Sufjan Stevens Dedicates New Album, ‘Javelin,’ To His Late Associate

Sufjan Stevens marked the discharge of his new album Friday with a uncommon second of perception into his non-public life.

In an emotional Instagram put up, the Grammy- and Oscar-nominated musician devoted “Javelin,” his tenth studio album, to his late accomplice, Evans Richardson IV.

“He was an absolute gem of a person, full of life, love, laughter, curiosity, integrity, and joy,” Stevens wrote of Richardson, who died in April at age 43. “He was one of those rare and beautiful ones you find only once in a lifetime —precious, impeccable, and absolutely exceptional in every way.”

He continued: “I know relationships can be very difficult sometimes, but it’s always worth it to put in the hard work and care for the ones you love, especially the beautiful ones, who are few and far between. If you happen to find that kind of love, hold it close, hold it tight, savor it, tend to it, and give it everything you’ve got, especially in times of trouble.”

Richardson was chief of workers at New York’s Studio Museum in Harlem.

Stevens’ Instagram put up seems to be his first public acknowledgment of the connection, prompting publications together with Out journal and The Unbiased to deem his remarks a “coming out.”

The Michigan native’s sexuality has been the topic of fan hypothesis for a while. In 2017, three of his songs have been featured on the soundtrack of the gay-themed romantic drama “Call Me by Your Name,” starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer.

Roughly two years after that, he unveiled a pair of songs, “Love Yourself” and “With My Whole Heart,” in honor of LGBTQ Satisfaction Month. Proceeds from the gross sales of these songs ― together with accompanying merchandise together with a Satisfaction-themed T-shirt ― benefited the Ali Forney Middle, a New York-based advocacy group for homeless LGBTQ youth.

The discharge of “Javelin” comes at a difficult time for Stevens. Final month, he revealed that he’d been identified with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a uncommon neurological situation that landed him within the hospital for a number of weeks and had affected his capability to stroll. Luckily, he mentioned, a full restoration was anticipated.

Early evaluations of “Javelin” have been near-unanimous raves.

“Nearly every sound on the album sounds meticulously and intimately crafted, harking back to Stevens’s early DIY style,” Slant wrote, whereas The Guardian referred to as the document “the triumphant culmination of an unpredictable career.”