Sufjan Stevens Shares Stunning New Video For “Sugar”
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens released his third single, ‘Sugar,’ from his anticipated eight studio album The Ascension earlier this week. Accompanied by a music video directed Ezra Hurwitz and choreographed by Kyle Abraham, the song takes on a life of its own through the story told by the four dancers.
Speaking to the meaning within the song, Stevens says that ‘Sugar’ is “ultimately about the desire for goodness and purity.” While on the surface the lyrics may sound like a string of cliches, Stevens says “the message is imperative: now is the time to gather what is good and pure…and share it with others.”
The underlying message within the song is echoed with the visual imagery of the music video, as we see a family living separately all while co-existing in the same space. As the song progresses, haunting imagery and mirrored movements bring viewers into a landscape that brings the song’s meaning to the forefront, backed by dripping synthesizers, looping artificial percussion, and Steven’s alluring vocals. The characters progressively come together as the house in which they exist dissolves, being ripped apart and crumbling around them as they eventually come to stand in an open field as a united front.
Bringing it all back to the song’s lyrics, Stevens calls for listeners to “speak new life into those around you….and bring new life into the world“, something uncannily prominent as the world goes through a major shift in 2020 – bringing the imagery of the video and the motivation behind the lyrics full circle.
You can listen to ‘Sugar’ here, and watch the video below. Stevens album, The Ascension, will be available digitally on September 25th, and physically October 2nd.
