Sufjan Stevens is a renowned American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist celebrated for his introspective and meticulously crafted music. His extensive discography includes ten solo studio albums and numerous collaborations. Characterized by his distinctive blend of indie folk, baroque pop, and electronica, Stevens' music often explores themes of faith, family, and personal experiences. His work has garnered significant critical acclaim, earning him nominations for both Grammy and Academy Awards. His prolific output and thematic depth have solidified his position as a prominent figure in contemporary indie music.
July 1, 1975: Birth of Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens was born on July 1, 1975.
1991: Inspiration for "Tonya Harding"
Sufjan Stevens' inspiration to write a song about Tonya Harding began in 1991 after watching her skate at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
2000: Debut Album Release
In 2000, Sufjan Stevens released his debut album, "A Sun Came," on the Asthmatic Kitty label, which he co-founded with his stepfather.
2001: Start of "Songs for Christmas" Project
Sufjan Stevens began recording Christmas songs for the "Songs for Christmas" project in 2001, originally intending it as a personal exercise.
March 2004: Release of "Seven Swans"
Sufjan Stevens released the album "Seven Swans" in March 2004, a compilation of previously recorded folk songs and instrumentals. It was considered a side project. Around this time, Stevens left his job at Time Warner.
2004: Interview with Adrian Pannett
In 2004, during an interview with Adrian Pannett for Comes with a Smile magazine, Sufjan Stevens discussed his reluctance to talk about his faith in public, preferring to keep such conversations personal.
2004: Research and Writing for "Illinois"
Sufjan Stevens dedicated the latter half of 2004 to researching and writing material for his album "Illinois."
July 5, 2005: Release of "Illinois"
The album "Illinois" was officially released on July 5, 2005, after a brief delay due to legal issues surrounding the album art.
2005: Recording of "These Friends of Mine"
During the 2005 winter holidays, Stevens collaborated with Rosie Thomas and Denison Witmer to record "These Friends of Mine."
2005: Church Attendance
In 2005, Sufjan Stevens revealed he attended an Anglo-Catholic Episcopal church.
April 2006: False Announcement about Stevens and Thomas
In April 2006, Pitchfork incorrectly reported that Stevens and Thomas were expecting a child together, later issuing a retraction. It was an April Fool's prank.
April 2006: Announcement of "The Avalanche"
Sufjan Stevens announced the upcoming album "The Avalanche" in April 2006.
September 11, 2006: Debut of "Majesty Snowbird"
Sufjan Stevens premiered his new composition, "Majesty Snowbird," on September 11, 2006, in Nashville, Tennessee.
November 21, 2006: Release of "Songs for Christmas"
The five-CD box set "Songs for Christmas," featuring original and traditional Christmas songs recorded over several years, was released on November 21, 2006.
December 2006: Digital Release of "These Friends of Mine"
"These Friends of Mine," a collaboration with Rosie Thomas and Denison Witmer, was digitally released in December 2006.
2006: Interview about Faith
In a 2006 interview, Sufjan Stevens stated that faith isn't merely an influence but an intrinsic part of his being, present in every aspect of his life.
March 13, 2007: Physical Release of "These Friends of Mine"
The collaborative album with Rosie Thomas and Denison Witmer, "These Friends of Mine," was physically released on March 13, 2007.
April 2007: Unannounced Appearances on Rosie Thomas's Tour
Sufjan Stevens made surprise appearances during Rosie Thomas's tour in April 2007.
May 31, 2007: Announcement of "The BQE" Project
The "The BQE" project, a symphonic and cinematic exploration of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, was announced on May 31, 2007.
November 2007: Premiere of "The BQE"
"The BQE" premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival in November 2007.
2008: "The BQE" Wins Brendan Gill Prize
"The BQE" won the Brendan Gill Prize in 2008.
November 2009: Fifty States Project Revelation
In November 2009, Sufjan Stevens admitted that the Fifty States Project, his supposed plan to create an album for each U.S. state, was a "promotional gimmick."
2010: The Age of Adz Release and Themes
Sufjan Stevens released The Age of Adz in 2010, exploring themes of love, sex, death, disease, illness, anxiety, and suicide.
April 2012: Planetarium Collaboration Begins
Sufjan Stevens performed new compositions about the solar system alongside Nico Muhly and Bryce Dessner in Amsterdam in April 2012, marking the start of their collaboration on the Planetarium album.
2012: Carrie's Death and Album Inspiration
In 2012, Sufjan Stevens' mother, Carrie, passed away from stomach cancer. This event served as a major inspiration for his album Carrie & Lowell, exploring their complex relationship.
