Sufjan Stevens

Infobox musical artist
Name = Sufjan Stevens

---

Img_capt = Stevens in concert at the Pabst Theater in 2006.
Landscape = yes
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1975|07|01
Origin = Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died =
Instrument = Vocals
Multi-instrumentalist
Genre = Indie folk
Baroque pop
Indie rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 1999–present
Label = Asthmatic Kitty, Sounds Familyre, Orchard
Associated_acts = Marzuki, My Brightest Diamond, Danielson Famile
URL = [http://www.sufjan.com/ www.sufjan.com]
Notable_instruments =

Sufjan Stevens (pronEng|ˈsuːfjɑːn, born July 1, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter and musician from Petoskey, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on the Asthmatic Kitty label, a label formed by him and his stepfather, beginning with the 2000 release "A Sun Came". His 2005 album "Illinois" hit #1 in the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.

Stevens has released albums of varying styles, from the electronica of "Enjoy Your Rabbit" and the lo-fi folk of "Seven Swans" to the symphonic instrumentation of "Illinois" and Christmas-themed "Songs for Christmas". Stevens makes use of a variety of instruments, often playing many of them himself on the same track, [ cite web |title= "Michigan" review "The Guardian"|url= http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,1246644,00.html|accessdate=2008-05-02 ] and writes music in various time signatures. He is considered part of the folk revival in indie pop, but his influences are very broad. His music has been likened to electronicacite web | first = Louis | last = Pattison | title = Avalanche Review | publisher = Amazon.co.uk | url = http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000FJGR5S/202-9611120-9415865?v=glance&n=229816 | quote = Part psychedelic bluegrass, part extra-terrestrial electronic ambience, and part tribal percussion-fest | accessdate = 2006-11-29] and the minimalism of Steve Reich.cite web | last = Gill | first = Andy | title = Illinois Review | publisher = Uncut | url = http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/sufjan_stevens/reviews/8640 | accessdate = 2006-11-29 | quote = All rendered in a weird, pan-stylistic blend of alt.country, minimalism and American brass band music ] Stevens' music often has spiritual themes, and many songs (most notably on "Seven Swans") draw inspiration from Bible stories.

Stevens has garnered much interest from the press for his "Fifty States Project", [cite web |title= 50 States Project "Washington Post"|url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/22/AR2005092200655.html|accessdate=2008-05-02] [cite web |title= 50 States Project: California next? "NME"|url= http://www.nme.com/news/sufjan-stevens/26506|accessdate=2008-05-02] [ cite web |title= Stevens picks next state "Stereogum"|url= http://stereogum.com/archives/sufjan-stevens-picks-next-state_002756.html|accessdate=2008-05-02] his aim being to complete an album about each of the states of the United States. Stevens has thus far completed two state records, "Illinois" and his home state record "Michigan". He has stated that he remains serious about its completion. [cite web |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,1601630,00.html|title=Sufjan Stevens Interview "The Guardian"|accessdate=2008-05-02] In interviews, Stevens has alluded to many different states as his next project, including Oregon, California and New Jersey. [cite web |title= 50 States Project "Washington Post"|url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/22/AR2005092200655_2.html|accessdate=2008-05-02]

Early life

Stevens was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in Petoskey, [ cite news | title = "A distinctive musical voice" | last = Vander Plaat | first = Heather | publication = News from Hope College | date = April 2006 | accessdate = 2006-07-29 ] where he attended Harbor Light Christian School as well as the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy. He attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

"Sufjan" is an Arabic name [cite web | last = Harrington
first = Richard | title = "Sufjan Stevens's Musical States of Mind" | publisher = Washington Post | date = September 23, 2005 | accessdate = 2006-08-27 | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/22/AR2005092200655.html] that predates Islam and most famously belonged to Abu Sufyan, a figure from early Islamic history. The name was given to Stevens by the founder of Subud, an inter-faith, non-religious spiritual community to which his parents belonged when he was born. [ cite web | last = Odland | first = Jeffrey | title = "Junkmedia: An Interview with Sufjan Stevens" | publisher = Junk Media | date = May 12, 2004 | url = http://www.junkmedia.org/index.php?i=1031 | accessdate = 2006-08-27] A multi-instrumentalist, Stevens is 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 through the use of multitrack recording. While in school, he studied the oboe and English horn, which he also plays on his albums. This multitude of instruments, including string and horn orchestrations, figure prominently in his compositions, giving his music a "symphony-like" sound.

