In a rare comment on his personal life, singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens posted a lengthy social media message dedicating his new album Javelin, out today, to his late partner Evans Richardson, the Chief-of-Staff of the Studio Museum in Harlem who died on April 30 at the age of 43.
“This album is dedicated to the light of my life, my beloved partner and best friend Evans Richardson, who passed away in April,” Stevens writes (see the Instagram post below). “He was an absolute gem of a person, full of life, love, laughter, curiosity, integrity, and joy. He was one of those rare and beautiful ones you find only once in a lifetime – precious, impeccable, and absolutely exceptional in every way.”
Stevens’ new album chronicles the loss of a romantic relationship, with the single “So You Are Tired” referencing a longterm relationship (“So you are tired of us/So rest your head/Turning back fourteen years/Of what I did and said”).
The social media dedication marks a rare, perhaps unique, declaration by the intensely private Stevens on the subject of his romantic life, a shift from the reticence that has led to considerable speculation over the years by fans and music reviewers alike. Stevens, who first gained attention on the indie circuit in the 1990s and had his mainstream breakthrough with 2005’s song “Chicago,” has typically declined to discuss his personal life in interviews, though he did open up about his strained relationship with his mother after addressing her death on the 2015 album Carrie & Lowell.
In his blog post today, he wrote, “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. Be kind, be strong, be patient, be forgiving, be vigorous, be wise, and be yourself. Live every day as if it is your last, with fullness and grace, with reverence and love, with gratitude and joy. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Last month, Stevens, 48, revealed that he had been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome and is relearning to walk after the neurological disorder left him with no mobility. After a two-week hospitalization, he was transferred to acute rehabilitation. In a blog post yesterday, he wrote that he is being released from the facility today and will continue outpatient therapy.
A cause of death for Richardson has not been disclosed.
Must Read Stories
Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.