January 26, 2015: Carrie & Lowell Tour Announcement
On January 26, 2015, Asthmatic Kitty Records announced a North American tour for Sufjan Stevens' album, Carrie & Lowell, starting in April 2015.
April 2015: Carrie & Lowell Tour Begins
Sufjan Stevens began his North American tour for Carrie & Lowell in April 2015.
November 2015: Carrie & Lowell Tour Continues
Sufjan Stevens continued touring in support of Carrie & Lowell, with dates extending into November 2015.
2015: Carrie & Lowell Release Year
Sufjan Stevens released the album Carrie & Lowell in 2015.
January 2017: Call Me by Your Name Soundtrack Contribution
Sufjan Stevens was announced to contribute original music to the film Call Me by Your Name.
March 2017: Planetarium Album Announcement
In March 2017, it was announced that Sufjan Stevens, Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, and James McAlister would release Planetarium, a concept album about the solar system.
April 28, 2017: Carrie & Lowell Live Release
On April 28, 2017, Sufjan Stevens released Carrie & Lowell Live, a live album and concert film featuring new interpretations of songs from Carrie & Lowell.
July 2017: Planetarium Album Release
The album Planetarium was officially released in July 2017.
November 24, 2017: Call Me by Your Name Soundtrack Release
On November 24, 2017, the film Call Me by Your Name was released, featuring original songs by Sufjan Stevens on its soundtrack.
December 2017: "Tonya Harding" Release
In December 2017, Sufjan Stevens released "Tonya Harding", a song about the figure skater, in two versions.
2017: Contribution to "Call Me by Your Name" Soundtrack
In 2017, Sufjan Stevens contributed to the soundtrack of the film "Call Me by Your Name." His song "Mystery of Love" earned him nominations for an Academy Award and a Grammy Award.
January 2018: Academy Award Nomination for "Mystery of Love"
Sufjan Stevens' song "Mystery of Love", from the Call Me by Your Name soundtrack, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song in January 2018.
October 2018: Collaboration with Angelo De Augustine
In October 2018, Sufjan Stevens collaborated with Angelo De Augustine, performing and recording a version of De Augustine's single "Time".
May 29, 2019: Release of "Love Yourself" and "With My Whole Heart"
On May 29, 2019, Sufjan Stevens released two new songs, "Love Yourself" and "With My Whole Heart", in celebration of Pride Month.
October 2019: The Decalogue Release
In October 2019, Sufjan Stevens released The Decalogue, an album based on the ballet of the same name, created in collaboration with pianist Timo Andres.
2019: Relocation to Upstate New York
In 2019, Sufjan Stevens moved to Upstate New York, near the Catskill Mountains, after living in New York City for 20 years.
March 24, 2020: Aporia Release
On March 24, 2020, Sufjan Stevens released Aporia, a collaborative album with his stepfather, Lowell Brams.
May 6, 2021: Convocations Release
Sufjan Stevens released Convocations, a five-volume album of meditation music, on May 6, 2021.
July 7, 2021: A Beginner's Mind Announcement and Single Releases
On July 7, 2021, Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine announced their collaborative album, A Beginner's Mind, and released the first two singles, "Reach Out" and "Olympus".
2021: Evans Richardson's Role at the American Alliance of Museums
In 2021, Evans Richardson, Sufjan Stevens' partner, was elected chair of the accreditation commission for the American Alliance of Museums, focusing on diversity and access.
April 18, 2023: Reflections Announcement and "Ekstasis" Release
Sufjan Stevens announced the album Reflections and released the first track, "Ekstasis", on April 18, 2023.
May 19, 2023: Reflections Release
Reflections, an album of duo-piano pieces by Sufjan Stevens written for Houston Ballet, was released on May 19, 2023.
August 14, 2023: "So You Are Tired" Release and Javelin Announcement
Sufjan Stevens released the single "So You Are Tired" and announced his album Javelin on August 14, 2023.
September 2023: Guillain-Barré Syndrome Diagnosis
In September 2023, Sufjan Stevens announced his diagnosis with Guillain-Barré syndrome, which led to his hospitalization the previous month and his undergoing physical rehabilitation to regain his ability to walk.
October 2023: Javelin Album Dedication
In October 2023, Sufjan Stevens dedicated his album "Javelin" to his late partner, Evans Richardson, who died in April 2023. This was Stevens' first public acknowledgement of his sexuality.
October 2023: Javelin Release
Javelin, described as Sufjan Stevens' first singer-songwriter album since 2015's Carrie & Lowell, is set to be released in October 2023.
October 2023: Release of "Javelin"
Sufjan Stevens released his tenth studio album, "Javelin," in October 2023.