfriend recently brought In The Garden to life onstage alongside a cast of background singers and performers who embodied the characters while the recorded voices of the featured artists remained. The show premiered on April 26 at Esplanade Studios in New Orleans, and an album release party was held at Joe’s Pub in New York, NY on May 6th. Boyfriend also performed at the Fair Grounds during New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival 2025 and teamed up with the lion’s share of The Revivalists on Saturday, May 3rd for a special performance at NOLA’s Toulouse Theatre as part of Live For Live Music’s Fest by Nite series.

Since making her debut as Boyfriend in 2012, the multi-talented New Orleans-based artist has unleashed a long series of singles and EPs while also staking a claim as an in-demand songwriter and producer with credits spanning Charli XCX, Troy Sivan, Mykki Blanco, Mala Rodriguez, Pom Pom Squad, Cimafunk, The Revivalists, and Rebecca Black. Throughout her career, Boyfriend has prioritized collaboration as a means of artistic and political resistance. She has worked with a wide range of artists who, like her, exist outside of mainstream binaries—including the likes of Pussy Riot, Cindy Wilson (The B-52s), Amanda Lepore, and her longtime musical associate Big Freedia. Most of all, Boyfriend has proven a truly inimitable live act via her fabulously over-the-top stage productions, which Rolling Stone named in the top 5 shows at Outside Lands and saw her heavily featured in the Grammy-award winning Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story.

Listen to In the Garden, the new album from Boyfriend, on the platform of your choice here or stream it via the platform of your choice here. Scroll down to check out photos from the rowdy, revealing Boyfriend performance at Toulouse Theatre featuring members of The Revivalists and surprise guest Maggie Koerner below via Jay Strausser and James Cook.

Boyfriend – IN THE GARDEN – Full Album

 

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