Sufjan Stevens Announces New Album ‘The Ascension’

Sufjan Stevens will release a new album entitled The Ascension on September 25 through Asthmatic Kitty Records. The album’s lead single, the 12-minute closing track “America,” is set for release this Friday, July 3.

Stevens’ last album was 2015’s Carrie & Lowell. A collaborative album, Planetarium, featuring Stevens, James McAlister, Nico Muhly and The National’s Bryce Dessner, was released in 2017. The 2019 soundtrack album to Justin Peck’s ballet, The Decalogue, was a collaboration between Stevens and classical composer Timo Andres.

Stevens teamed with his stepfather Lowell Brams (the “Lowell” in Carrie & Lowell) on the album Aporia, which was released by Asthmatic Kitty in March. Stevens and Brams co-ran Asthmatic Kitty together, prior to the latter’s retirement after the release of Aporia.

The 15-track The Ascension was written, recorded and produced by Stevens. Additional contributions came from McAlister, Casey Foubert and Emil Nikolaisen. A 12-inch single edition of “America” will be released on July 31 featuring the 10-minute, non-album B-side “My Rajneesh.”

The Ascension Tracklist

1. Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse
2. Run Away With Me
3. Video Game
4. Lamentations
5. Tell Me You Love Me
6. Die Happy
7. Ativan
8. Ursa Major
9. Landslide
10. Gilgamesh
11. Death Star
12. Goodbye To All That
13. Sugar
14. The Ascension
15. America