Last month, Grammy and Oscar-nominated singer songwriter Sufjan Stevens released his new album, Javelin. In releasing his new album, Stevens took to social media to make his new work a heart-wrenching dedication to his late partner.
In October, Stevens posted on his Tumblr, thanking his fans and opening up about his new album. Stevens wrote that “to the light of my life, my beloved partner and best friend Evans Richardson, who passed away in April.” The post is accompanied by photo of Richardson, relaxing in bed with an orange beanie and a lilac, Helado Negro T-Shirt.
He went on to add that Richardson 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.”
According his obituary, Richardson passed away on April 30th. A transplant to New York, Richardson worked as the chief-of-staff at Harlem’s Studio Museum, which is a dedicated showcase of the work of Black artists. Richardson had a long career in New York’s art scene, also working with the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Art Museum. He went on to be elected chair of the American Alliance of Museums’ accreditation commission, focusing on diversity and access for communities.
Sufjan’s work has long been admired by queer listeners who found solace in his tender, and often cryptic lyrics alluding to love, god, and sensuality. Sufjan’s music was prominently featured in Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, the queer coming-of-age romantic drama, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. In 2019, he shared two songs to celebrate and honor pride month. However, the album announcement marks the first time Stevens has publicly acknowledged his own sexuality, effectively coming out.
Javelin, Sufjan Stevens’ tenth and newest album, grapples with love and loss, acting as a narrative for Stevens’ relationship with Richardson. Very little is known about the pair’s relationship as Stevens kept his romantic relationships private, although he often alluded to it in his music. Yet each song in Javelin conveys Stevens’ emotional state and looks back on his partner’s life.
The first song on Javelin, “Goodbye Evergreen”, embodies Stevens grief over the loss of Richardson: “Goodbye, evergreen/ You Know I Love you/ But everything heaven sent/ Must burn out in the end”. Each song provides a brief glimpse into Stevens’ life, taking a step into deeply personal territory.
We know the year has been a hard one for Stevens, who announced in September that he has been undergoing treatment for Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder where your immune system targets your nervous system. Stevens made a statement that he wasn’t able to participate in in the press releases or promotion because of the disorder impacting his ability to walk.
Stevens’ music has touched the lives of so many, both queer and straight, and we here at Out Front are sending him love and appreciation.
Stevens concluded his homage to Richardson with this statement: “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.”
You can listen to Javelin on Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music or anywhere else you can stream music.
