Sufjan Stevens
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Mulit-talented Sufjan Stevens has been in the music business for quite some time now and it on the rise. His songs has been featured in numerous TV shows and movie soundtracks. He has received critical acclaim for his albums and is known for his lyrically focused and instrumentally-laced songs. He may be an Indie artist, but his name is known throughout the US.
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About
Sufjan Stevens (pronounced "Suf-yan") was born on July 1st, 1975 in Detroit,Michigan. He grew up in Petoskey and attended Hope College. His name is derived from Arabic history. It was originally owned by Abu Sufyan, and early figure of Islamic history. He later states that his name came from Armenian origin meaning comes with a sword and that is a charming militaristic Muslim name. He has one brother, Marzuki Stevens who is currently training for the 2008 Olympics., and has played in two of Sufjan's albums. He also has a sister named Djohariah, who he claims has the most complicated, most whimsical, most monumental laugh in all of mankind.
A self-taught musician, Stevens became proficient in playing the oboe, recorder, banjo, guitar, vibraphone, bass, drums, piano, and others. He also started to sing. During his last year in college, he recorded and released his debut album A Sun Came under Asthmatic Kitty Records, a home label established with his stepfather Lowell.
Sufjan Stevens moved to New York City and enrolled in a writing program at the New York School for Social Reseach. He tried to forward his writings and songs to various people but to no avail. He then made the ambitious venture ti make a collection of programmatic, symphonic songs for the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. The album was entitled, Enjoy Your Rabbit. There were no lyrics, but more than a few cymbal swells, flourishes on the oboe, and ambient organ drones, all accompanied by computer-generated techno beats, and digital noise. But sending out copies all around New York was tougher that he thought. Although the album was also in New York's Other Music, it was just sitting in the used section, reduced price two weeks later. But Sufjan took this as a compliment and pursued to make melodies with words with the encouragement of his stepfather.
Sufjan Stevens colected 21 pieces of music that didn't make the Illinois cut into a new album, The Avalanche, which was released in July 11, 2006. The reported next states he will be recording could be Rhode Island and Oregon. Minnesota was also mentioned but all this information is just speculated as of this time.
Sufjan Stevens next release off the 50 States project, entitiled Illinois. This is album is inspired by cities of Chicago, Decatur, and Jacksonville, the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the poet Carl Sandburg, and the serial killer John Wayne Gacy Jr. Afterwards, he contributed in many projects including music for Denison Whitemer, Soul Junk, Half-Handed Cloud, Serena Manesh. Castanets and Liz Janes. He also contributed covers of Tim and Jeff Buckley and The Beatles in various tribute albums.
A five CD box set of Songs for Christmas was released in November 21, 2006 which contains original Christmas songs that Sufjan indulged to as an excercise for him to appreciate Christmas more. The songs were also a collaboration with his friend and minister, Vito Aiuto. This CD was given as well to Stevens' friends and family.
His songs were featured in films like Little Miss Sunshine and popular TV shows such as The OC, Grey's Anatomy and Weeds.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | PLUG Independent Music Awards | Won: Album of the Year; Best Album Art/Packaging; Male Artist of the Year |
Chart Toppers
News
Tours & Concerts
There are no tour dates as of this time
Announcements
February 05, 2007 Washington, DC - Kennedy Center Opera House performing with the with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra
March 30, 2007 Grand Rapids, MI - Calvin College w/ Anathallo
Sufjan Stevens/Past Tour Dates
Discography
Albums
 Enjoy Your Rabbit
2001-09-17 |
 Michigan
2003-07-01 |
 Seven Swans
2004-03-16 |
 A Sun Came!
2004-07-20 |
 Illinois
2005-07-05 |
 The Avalanche
2006-07-11 |
Compilations
 Songs for Christmas
2006-11-21 |
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- Sufjan Stevens is also interested in graphic design, painting, running, knitting, crocheting, weaving, quilting, cleaning, photography, haircutting, and dry wall installation.
- He also enjoys collecting stamps, and wheat pennies.
- He loves to cook, especially omelets and can make sushi as easy as a drop of a sake glass.
- His brother, Marzuki is a recognized marathon runner who will be competing in the 2008 Olympics.