Stevens currently lives in the Brooklyn borough of New York City in the neighborhood of Kensington,cite web | title = Sufjan Stevens: Wonder Boy | first = Mark | last = Guarino | publisher = Harp Magazine | month = July | year = 2006 | url = http://www.harpmagazine.com/articles/detail.cfm?article_id=4452 | accessdate = 2006-11-29] where he makes up the Asthmatic Kitty Records staff of the Brooklyn office. [cite web | title = About Us | publisher = Asthmatic Kitty Records | url = http://www.asthmatickitty.com/info.php | accessdate = 2006-11-29] His brother Marzuki Stevens is a nationally recognized marathon runner. [cite web | title = Sufjan Stevens | publisher = Asthmatic Kitty Records | url = http://asthmatickitty.com/musicians.php?artistID=5 | accessdate = 2007-12-22]

Career

Stevens began his musical career as a member of Marzuki, a folk-rock band from Holland, Michigan. He also played (and continues to play) various instruments for Danielson Famile. While in school at Hope College, Stevens wrote and recorded his debut solo album, "A Sun Came", which he released on Asthmatic Kitty Records, a record label he founded with his stepfather. He later moved to New York City, where he was enrolled in a writing program at the New School for Social Research.

While in New York, Stevens composed and recorded the music for his second album, "Enjoy Your Rabbit", a song cycle based around the animals of the Chinese Zodiac that ventured into electronica.

Stevens followed this with the first of his ambitious "50 states" albums, a collection of folk songs and instrumentals inspired by his home state of Michigan. The result, the expansive "Michigan" (fully titled "Greetings from Michigan, the Great Lake State") included odes to cities including Detroit and Flint, the Upper Peninsula, and vacation areas such as Tahquamenon Falls. Melded into the scenic descriptions and characters are his own declarations of faith in God, sorrow, love and the regeneration of Michigan.

Following the release of "Michigan", Stevens compiled a collection of songs recorded previously into a side project, the Christian-folk album "Seven Swans", which was released in March 2004.

Next he released the second in the 50 states project, titled "Illinois". Among the subjects explored on "Illinois" are the cities of Chicago, Decatur and Jacksonville; the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893; the state's observance of a holiday in honor of Casimir Pulaski; the poet Carl Sandburg; and the serial killer John Wayne Gacy Jr.

Over the 2005 winter holidays, Stevens recorded an album with Rosie Thomas and Denison Witmer playing banjo and providing vocals. In April 2006, Pitchfork erroneously announced that Stevens and Thomas were having a baby together, but were forced to print a retraction. [cite web | title = Sufjan Stevens Hypothetical Tracklists | publisher = Stereogum.com | date = April 13, 2006 | url = http://www.stereogum.com/archives/002494.html |accessdate = 2006-11-29] [cite web | title = Sufjan E-Mails Smack Down | publisher = Filter Magazine | date = April 13, 2006 | url = http://www.filter-mag.com/news/interior.3139.html | accessdate = 2006-11-29] [cite web | first = Jason | last = Crock | title = Interview: Sufjan Stevens | publisher = Pitchforkmedia.com | date = May 15, 2006 | url = http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/29535/Interview_Interview_Sufjan_Stevens | accessdate = 2006-11-29] Witmer and Thomas later admitted it was an April Fools' prank. [cite web | title = April Fools | url=http://www.denisonwitmer.com/news.php?rowstart=10 | publisher=www.denisonwitmer.com | accessdate = 2007-06-16] In December 2006, the collaborative recordings were digitally released by Nettwerk as a Rosie Thomas album titled "These Friends of Mine". The album was released in physical form on March 13, 2007. In April 2007, in Brooklyn and Philadelphia, Stevens made unannounced appearances on Thomas' tour in support of this album.

On September 11, 2006 in Nashville, Tennessee, Stevens debuted a new composition, a 10+ minute piece titled "Majesty Snowbird". [cite web | title=Sufjan Stevens, Paramount Theatre; Austin, TX 09-16-2006 | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/38664-photos-sufjan-stevens-paramount-theater-austin-tx-091606 | publisher=pitchforkmedia.com | accessdate=2007-06-16] [cite web | title=Video/MP3: Sufjan Stevens: "Majesty Snowbird" (Live) | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/38897-videomp3-sufjan-stevens-majesty-snowbird-live | publisher=pitchforkmedia.com | accessdate=2007-06-16] On November 21, 2006, a five CD box set Songs for Christmas was released, which contains originals and Christmas standards recorded every year since 2001 (except 2004). "Sufjan indulged in the project initially as an exercise to make himself 'appreciate' Christmas more" [cite web | title = Songs For Christmas | publisher = Ashmtatic Kitty Records | date = November 21, 2006 | url = http://www.asthmatickitty.com/music.php?releaseID=63 | accessdate = 2006-11-29] It seems Stevens was interested in the contrast between the excesses of Christmas and the spirit of it (or the "sacred and the profane"). The songs were the work of an annual collaboration between Stevens and different collaborators, including minister Vito Aiuto; the songs themselves were distributed to friends and family.

