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Sufjan Stevens (pronEng 'su?fj??n, born July 1, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on the Asthmatic Kitty label, a label he formed with his stepfather, beginning with the 2000 release A Sun Came. He is best known for his 2005 album Illinois, which hit number one in the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, and for the song "Chicago".
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, 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 electronica[ last = Pattison ] and aesthetically compared to the minimalism of Steve Reich.[ first = Andy ] 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", 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 stated in 2005 that he remained serious about its completion, but more recently that the idea was "such a joke".
BiographyEarly life Stevens was born in Detroit and lived there until the age of nine, when his family moved to Petoskey, Michigan
. In Petoskey he attended Harbor Light Christian School as well as the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy. He went on to attend Hope College in Holland, Michigan and received a Master of Fine Arts from The New School in New York City.
Sufjan is a Persian name
DEFAULTSORT:Stevens, Sufjan
Category:1975 births
Category:Living people
Category:American banjoists
Category:American Christians
Category:American composers
Category:American folk musicians
Category:American folk singers
Category:American folk guitarists
Category:American multi-instrumentalists
Category:American oboists
Category:American rock guitarists
Category:American rock singer-songwriters
Category:Cor anglais players
Category:People from Detroit, Michigan
Category:People from Holland, Michigan
Category:Rough Trade Records artists
Category:Waldorf school alumni
Category:Winners of the Shortlist Music Prize
Category:American performers of Christian music
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