Sufjan Stevens is the producer behind John Legend’s new album for children

John Legend has announced an unlikely collaboration with Sufjan Stevens for his new children’s album. Check it out below.

• READ MORE: Sufjan Stevens – ‘Javelin’ review: cult hero remains compelling and fresh

Legend will release ‘My Favourite Dream’, an album he said is full of “sing-alongs and lullabies for children and families,” on August 30. The record was inspired by his experience as a father to four with his wife Chrissie Tiegan.

“My parents loved to sing around the house, making up bedtime songs for us and songs to motivate and inspire us,” Legend said. “And Chrissy [Tiegan] and I also love singing to our kids. We make up little jingles and ditties for them all the time. In our home, music is very important to the way we interact and communicate with them.”

Now, he’s announced that Stevens is the producer behind the record. “I just felt [Stevens’] musical approach would be perfect for building arrangements and soundscapes to complement the songs,” Legend said. “When I was thinking about who could bring these songs to life with me, he was the first and only choice. I’m so glad he said ‘yes.’”

The album will feature nine original songs, three covers of Fisher-Price songs, as well as three bonus tracks. The lead single ‘L-O-V-E’, released on Friday (August 9), is one of the originals and features vocals from Legend’s two oldest children, Teigen and Stevens. Listen below.

In other news, Stevens’ Broadway musical Illinoise wrapped up last night (August 10) following a 16-week run. The 90-minute show, directed, choreographed and co-written by Justin Peck, is based on Stevens’ 2005 concept album ‘Illinois’. Previous runs were staged at Bard College’s Fisher Center in New York and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Reviewing Stevens’ ‘Illinois’ (aka ‘Illinoise’) in 2005, NME wrote: “[This album] might not end up his best record, but it’s his masterpiece so far; a staggering collection of unspeakably precious music.”

The US singer-songwriter released his 10th and most recent full-length effort, ‘Javelin’, last October. Stevens dedicated the record to his “beloved” late partner Evans Richardson, who died the previous April.

‘Javelin’ also landed at Number 11 on NME‘s ‘best albums of 2023’ list, where it was described as “another triumph from the prolific cult hero”.