In 2007, he played shows sporadically, including playing at the Kennedy Center to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Millennium Stage concerts. [cite web | title=Live: Sufjan Stevens; Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., 5 February 2007 | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/40970-live-sufjan-stevens | publisher=pitchforkmedia.com | accessdate=2007-06-16] He was commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music to create a "music and film work" titled "The BQE", "a symphonic and cinematic exploration of New York City's infamous Brooklyn-Queens Expressway". [ [http://www.asthmatickitty.com/news.php?newsID=222 BQE: Helpers, hula hoops, and birds] , Asthmatic Kitty Records news release, 2007-11-01. Accessed 2008-08-23.] It premiered at BAM's Next Wave festival on November 1-3, 2007. [cite web | title = Sufjan Goes High Art for Brooklyn Academy of Music | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/43301-sufjan-goes-high-art-for-brooklyn-academy-of-music | publisher=pitchforkmedia.com | accessdate=2007-06-16] Stevens has also worked as an essayist, contributing to Asthmatic Kitty Records' " [http://asthmatickitty.com/sidebar.php Sidebar] " feature and "Topic Magazine". [cite web | title=Sufjan Stevens Pens Personal Essay for Topic Magazine | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/38267-sufjan-stevens-pens-personal-essay-for-itopici-magazine | publisher=pitchforkmedia.com | accessdate=2007-06-16] He wrote the introduction to the 2007 edition of "The Best American Nonrequired Reading", a short story about his early childhood education and learning to read titled "How I Trumped Rudolf Steiner and Overcame the Tribulations of Illiteracy, One Snickers Bar at a Time". [cite web | title=Sufjan Pens Eggers' Nonrequired Collection Intro | url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/42967-sufjan-pens-eggers-inonrequiredi-collection-intro | publisher=pitchforkmedia.com | accessdate=2007-06-16] [Dave Eggers and Sufjan Stevens, "The best American nonrequired reading 2007", Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin (2007). ISBN 0-61890281-3.]

Stevens has contributed to the music of Denison Witmer, Soul Junk, Half-handed Cloud, Brother Danielson, Danielson Famile, Serena Maneesh, Castanets, Shannon Stephens, and Liz Janes. In 2007 alone, Stevens played piano on The National's album "Boxer", produced and contributed many instrumental tracks to Rosie Thomas's album "These Friends of Mine", multiple instruments on Ben + Vesper's album "All This Could Kill You" and oboe and vocals to David Garland's new album "Noise in You".

He has contributed covers of Tim Buckley ("She Is"), Joni Mitchell ("A Free Man in Paris"), Daniel Johnston ("Worried Shoes"), John Fahey ("Variation on 'Commemorative Transfiguration & Communion at Magruder Park"), The Innocence Mission ("The Lakes of Canada") and The Beatles "What Goes On" to various tribute albums. His versions of "A Free Man in Paris" and "What Goes On" are notable for only retaining the lyrics of the original, as Stevens has taken his own interpretation on the melody and arrangement. His rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" has a similar rearranged melody and arrangement as well as a whole new verse. [cite web | title=Star Spangled Banner | publisher=brendoman.com | url=http://brendoman.com/kyle/2006/08/09/the_star_spangled_banner | accessdate=2007-06-16]

The Fifty States Project

Beginning with "Michigan", Stevens announced an intent to write an album for each of the 50 U.S. states, although in interviews he wavers between utter sincerity and self-deprecating irony when describing the idea.

Stevens spent the second half of 2004 researching and writing material for the second of these projects, this time focusing his efforts on "Illinois". As with "Michigan", Stevens used the state of Illinois as a leaping-off point for his more personal explorations of faith, family, love, and location. Though slated for general release on July 5, 2005, the album was briefly delayed by legal issues regarding the use of Superman in the original album cover artwork. In the double vinyl release, a balloon sticker has been placed over Superman on the cover art of the first 5,000 copies. The next printings had an empty space where the Superman image was, as with the CD release. [cite web | title=Illinois now available on vinyl | url=http://www.asthmatickitty.com/news.php?newsID=35 | publisher=Asthmatic Kitty records | accessdate=2007-06-16]

The widely acclaimed "Illinois" was the highest-rated album of 2005 on the Metacritic review aggregator site, based on glowing reviews from "Pitchfork", "The Onion A/V Club", "Spin", "Billboard", "Entertainment Weekly", "Rolling Stone", "The New York Times", KEXP, and "The Guardian". [cite web | title = Best of 2005 | publisher = Metacritic | url = http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/2005.shtml |accessdate = 2006-11-29] The 2006 PLUG Independent Music Awards awarded Stevens with the Album Of The Year, Best Album Art/Packaging, and Male Artist Of The Year. Pitchfork Media, No Ripcord, and Paste Magazine named "Illinois" as the editors' choice for best album of 2005 and Stevens received the 2005 Pantheon prize, awarded to noteworthy albums selling fewer than 500,000 copies, for "Illinois". [ [http://www.mp3.com/news/stories/3930.html MP3.com: Music News - Sufjan Stevens nabs Pantheon ] ] In April 2006, Stevens announced that 21 pieces of music he had culled from the "Illinois" recording sessions would be incorporated into a new album, called "The Avalanche", [cite web | first = Jonathan | last = Cohen | title = Stevens revisits 'Illinois' | publisher = Monsters and Critics.com | date = April 7, 2006 | url = http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1153509.php/Stevens_revisits_Illinois | accessdate = 2006-11-29] which was released on July 11, 2006.

The next states to be taken on in the project have been reported as Oregon and Rhode Island.cite web | last = Dahlen | first = Chris | url = http://www.sfweekly.com/Issues/2005-07-13/music/music.html | title = "Art of the States" | publisher = SF Weekly | date = July 13, 2005 | accessdate = 2006-08-27 ] In late 2005 and early 2006 Stevens played a new instrumental track titled "The Maple River". There are various Maple Rivers in the U.S., so the particular river mentioned in the title of the song could suggest plans for Minnesota, Iowa, North or South Dakota or, already completed state, Michigan. There is also evidence to suggest the possibility of a New York album. Not only is Stevens' current residence in New York City, but at the footnote of his writing piece titled "Friend Rock", Stevens stated that he was reading a biography on Robert Moses, who is a notable New Yorker. [ [http://asthmatickitty.com/sidebar.php?sidebarID=170 Asthmatic Kitty Records : Sidebar ] ] In late 2007, Stevens debuted several new songs about New York, including "BQE", a track about the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, one of many urban developments designed and spearheaded by Robert Moses.

Stevens made brief mention to a possible collaboration with Asthmatic Kitty labelmate Rafter on an album about California [cite news |url=http://www.asthmatickitty.com/sidebar.php?sidebarID=160 | title= Interview: Questions for Rafter | publisher= Asthmatic Kitty | date=February 15, 2007| accessdate=2007-02-16] in a recent interview. Stevens also recorded "The Lord God Bird" [cite news | url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4721675 | title= Brinkley, Ark., Embraces 'The Lord God Bird' | publisher= National Public Radio |date=July 6, 2005 |accessdate=2006-08-27] about the ivory-billed woodpecker rediscovered in Arkansas (known as the 'lord god' or 'great god' bird because of its breathtaking appearance). This was in connection with a National Public Radio piece in which "independent radio producers Dan Collison and Elizabeth Meister were curious about how Stevens writes his songs."

"Sufjan Stevens is not going to write a record for each of the 50 states after all" was the original text included on the online liner notes for their "Mews Too: An Asthmatic Kitty Compilation" disc released on February 7, 2006. [cite web | title = Asthmatic Kitty Records : Various Artists > Mews Too: An Asthmatic Kitty Compilation | url = http://www.asthmatickitty.com/music.php?releaseID=38 | accessdate = 2006-11-29] This statement was possibly included as a joke, as the text has since been removed and the current liner notes related to Stevens reads, "18. Sufjan Stevens can fold a fitted-sheet (he once worked as a professional folder in a commercial laundromat)."

