Sufjan Stevens Artistfacts

July 1, 1975
Both of Sufjan Stevens' parents were briefly members of the Subud spiritual movement, whose leader gave him his exotic forename. The name is of Persian origin and means "comes with a sword."

Subud is a Javanese spiritual movement that was founded in 1925 by Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo. It is a non-religious movement that focuses on the practice of latihan, a form of spiritual exercise that is said to allow people to connect with their inner selves.
Stevens' music is influenced by his spiritual beliefs. His songs often deal with themes of faith, doubt, and the search for meaning in life.
Sufjan was raised by his father, Rasjid, and his stepmother, Pat, after his mother Carrie left his family when he was a child. He only occasionally visited his mother in Oregon after she married her second husband, Lowell Brams. Sufjan later spent time with her when she was dying of stomach cancer. Lowell later took charge of the singer's label, Asthmatic Kitty.

Stevens wrote his 2015 Carrie & Lowell album in the wake of grief after losing his mother.
Lowell Brams recalled to Uncut magazine hearing a 15-year-old Stevens' first original compositions.

"I'd heard him playing the piano earlier, but when I stopped by that time he played things on his little Casio - like classical piano concertos, but they were his own. That's when I thought, 'Wow! That's really unusual.'"
In August 2023, Stevens was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which affects his speech, memory, and movement.
When Stevens released his Javelin album in October 2023, he dedicated it to his late partner, Evans Richardson, who had passed away in April of that same year. Richardson had held the role of chief of staff at the Studio Museum in Harlem, a space devoted to celebrating the art of Black creators.

This was the first time Stevens' acknowledged his sexuality to the public.

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