Danielson and Sufjan Stevens

I received the March/April edition of Relevant magazine today and was happy to see an article on Danielson. I discovered Danielson' music a couple of years ago and found myself strangely enjoying the quirky singing and style that make Danielson a group that most people just don't get. I was looking into Sufjan Stevens at the same time. I had heard wonderful things about his music, but I didn't add his cds to my favorites list.

If you read a bit into their history. Sufjan became a sometime member and contributer to Daniel Smith's many projects: Danielson, Danielson Famile, Brother Danielson, and Tri Danielson. Smith even produced Sufjan's "Seven Swans" album. If you ever watch Danielson: A Family Movie you will see the role Sufjan played and then the poignant moments at the end where Daniel Smith keeps working himself in a state of creative frenzy as Sufjan begins receiving wide acclaim by using many of the Danielson elements in his own music and shows. That would include a family atmosphere, interesting uniforms, an artistic vision and definitely original music.
Here is a preview for the movie:

Some great quotes from the article include:

At first we thought it (Daniel Smith's demo tape) was bad, then we realized it was a joke, but the more we listened to it we realized it was brilliant. It was some of the most unique music I have ever heard. His lyrics were mind blowing, his vocals like noohting I have ever heard, and the overall orignality in his art was very powerful and intentional. It is clear that his work was not the chaotic result of a mind in mayhem, but of a carefully crafted and methodically approached creative process." Branden Ebel (president of Tooth and Nail Records)

"It is something to occupy your eyes while listening to the music to put all the parts together." Daniel Smith on his use of costumes in concert. The members of the band could all be in nurses uniforms or Smith can perform dressed up as a giant tree (fruit of the spirits).

"I always liked big concepts, and I find his comprehension of the "big picture" pretty fascinating. He works it out with songs, and drawings, and costumes. It's a beautiful and odd world that he creates, and its constantly expanding... The faith of his music is unflinching love, about presuming the best. He's a man of deep convictions. The rest of the world is caught up in petty, whimsical fashions, but Daniel's got a vision of his own and he's sticking with it because its a vision of the heart of God." Sufjan Stevens on Daniel Smith

On Saturday I was driving to a snowshoe race that I was going to compete in. I grabbed the "wrong" cd to listen to on the ride and ended up with Sufjan Steven's "Illinoise" cd. I ended up listening to it, but it seemed a bit too mellow when I wanted to get pumped up for a race.

As it turned out a lot of fast racers didn't show up and I won the race. Later that day on a running message board I saw a thread on Sufjan's "Illinoise" cd. It turns out the Sufjan has a brother named Marzuki. Marzuki finished fifth among Americans at the 2004 Chicago Marathon, 20th overall at the 2006 Boston Marathon, and qualified for the 2008 USA Olympic Marathon Trials.




Maybe I will check out Sufan's music a second time. A brother who is a vey good runner. A brother who creates music. Two things I wish I could be better at.