In an article published on February 24, 2008 in "New York Magazine", Stevens implied that New Jersey could be the target of his next state project. After he gave a brief quote about the New Jersey Turnpike, he was asked, "So is this the next musical project?" Sufjan joked, "New Jersey, the musical-- an ode to the turnpike." [ [http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/44491/ Sufjan Stevens Plans Ode to New Jersey Turnpike - New York Magazine ] ]

The BQE

On May 31, 2007, Asthmatic Kitty announced that Stevens would be premiering a new project titled "The BQE" in early November 2007. The project, dubbed a "symphonic and cinematic exploration of New York City's infamous Brooklyn-Queens Expressway", was manifested in a live show. "The BQE" featured an original film by Stevens (shot in Super 8 mm film), while Stevens and a backing orchestra provided the live soundtrack. The performance used 36 performers which included a small band, a wind and brass ensemble, string players, horn players, and hula hoopers. There were no lyrics to the music. "The BQE" was commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music as part of their Next Wave Festival and performed on three consecutive nights from November 1–3, 2007.

The performance sold out the 2,109 seat BAM Opera House without any advertising. [ [http://www.artsjournal.com/sandow/2007/11/a_look_at_the_future.html A look at the future - Sandow ] ] After three weeks of rehearsing the piece with the three dozen musicians [ [http://asthmatickitty.com/sidebar.php?sidebarID=278 Asthmatic Kitty Records : Sidebar ] ] involved he presented the 30-minute composition. "The BQE" was followed by an additional one hour of concert by Stevens and his orchestra. "The BQE" won the 2008 Brendan Gill Prize. [ [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/145242-sufjan-wins-prestigious-prize-for-his-bqe-thing Sufjan Wins Prestigious Prize for His "BQE" Thing] ]

piritual themes

Many of Stevens' songs have spiritual allusions. He says he does not try to make music for the sake of preaching. "I don't think music media is the real forum for theological discussions," says Stevens. "I think I've said things and sung about things that probably weren't appropriate for this kind of forum. And I just feel like it's not my work or my place to be making claims and statements, because I often think it's misunderstood." [cite news | first = Nick | last = Sylvester | title=Without a Prayer | publisher=The Village Voice | date=August 8, 2005 |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0532,sylvester,66665,22.html |accessdate=2006-08-27]

Such themes are most notable on his album "Seven Swans", the songs "Abraham", "Seven Swans", "To Be Alone with You", "He Woke Me Up Again", "We Won't Need Legs to Stand" and "The Transfiguration" directly address Christianity. In "Abraham", Stevens recounts the Old Testament story in the Book of Genesis. The lyrics of "The Transfiguration" follow the Biblical accounts of , , and . [cite web | title = Keyword Search = Transfiguration | publisher = BibleGateway.com | url = http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/?search=Transfiguration&searchtype=all&version1=31&spanbegin=1&spanend=73 |accessdate = 2006-11-29] The title of "All the Trees of the Fields Will Clap Their Hands" is a quote from . [cite web | title = Isaiah 55:12 (New Living Translation) | publisher = BibleGateway.com | url = http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2055:12;&version=51; | accessdate = 2006-11-29]

During a 2004 interview with Adrian Pannett for "Comes with a Smile" magazine, when asked how important faith was to his music, he responded, "I don't like talking about that stuff in the public forum because, I think, certain themes and convictions are meant for personal conversation." [Cite web | title=Comes With A Smile - Number 15 - Summer 2004 | url=http://allgoodnaysayers.net/press/reviews/comes-with-a-smile-number-15-summer-2004-review | publisher=All Good Naysayers, Speak up! | accessdate=2007-06-16]

Discography

tudio albums

Notes

* "A Sun Came" was re-released on July 20, 2004.
* "Enjoy Your Rabbit" was re-released June 8, 2004.
* "Michigan" was released on vinyl on September 20, 2004.
* "Illinois" was released on vinyl on November 21, 2005.
* "The Avalanche" is also known as "The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album".
* As of July 2006, Stevens can no longer appear on the Top Heatseekers chart, as "The Avalanche" appeared in the Billboard Top 100.

ingles

* "The Dress Looks Nice on You" (7″ vinyl single) (Rough Trade Records, 2004)

