Singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens has been making soulful introspective music for greater than 20 years with out revealing an excessive amount of about his personal private life. His newest album, Javelin, is out Friday.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “A RUNNING START”)
SUFJAN STEVENS: (Singing) If I imagined myself peaceable on the hearth escape…
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
The singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens has been making soulful, introspective music for greater than 20 years with out ever revealing an excessive amount of about his private life. His newest album, “Javelin,” is out at present, and in an Instagram submit this afternoon, the artist revealed extra concerning the music and opened a window into his life, writing – this album is devoted to the sunshine of my life, my beloved associate and finest buddy, Evans Richardson, who handed away in April. Stephen Thompson of NPR Music has adopted Sufjan Stevens’ profession for years and has given a detailed take heed to this album. Stephen, thanks for being right here to speak with us about it.
STEPHEN THOMPSON, BYLINE: Thanks, Ari.
SHAPIRO: Are you able to inform us extra about what Sufjan Stevens mentioned on this Instagram submit?
THOMPSON: Properly, the Instagram submit matches a variety of data into just some phrases. You understand, he misplaced his associate, anyone he describes as his beloved associate and finest buddy. Within the course of, this can be a popping out – Evans Richardson IV was a person. And the submit type of goes into paying tribute to this associate he describes as an absolute gem of an individual, lively, love, laughter, curiosity. It is only a stunning memory and a reminder to embrace the individuals closest to us and admire each second we have now with them.
SHAPIRO: And he is additionally been public about his wrestle this 12 months with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an autoimmune dysfunction. Addressing these challenges publicly is an enormous change for an individual who, till now, had all the time been comparatively non-public.
THOMPSON: Yeah, and I believe the announcement of the analysis of Guillain-Barre syndrome, you understand, that is a critical affliction of the nerves. He is needed to be hospitalized extensively. He is needed to relearn to stroll. And, you understand, he is been very open, you understand, on Instagram posts kind of speaking concerning the expertise of simply how debilitating that was and the way a lot it is type of affected, you understand, the later a part of this 12 months. However that, on prime of this great private loss, positively recontextualizes the album. And, as you say, you understand, that is an artist who has saved a variety of issues about his life non-public, at the same time as his music has remained extraordinarily susceptible. You understand, he put out an album referred to as “Carrie & Lowell” that goes into nice emotional depth speaking about his relationship along with his mom. However on the identical time, different elements of his life have been saved very non-public.
SHAPIRO: And so now, in a single sentence, Sufjan Stevens got here out publicly, revealed that he had a associate and revealed that the associate just lately died. You have got been listening to this album. Do you hear it otherwise in mild of that context?
THOMPSON: Completely. And you may inform from the very first monitor on this document. The primary tune on the document is named “Goodbye Evergreen.”
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “GOODBYE EVERGREEN”)
STEVENS: (Singing) Goodbye, evergreen. You understand I really like you. However all the things heaven despatched should burn out in the long run.
THOMPSON: Even simply these phrases – goodbye evergreen – hit otherwise. His associate’s title was Evans. I had interpreted the tune on my first few listens considering it was a few breakup, or perhaps it was a meditation on environmental collapse, you understand, due to the references to nature. However while you hear it in mild of this information, it immediately takes on a a lot larger resonance.
SHAPIRO: Stephen Thompson hosts our Pop Tradition Blissful Hour podcast. Thanks for speaking with us concerning the new Sufjan Stevens album, “Javelin.”
THOMPSON: Thanks, Ari.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, “GOODBYE EVERGREEN”)
STEVENS: (Singing) I am drowning in my self-defense. Now punish me. Consider me as what you’ll. I develop like a most cancers. I am pressed out…
Copyright © 2023 NPR. All rights reserved. Go to our web site phrases of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for additional data.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This textual content is probably not in its ultimate kind and could also be up to date or revised sooner or later. Accuracy and availability might range. The authoritative document of NPR’s programming is the audio document.
