The record was made for the group show When time no longer flows, it wells up and pools without a rim at Taidekoti Kirpilä, curated by Mariliis Rebane.
The work developed from the soundtrack of the film Midnight Cowboy (1969), which was found amongst Juhani (Jussi) Kirpilä and Karl (Kalle) Rosenqvist’s records. The film focuses on a person who adopts the aesthetics of a cowboy when moving to a big city to conquer their dreams. Freja’s interest in working with the film came from the love that is emerging between the two main characters. Yet, it seems as if the film presupposes resistance from the audience through presenting homophobic viewpoints. The narrative of the record Midnight Cowboy aims to complicate the notion of gender and queer relationships, and their collective memories.
Midnight Cowboy
23 min vinyl record
Text and voice: Freja Bäckman
Sound design: Tari Doris
Cover image: Shia Conlon
Font: Helsinki Type Studio
English proofreading: Katie Lenanton
Finnish translation: Johanna Koskinen
Thank you Jessie Bullivant and E. L. Karhu for your support with the text.
frejabackman.wordpress.com 