Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine announce new album A Beginner's Mind

Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine have announced a new collaborative album, and have shared two songs from the upcoming project. A Beginner's Mind is due for release on September 24, 2021 via Asthmatic Kitty Records.

Stevens and De Augustine wrote the 14-track LP together at a friend's house in upstate New York during a month-long songwriting session. The two would watch films every day to usher in the inspiration needed to create the record. The end result is described as less "cinematic exegesis," more "rambling philosophical journey." The project attempts to ask the big question: "what does it mean to be human in a broken world?"

Tracks 'Olympus' and 'Reach Out' were shared by the duo today, and give an insight into what existential treats might lie ahead. The video for 'Reach Out' begins with German dialogue: "Reach out to someone. Reach out. I would rather be a flower than the ocean. I would rather be devoured than be broken." This is then repeated in fragments the song's lyrics. The video was shot earlier this year by Stevens and De Augustine on VHS-C cameras in their respective locations: New York and California. The end result is a charm-filled, 90s-tinged, nostalgic video starring their beloved dogs Joku (a Jindo) and Charlie (a Havanese).

The two previously teamed up to release 'Blue,' which saw Stevens lending the minimalist track vocals, piano and guitar.

Here's the track list of the upcoming LP:

1. Reach Out
2. Lady Macbeth In Chains
3. Back To Oz
4. The Pillar Of Souls
5. You Give Death A Bad Name
6. Beginner’s Mind
7. Olympus
8. Murder And Crime
9. (This Is) The Thing
10. It’s Your Own Body And Mind
11. Lost In The World
12. Fictional California
13. Cimmerian Shade
14. Lacrimae

Listen to 'Reach Out' and 'Olympus' below.