Sufjan Stevens on producing children's album for John Legend: "I didn’t really have the mental capacity to write my own music"

Speaking to Associated Press about the project, and working with Sufjan Stevens, Legend revealed: "When I was writing these songs, my first thought of who I wanted to produce this was Sufjan, because I love how dreamy he can make music, and how whimsical, and how much character he has to everything that he make"

Now, in a rare interview with LA Times Sufjan Stevens spoke further about his decision to work with Legend on the project, noting that one of the main reasons was because he "could feel the curiosity behind what he does".

How John Legend and Sufjan Stevens found the '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 is because I hadn’t been able to really work on anything outside of self-care and rehabilitation. I finally wanted to get back to work, but I didn’t really have the mental capacity to write my own music. This stuff felt wholesome and pure and safe," Stevens shared.

Last year, Stevens revealed his diagnosis with the auto-immune disorder called Guillian-Barre Syndrome, ahead of releasing his tenth studio album, Javelin, which he dedicated to his later partner who died earlier in the year.

“I think there’s also a general apocalyptic anxiety that pervades a lot of our culture today,” Stevens continued. “What I love about these songs is that they focus on the kinds of aphorisms that speak directly to our fears and worries. You don’t have to be a kid to appreciate what he’s singing about.”