Sufjan Stevens Releases New Single and Music Video, “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)”

Holiday LP, Worst Christmas Ever!, out this Friday via Asthmatic Kitty

Watch video for ‘On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)’ here: https://youtu.be/R8MBM_wDZVo

Watch Worst Christmas Ever! product video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDYRTJQbni0

Sufjan Stevens has released his latest track, “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better),” from his forthcoming holiday album, Worst Christmas Ever!. The album is scheduled to arrive this Friday, November 6, under Asthmatic Kitty.

Centered on themes of apology, self-reflection, and seeking forgiveness, the song marks Sufjan’s first newly written, produced, and performed Christmas track in nearly 15 years. In the song, he reflects on past words and actions, singing about asking for forgiveness for the things he has said and done.The upcoming album will also bring together 15 of Sufjan’s essential indie Christmas tracks, selected from more than 100 holiday recordings featured in his previous box sets, Songs for Christmas and Silver & Gold. Alongside these favorites, the collection will include the previously unreleased “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better).”

Reflecting on the song, Sufjan says:

“I love the idea of a Christmas apology. A holiday characterized by giving and receiving gifts might be even better with giving and receiving forgiveness. “I’m sorry” is the ultimate ice-breaker in a moment of conflict, contention, and misunderstanding. Let’s try to be better this year: more loving, forgiving, welcoming, and reckoning. This song is a prayer—that we can all find a way to yield to the wisdom and understanding of forgiveness. I believe the world will find its way.”

‘On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)’ arrives alongside a new video, created by Sufjan, Michael O’Neal, and Cubby Graham. Six thousand stills were hand-painted by Sufjan, Michael, Cubby, and Hannah Cohen for the video.

Sufjan first started making Christmas music in 2001. At the time, he didn’t plan for those early songs to start a snowball that would lead to nearly five hours of Christmas songs that now make up his holiday catalog. The intention was simple—make a few Christmas gifts for friends and family. And the process was the same each time: one week in December, usually at home, he’d pull in whoever was around, usually friends, roommates, or musical peers. In 2006, Asthmatic Kitty collected the first five volumes as Songs for Christmas, Vols. 1-5, and in 2012 the label released Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10, compiling five more EPs recorded between 2006 and 2010.

Worst Christmas Ever! pulls from across both. The perennial fan favorites are all here: ‘Sister Winter’, ‘Put The Lights On The Tree’, ‘Only At Christmas Time’, and the title track, ‘That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!’. As is ‘Justice Delivers Its Gift’, Sufjan’s ecclesiastical take on the Burl Ives classic, ‘Silver & Gold’, ‘Christmas In The Room’, ‘Silent Night’ and more.

These Christmas recordings feature contributions from a longtime group of collaborators, including Aaron andBryce Dessner of The National, Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire, Cat Martino, Gabriel Kahane, Casey Foubert, James McAlister, Rosie Thomas, Marla Hansen, Olivier Manchon, Sebastian Krueger, and Daniel, Elin, Lilly, and Ida Smith of Danielson.

In a 2022 interview with Vulture, Sufjan shared his straightforward view of holiday music, saying, “There are no rules and regulations when it comes to Christmas culture.” His genuine enthusiasm for the genre, willingness to embrace both its traditional and unconventional sides, and appreciation of its sacred and secular meanings give his Christmas collection a distinct identity. For him, Christmas music offers the freedom to celebrate and interpret the season in many different ways.

Pre-order Worst Christmas Ever! here: https://sufjanstevens.lnk.to/worstchristmasever

Pre-order limited Dinked edition here: https://ffm.bio/sufjanstevens

Pre-order Rough Trade exclusive here: https://www.roughtrade.com/product/worst-christmas-ever

Worst Christmas Ever! tracklist:
1. Silent Night
2. Put The Lights On The Tree
3. Holly Jolly Christmas
4. Christmas In The Room
5. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Christmas Infinity Voyage Version)
6. Sister Winter
7. Joy To The World
8. On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)
9. Angels We Have Heard On High (Christmas Infinity Voyage Version)
10. Only At Christmas Time
11. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Christmas Unicorn Version)
12. That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!
13. Sleigh Ride
14. Justice Delivers Its Gift
15. Auld Lang Syne
16. Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages)