Sufjan

Sufjan Stevens (born July 1, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Born Stephen Christopher Stevens, he performs under the stage name Sufjan Stevens. His music blends indie folk and baroque pop with orchestral arrangements and electronic textures. His lyrics address personal memory, history, spirituality, and place.

Stevens rose to prominence with two widely acclaimed albums, Michigan (2003) and Illinois (2005). Michigan is a loose, cinematic portrait of his home state, while Illinois is a sprawling concept album that weaves folk instrumentation with strings and brass to explore American history and identity. He also released Songs for Christmas (2006) and the film score The BQE (2007).

In 2010 he released The Age of Adz, which expanded his palette with electronic sounds and synth textures. Carrie & Lowell (2015) is a personal, intimate album about his mother; The Ascension (2020) further explores contemporary life and faith from a modern indie perspective.

Stevens has engaged in various collaborative projects and contributed to film and stage works. He is regarded as a major figure in 2000s indie folk and indie pop, noted for meticulous arrangements and ambitious concepts that blend personal storytelling with broader cultural themes.