Latest news with #SufjanStevens
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Jacob Alon: In Limerence review – dreamy story songs of myth and melancholy
The title of Scottish indie-folk musician Jacob Alon's delicate debut album may seem ironic: the phrase describes an intense kind of desire, and Alon's music can be shatteringly desolate and lonely, their voice and fingerpicked guitar conveying isolation and introversion with raw clarity. But In Limerence makes a strong case for its name: isn't desire, Alon seems to ask, one of the most incurably lonely feelings of all? These story songs – about youthful infatuation, reckless hedonism and one-sided obsession – are brittle and wounded, each zeroing in on a different strain of disappointment or heartache. Alon was born in Dunfermline, Fife, a city tucked between pockets of forest, and they play up the organic, semi-mystical nature of their music, performing in wings and Midsummer Night's Dream-esque wreaths; In Limerence's lyric sheet is filled with references to the cosmos, mythology and folklore. You can sense their fealty to Sufjan Stevens, who has also performed wearing wings and peppers his queer love songs with dense literary references. But some of Alon's choices still feel frustratingly traditional. Of Amber and I Couldn't Feed Her feature unique samples and unorthodox percussion, but the likes of Elijah and Liquid Gold 25 struggle for distinction among the ever-growing pack of folksy, post-Adrianne Lenker songwriters. Still, Alon's perspective is well-realised, making In Limerence compelling enough to keep you tuned in for whatever's next.
Perth Now
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Sufjan Stevens: 'I'm not really in any state of mind or any position to go on tour yet'
Sufjan Stevens is doing 'okay' two years after the death of his partner but is not ready to tour. The 49-year-old singer/songwriter was left devastated in April 2023 after his partner Evans Richardson died and he also struggled with ill-health the same year after being diagnosed with the rare neurological condition Guillain-Barré Syndrome. However, Stevens has insisted he is healing and in a 'state of repair and survival' after a difficult few years. He told Vulture: 'I'm okay. Situation normal, all up, kind of a thing. I've had some pretty difficult things happen to me, so I'm in a state of repair and survival. I'm not really in any state of mind or any position to go on tour yet. But I'm starting to see the light. I'm starting to feel a sense of direction toward something meaningful and substantial. I've been focusing on the moment and on things that feel very silly and Zen: serenity and acceptance and duty and stewardship.' He also revealed he is finding comfort in mundane activities. He said: 'It's a lot of gardening and dog-walking and running a small business. I'm the primary owner of [record label] Asthmatic Kitty now because [Stevens' stepdad and label co-founder] Lowell is retired. I have a team of people, but I'm a lot more involved than I used to be. It feels good to have that to occupy my time right now. I'm doing a lot of ordinary, mundane adulting. The other day, I had to get a septic pump replaced. I have had to retile the kitchen and buy some new appliances, and I've got seedlings under grow lights in the garage. I've been working on other people's music this past year, not my own. It feels like my life is in service to other things right now. It's fine and required of me. I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay. It's been two years of a s***tshow, but I'm okay.'
