Sufjan Stevens on Producing a Children’s Album for John Legend: ‘I Didn’t Really Have the Mental Capacity to Write My Own Music’

Talk to Associated Press About the project and his collaboration with Sufjan Stevens, Legend revealed: “When I was writing these songs, my first thought for who I wanted to produce was Sufjan, because I love how dreamy, whimsical he can make music and how much character he has in everything he does.”

Now, in a rare interview with Los Angeles Times Sufjan Stevens later spoke about his decision to work with Legend on the project, noting that one of the main reasons was that he “could feel the curiosity behind what he does.”

How John Legend and Sufjan Stevens Found ‘Emotional Wisdom’ in Children’s Music https://t.co/WsvODJGVAR

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 28, 2024

“One of the main reasons I decided to do John’s album was because I hadn’t really been able to work on anything other than self-care and rehab. I wanted to finally get back to work, but I didn’t really have the mental capacity to write my own music. That kind of thing felt healthy and pure and safe,” Stevens shared.

Last year, Stevens revealed his diagnosis with an autoimmune disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome, ahead of the release of his tenth studio album, Javelin, which he dedicated to his future partner who died earlier this year.

“I think there’s also a general apocalyptic anxiety that permeates a lot of our culture right now,” Stevens continued. “What I love about these songs is that they focus on the kind of aphorisms that speak directly to our fears and our anxieties. You don’t have to be a kid to appreciate what these songs are about.”