Gallant Releases Single Featuring Sufjan Stevens, Rebecca Sugar

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Gallant has paired up with indie’s favorite multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens, and creator of Steven Universe Rebecca Sugar, to release a new track, “TOOGOODTOBETRUE.”

The song is ethereal and ambient, but not so far removed from reality that it’s impossible to plug into its slow, steady rhythm. As it progresses, it becomes gradually more cinematic before cutting off completely at its end and leaving the experience suspended in time.

“It’s been hard being a black singer who doesn’t fit neatly into a genre box. Sufjan Stevens is a hero of mine, and he was the first person I ever toured with. I’m also a huge fan of Steven Universe, which inspired a lot of the ambient-electronic elements of the first album,” said Gallant in a statement. “The creator of the show, Rebecca Sugar, adds an extra touch of beauty to the song with some ukelele and soft hums in the outro. By far this is the most special song I’ve ever written.”

This isn’t the first time Gallant has collaborated with Stevens, but rather the fourth in a line of crossovers between the two. In 2016, Gallant covered both Stevens’ “Blue Bucket of Gold” and Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” aided by the singer-songwriter in both instances. The two later paired again to cover “Purple Rain” as a tribute to Prince at Coachella.

The collaboration is the fourth release from Gallant over the past year, with singles “Gentleman,” “Doesn’t Matter” and “Haha No One Can Hear You!” all building up to his sophomore album, This Does Not Fit, expected later this year.

Check out the video for “TOOGOODTOBETRUE” below, and find Gallant’s tour dates farther down. While you’re at it, check out Paste’s listing of the best Sufjan Stevens tracks as well—we’re pretty big fans of the guy.

Gallant Tour Dates:

October
18 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Variety Playhouse
19 – Nashville, Tenn. @ The Cowan
22 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
23 – New York, N.Y. @ Terminal 5
27 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Union Transfer
28 – Boston, Mass. @ Royale
30 – Toronto, On. @ Danforth Music Hall
31 – Montreal, Q.C. @ Corona Theatre

November
02 – Detroit, Mi. @ El Club
03 – Chicago, Ill. @ Concord Music Hall
04 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ First Avenue
07 – Seattle, Wash. @ Neptune
08 – Vancouver, B.C. @ Vogue Theatre
09 – Portland, Ore. @ Roseland Theater
12 – Oakland, Calif. @ Fox Theater
13 – Santa Ana, Calif. @ Observatory OC
15 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Wiltern
17 – San Diego, Calif. @ Observatory North Park