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sufjan Stevens sparks furious uproar with 'blasphemous' comments about the Bible being 'very gay'
Sufjan Stevens has sparked furious uproar with his 'blasphemous' comments about the Bible - with some fans now threatening to boycott the singer. The musician, 49, detailed how the religious text is inherently sexual before also branding it as 'very gay.' 'The religious is very sexual,' he detailed in a new interview with Vulture. 'It's erotic. Look at Catholic art through the ages, Baroque art. It's all very fleshy and sensual and full of naked bodies.' The singer publicly came out in October 2023 when he dedicated his album, Javelin, to his 'beloved partner and best friend, Evans Richardson.' He also revealed Richardson had died that April. Sufjan - who identifies as a Christian - said that he has 'always embraced' the sexuality of religion in his work. 'I've always felt that my relationship to God is a very intimate and sensual one,' he explained. 'Sacraments are. It's engaging with God in a physical way. You're literally eating the flesh and drinking the blood of God during the Eucharist. 'It doesn't get much more erotic than that. If you're a vampire, that's the ultimate erotic experience.' The Visions of Gideon singer added: 'The Bible's very gay. Just all men. 'That's what you get when there's a patriarchy that's endured for so long. Jesus was single, never married. Disciples were all dudes...' But many fans of his music were not happy with Sufjan's take on the Bible. 'Sad to see my favorite artist say something with this level of disrespect towards the Holy Book. Shameful and bittersweet,' someone wrote. 'Sufjan, baby, I love you, but you're doing too much,' another wrote. 'Oh, RIP whatever little career this guy had,' a user wrote. 'Uncalled for,' a person wrote, while another said, 'Blasphemous.' 'Really like his music, but this is so boring and very unnecessary. Nobody wants to know Sufjan Stevens' point of view about Jesus' life, we already have the Bible,' one former fan detailed. Another shared: 'You are a fool.' 'I liked him before that information. He sounds dumb as f**k now,' a comment read.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Grammy-nominated singer shares rare update after being diagnosed with neurological disorder that left him unable to walk as he admits he's in 'state of repair and survival' but is 'starting to see the light'
Sufjan Stevens has shared a rare health update two years after he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome and left unable to walk. The singer-songwriter, 49, revealed his diagnosis with the rare neurological disorder on his Instagram in September 2023, with a photo of him in a wheelchair in hospital. At the time he told fans he was 'working really hard to get back on my feet', but it would take a lengthy healing period, preventing him from promoting his album, Javelin, which he dedicated to his partner Evans Richardson, who died in April that year. After stepping away from the public eye while learning to walk again through physical therapy, Sufjan has now shared an update in a new interview with Vulture, where he assured fans: 'I'm okay'. However, the Grammy-nominated star emphasized that he was still not in a place to perform on stage anytime soon, saying he was 'in a state of repair and survival'. When asked about his current state, Sufjan said: 'I'm okay. Situation normal, all up, kind of a thing. I've had some pretty difficult things happen to me, so I'm in a state of repair and survival. I'm not really in any state of mind or any position to go on tour yet.' He went on: 'But I'm starting to see the light. I'm starting to feel a sense of direction toward something meaningful and substantial. I've been focusing on the moment and on things that feel very silly and Zen: serenity and acceptance and duty and stewardship.' The Oscar-nominee went on to explain how he had taken to doing 'a lot of ordinary, mundane adulting', such as home renovations, gardening and walking his dogs. He said: 'I've been working on other people's music this past year, not my own. It feels like my life is in service to other things right now. It's fine and required of me. I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay. It's been two years of a s***show, but I'm okay.' Sufjan is releasing the 10-year anniversary edition of his critically-acclaimed album Carrie & Lowell at the end of the month. The LP is focused on the fallout of the death of his mother Carrie in 2012, and her mental health and drug issues, as well as Sufjan's relationship with his stepfather Lowell Brams. He reflected on the way that he tackles heavy topics such as grief and the way in which his music has continued to resonate with a lot of people. Sufjan said: 'To live is to be preoccupied with death. Maybe that's why this material speaks to a lot of people. I've become the poster child of death in a lot of ways in the music world. It wasn't intentional. It crept up, but it's always been there.' The artist previously detailed how he came to be diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), recalling how he was left fighting for his life and numb in his arms and legs. The rapidly progressive disease occurs when the body's immune system attacks its nervous system, with recovery taking at least six to 12 months. WHAT IS GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME? Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurs when the body's immune system attacks its nervous system. It is a rare and rapidly progressive disease that affects one to two in 100,000 people each year. Symptoms usually start with a tingling sensation in the leg, which may spread to the arms and upper body. In severe cases, the person can become paralysed. The condition can be life-threatening if it affects a person's breathing, blood pressure or heart rate. GBS' cause is unknown, but it usually occurs after a viral infection. There is no cure, with recovery taking at least six to 12 months. Treatment focuses on restoring the nervous system. GBS can cause paralysis in the arms, legs or face, and excruciating pain through the entire body, while in severe cases, it causes life-threatening problems including breathing difficulties and blood clots. Around one in 50,000 Britons and Americans develop GBS every year, and the condition kills around one in 20 people. Sufjan penned a lengthy message to his fans in 2023, where he described suddenly being faced with the terrifying symptoms of GBS. He recalled: 'Last month I woke up one morning and couldn't walk. My hands, arms and legs were numb and tingling and I had no strength, no feeling, no mobility. 'My brother drove me to the ER and after a series of tests—MRIs, EMGs, cat scans, X-rays, spinal taps (!), echo-cardiograms, etc.—the neurologists diagnosed me with an auto immune disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome.' Remaining cautiously optimistic, the Call Me by Your Name composer spoke about beginning his process of recovery from the disease. He wrote: 'Luckily there's treatment for scary, but it worked. I spent about two weeks in Med/Surg, stuck in a bed, while my doctors did all the things to keep me alive and stabilize my condition. I owe them my life. 'I am now undergoing intensive physical therapy/occupational therapy, strength building etc. to get my body back in shape and to learn to walk again. 'It's a slow process, but they say I will "recover," it just takes a lot of time. Most people who have GBS learn to walk again on their own within a year, so I am hopeful. Sufjan penned a lengthy message to his fans in 2023, where he described suddenly being faced with the terrifying symptoms of GBS 'I'm only in my second week of rehab but it is going really well and I am working really hard to get back on my feet.' 'I'm committed to getting better, I'm in good spirits, and I'm surrounded by a really great team. I want to be well! I'll keep you posted as I progress. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers'. The singer then sent a 'huge shout out to all the incredible caretakers of the world working night and day to help us heal. They are living saints.' Stevens concluded by writing: 'Be well, be joyful, stay sane, stay safe. I love you. Yours truly from a wheelchair XOXOXO.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sufjan Stevens Shares Rare Update on Health amid Guillain-Barré Syndrome Diagnosis: 'I'm in a State of Repair and Survival'
Sufjan Stevens gave a rare health update following his 2023 diagnosis with Guillain-Barré syndrome "I'm okay. Situation normal, all up, kind of a thing," Stevens said in an interview with Vulture Common symptoms of the neurological disorder include weakness, paralysis and severe pain Sufjan Stevens is giving a rare health update. The singer-songwriter, 49, opened up about his health following his 2023 diagnosis with Guillain-Barré syndrome in an interview with Vulture published on Wednesday, May 14. "I'm okay. Situation normal, all up, kind of a thing," Stevens said when asked about his current state. "I've had some pretty difficult things happen to me, so I'm in a state of repair and survival." The "Chicago" singer, who is gearing up to release the 10th anniversary edition of his 2015 album Carrie & Lowell on May 30, explained that his improved health does not mean fans will see him on stage any time soon. "I'm not really in any state of mind or any position to go on tour yet," said Stevens. "But I'm starting to see the light. I'm starting to feel a sense of direction toward something meaningful and substantial. I've been focusing on the moment and on things that feel very silly and Zen: serenity and acceptance and duty and stewardship." is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! As for the new routines Stevens has taken on, he names gardening, dog walking and running his independent record company Asthmatic Kitty, which he cofounded with his stepfather Lowell Brams, as a few. "I'm doing a lot of ordinary, mundane adulting," Stevens said, mentioning that he recently had his septic pump replaced and retiled his kitchen, among other home renovations. "I've been working on other people's music this past year, not my own," he continued. "It feels like my life is in service to other things right now. It's fine and required of me. I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay. It's been two years of a s---show, but I'm okay." Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that involves the body's immune system attacking the nerves, according to Mayo Clinic. Common symptoms include weakness, paralysis and severe pain. There is no known cure for the syndrome. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. When Stevens announced his diagnosis, he shared a selfie on Instagram of himself sitting in a wheelchair. The "To Be Alone with You" musician said the disorder had caused him to be hospitalized and left him unable to walk. However, he also noted that he was on the path to recovery. "It's a slow process, but they say I will 'recover,' it just takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work," Stevens wrote in the caption. "Most people who have GBS learn to walk again on their own within a year, so I am hopeful. I'm only in my second week of rehab but it is going really well and I am working really hard to get back on my feet. I'm committed to getting better, I'm in good spirits, and I'm surrounded by a really great team." The Grammy nominee also told Vulture about his experience with grief following the death of his late partner, Evans Richardson, in April 2023. "I felt like I had fewer f---- to give about anything or anyone after that," Stevens said. "Life is short. You got to just be true and honest and real. That's what death does to you." Read the original article on People