Compilation appearances

* "All Delighted People" ("Eye of the Beholder Vol.1", Tract Records, October 3, 2000)
* "Woman at the Well", "(Year of the) Ox", and "Far Physician's Son" ("8.21. a blue bunny compilation", Blue Bunny Records, 2000)
* "Damascus" ("Seen/Unseen", Absalom Recordings, September 25, 2001)
* "The First Full Moon", "God'll Ne'er Let You Down", "Bushwick Junkie", "I Can't Even Lift My Head" ("To Spirit Back The Mews", Asthmatic Kitty Records, 2002)
* "For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti" ("Rough Trade Shops: Counter Culture 03: Best Of 2003", Rough Trade Records, February 2, 2004)
* "Borderline" ("Hope Isn't a Word", Comes With a Smile, 2004)
* "To Be Alone With You" ("", Warner Bros./Wea, 2005)
* "What Goes On" ("This Bird Has Flown - A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul", Razor & Tie, October 2005)
* "She Is" ("", Full Time Hobby, October 3, 2005)
* "Opie's Funeral Song" ("", Asthmatic Kitty, February 7, 2006)
* "Variation on 'Commemorative Transfiguration & Communion at Magruder Park'" ("", Vanguard, February 14, 2006)
* "The Friendly Beasts" ("See You on the Moon! Songs for Kids of All Ages", Paper Bag Records, March 21, 2006)
* "Adlai Stevenson" ("The Sound the Hare Heard", Kill Rock Stars, May 9, 2006)
* "Casimir Pulaski Day" ("Guitar And Voice For Rainy Days, Volume 2", Your Musicland, 2006)
* "Free Man in Paris" ("A Tribute to Joni Mitchell", Nonesuch, April 24, 2007)
* "Ring Them Bells" ("", Columbia, 2007)
* "Chicago" and "No Man's Land" ("Little Miss Sunshine", Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, August 18th 2006)
* "Decatur, Or, Round of Applause for your Stepmother!" (Folk Off: New Folk And Psychedelia From The British Isles And North America Compiled By Rob Da Bank (2006))
* "In the Words of the Governor" ("The Believer", music compilation CD, June/July 2007) [cite news | url=http://www.believermag.com/issues/200706/?read=notes_stosuy | title=Cue the bugle turbulent (the 2007 Believer music issue CD) | first=Brandon | last=Stosuy | accessdate=2008-04-04 | date=June/July 2007 | publisher="The Believer" ]

Collaborations

* "Serena Maneesh" by Serena Maneesh (HoneyMilk Records, August 29, 2005) (Sufjan Stevens - flute, marimba)
* "Done Gone Fire" by Liz Janes (Asthmatic Kitty Records, September 6, 2005) (Sufjan Stevens - producer and performer)
* "These Friends of Mine" by Rosie Thomas (Sub Pop Records, December 12, 2006) (Sufjan Stevens - producer and performer)
* "Racing Like a Pro" and "Ada" from "Boxer" by The National (Beggars Banquet Records, May 22, 2007) (Sufjan Stevens - piano)

Miscellaneous releases

* "Michigan Outtakes" (first available as free mp3 download on Stevens' website; now included on the vinyl version of "Michigan") [ [http://asthmatickitty.com/music.php?releaseID=7 Asthmatic Kitty Records : Sufjan Stevens > Michigan ] ]
* "The Lord God Bird" (National Public Radio website, July 6, 2005)

amples

* [http://www.archive.org/details/mmm022 A complete FLAC and VBR MP3] live recording of "Many Guides" from the compilation "Recordings from CKLN's 'Wired for Sound': 2001-2002" is available from [http://www.archive.org Archive.org] .
* [http://www.discollective.com/artists/Sufjan-Stevens Various free and legal Sufjan Stevens MP3s] available for download at Discollective.

References

Further reading

*

External links

* [http://www.sufjan.com/ Sufjan Stevens] - official site
* [http://www.asthmatickitty.com/musicians.php?artistID=5 Asthmatic Kitty] - label page
* [http://www.soundsfamilyre.com/musicians.php?artistID=8 Sounds Familyre] - label page
* [http://www.purevolume.com/sufjanstevens Purevolume] - official Purevolume site
* [http://www.allgoodnaysayers.net/ All Good Naysayers, Speak Up!] - informative fan site
* [http://brooklynheathen.com/200609/sufjan-stevens-the-town-hall/ Photos] from Town Hall
* [http://nypress.com/20/44/music/music2.cfm Interview with Sufjan Stevens by Gerry Visco, New York Press, "Give Me Your Ugly"]

Persondata
NAME= Stevens, Sufjan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= singer-songwriter
DATE OF BIRTH= July 1, 1975
PLACE OF BIRTH= Detroit, Michigan
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=