Sufjan Stevens – Interview
From the Archives: I interviewed Sufjan on 27 October, 2004 prior to his gig at the Douglas Hyde Gallery in Trinity College, Dublin. Seven Swans was just out and in this old interview for Songs To Learn And Sing on 103.2 Dublin City FM, Sufjan chats about recording the album with Daniel Smith of The Danielson Famile.
Sufjan had moved to New York to complete a creative writing class but met Daniel and started focusing more on his music. Sufjan admits that he was a little insecure about the release of Seven Swans. These feelings stemmed from the personal nature of the record and the relaxed atmosphere of their recording in Daniel’s house in south Jersey.
Sufjan described the recording process as being “very sacred”. He also chated about his Christian vision, a vision he said that he shared with both Daniel and labelmate David Eugene Edwards (16 Horsepower and Wovenhand). Seven Swans came after Greetings From Michigan and Sufjan chats about his plans for Illinois and what drew him to Chicago.
At the time of this interview ‘The Transfiguration’ was all I was listening to so I was thrilled when Sufjan introduced it on the show. The interview can be heard below.
Sufjan Stevens - ‘He Woke Me Up Again’
Sufjan Stevens interview Part 1
Wovenhand - ‘Down in Yon Forest’
Sufjan Stevens interview Part 2
Sufjan Stevens - ‘The Transfiguration’