Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens (pronounced /ˈsuːfjɑːn/; born July 1, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter and musician from Petoskey, Michigan.
Sufjan Stevens | |
|---|---|
 Stevens in concert at the Pabst Theater in 2006. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Detroit, Michigan |
| Genres | Indie folk Experimental Folk rock Baroque pop |
| Instruments | Vocals Multi-instrumentalist |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Labels | Asthmatic Kitty, Sounds Familyre, Orchard |
| Associated acts | Marzuki, My Brightest Diamond |
| Website | www.sufjan.com |
Some people think he is part of the folk revival in indie pop, but he gets ideas from many things. His music is similar to electronica[1] and the minimalism of Steve Reich.[2] Stevens says that he has plans to make a concept album for each of the 50 U.S. states. He began with Michigan (2003) and Illinois (2005).
Stevens was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Petoskey.[3] He went to Harbor Light Christian School as well as the Interlochen Arts Academy. He also learned at Hope College in Holland, Michigan.
Sufjan is an Arabic name[4] that famously belonged to Abu Sufyan, a man from early Islamic history. The name was given to Stevens by the person who founded Subud, a spiritual community.[5] Stevens said in an interview, "It sounds like Devendra Banhart kind of grew up in this strange kind of cultish environment, and I don't mean that word in a demeaning way. I think we probably come from similar backgrounds. There's a little bit of that in my history."[6]
Stevens is a multi-instrumentalist, a person who can play many musical instruments. He is well known for his use of the banjo, but also plays guitar, piano, drums, and several other instruments, often playing all of these on his albums by using multitrack recording. When he was in school, he learned the oboe and English horn, which he also plays on his albums. He is one of the few musicians in pop music to use these instruments. A lot of instruments are played in unison to give his songs a "symphony-like" sound. Strings and horns are used very often in many of his songs.
Stevens lives in the Brooklyn part of New York City in the neighborhood Kensington[7] where he makes up the Asthmatic Kitty Records staff of the Brooklyn office.[8] His brother Marzuki Stevens is a marathon runner.[9]
The song The Mystery of Love because of the movie Call Me by Your Name was hit song and won AMFT Awards in 2017.
Studio albums
- A Sun Came
- Enjoy Your Rabbit
- Michigan
- Seven Swans
- Illinois
- The Age of Adz
- Carrie & Lowell
- The Ascension
- Convocations
Sufjan Stevens Media
Stevens performing at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Stevens in 2011, following his return to recording and touring in 2010 after a hiatus
Stevens performing in Providence, Rhode Island, as part of his "The Sirfjam Stephanapolous Christmas Sing-a-Long Seasonal Affective Disorder Spectacular Music Pageant Variety Show Disaster" tour in 2012
Stevens touring in 2012, performing Christmas music in the Sufjan Stevens Christmas Sing-a-Long: Seasonal Affective Disorder Yuletide Disaster Pageant on Ice
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References
- ↑ Pattison, Louis. Avalanche ReviewAmazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2006-11-29.
- ↑ Gill, Andy. Illinoise ReviewUncut. Retrieved 2006-11-29.
- ↑ Vander Plaat, Heather (April 2006). ""A distinctive musical voice"". News from Hope College.
- ↑ Harrington, Richard (September 23, 2005). "Sufjan Stevens's Musical States of Mind". https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/22/AR2005092200655.html. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
- ↑ Odland, Jeffrey. "Junkmedia: An Interview with Sufjan Stevens" (May 12, 2004)Junk Media. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
- ↑ Bemis, Alec Hanley. "The Soft Revolution" (August 28, 2005)Los Angeles Times Magazine. Retrieved 2007-02-11.
- ↑ Guarino, Mark. Sufjan Stevens: Wonder Boy (July 2006)Harp Magazine. Retrieved 2006-11-29.
- ↑ About UsAsthmatic Kitty Records. Retrieved 2006-11-29.
- ↑ Sufjan StevensAsthmatic Kitty Records. Retrieved 2007-12-22.