Sufjan Stevens signs with Rough Trade (UK)

Sufjan Stevens—riding high on the critical success of his sleeper hit, Greetings From Michigan, the Great Lake State, the first album in a series that will devote a recording to each US state—has signed to Rough Trade in the United Kingdom, which will issue the album there in 2004. Stevens inked the deal following his sold-out performance at the CMJ New Music Marathon in October 2003 in New York City.

Rough Trade (UK) will also release the Stevens' follow-up album entitled Seven Swans on March 16, 2004 with simultaneous US release on CD by Sounds Familyre (the label owned and operated by the Danielson Famile, of which Stevens is a member) and LP by Burnt Toast Vinyl (home to Stevens tourmate Denison Witmer).The new album is a quick break from the state series and is comprised of songs written at the same time as the Michigan tracks. The new album features Stevens' excellent banjo playing and lyrically focuses on a mixture of themes surrounding love and meditations on religion.

The songs on Seven Swans showcase an even more intimate and personal side of Stevens than listeners came to know on Michigan. Stevens will return to the state series with a late 2004 release planned for Illinois and will perform live at New York City’s Knitting Factory January 22, 2004.

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