Sufjan Stevens shares self-directed video for new track ‘The Greatest Gift’

SUFJAN STEVENS SHARES SELF-DIRECTED VIDEO FOR NEW TRACK ‘THE GREATEST GIFT’

Sufjan Stevens has shared a self-directed video for ‘The Greatest Gift’, a new track taken from his mixtape of the same name, out now on Asthmatic Kitty via Inertia Music.

The Greatest Gift is a mixtape of outtakes, remixes and demos from Stevens’ lauded 2015 album Carrie & Lowell (#2 ‘Album of the Year’ from The Guardian, The Line of Best Fit and The Daily Telegraph). As well as demos and alternate versions from the original album, the mixtape features four previously unreleased new songs, official outtakes from Carrie & Lowell (they were recorded at the same time as the album). These include ‘Wallowa Lake Monster‘, as well as ‘The Hidden River of My Life‘, ‘City of Roses‘, and ‘The Greatest Gift’. This new material, in its investigation of love, life, death, God and the beautiful state of Oregon, serves as a contemplative companion to the original album. 

Additionally, much as Carry & Lowell Live, released earlier this year, features re-interpretations of the songs from Carrie & Lowell, the mixtape unveils new remixes by several longstanding collaborators: Roberto C. Lange (aka Helado Negro) remixes both ‘Death With Dignity‘ and ‘All of Me Wants All Of You‘; Thomas Bartlett (aka Doveman) remixes ‘Exploding Whale‘, a song previously only available as a 7-inch single; and James McAlister (aka 900X) remixes ‘Fourth of July‘. The album also features Sufjan’s own remix of ‘Drawn to the Blood‘. 

The mixtape also includes alternate and/or demo versions of songs from the original album, including a fingerpicking version of ‘Drawn to the Blood‘, and iPhone-recorded demo versions of ‘John My Beloved’ and ‘Carrie & Lowell’. We hope you enjoy.

PRAISE FOR CARRIE & LOWELL

“Sufjan Stevens’ new album, Carrie & Lowell, is his best…it feels
like his most classic and pure effort…a masterpiece.”
Pitchfork, 9.3, Best New Music

“A stark, sublime immersion in intimate memory.”
Uncut, 9/10

“[Stevens] spools out his genius as casually as breathing.”
NME, 9/10

“Stevens is one of the most remarkable talents of our time.
Unquestionably his finest album to date.”
Q

“…his most gorgeous effort to date—a dauntlessly intimate song cycle
that wrestles with the specters of abandonment and disconnection,
all inside transcendent electro-meets-acoustic pop arrangements
The New York Times

Sufjan Stevens
The Greatest Gift