Denison Witmer Returns With New Single “Older and Free,” Produced By And Featuring Sufjan Stevens

October 25th, 2024 , by

Cover Art by Erik Fisher

Photo by Lindsay Elliott

Denison Witmer just released his new single, “Older and Free,” produced by his longtime friend Sufjan Stevens, who also contributes to the track (with additional co-production by Andy Park). With its thoughtful lyrics and rich instrumentation, the song is about centering yourself in nature.

Listen To “Older and Free” 

“One of the benefits of getting older and knowing yourself is being able to seek out the things that reset you in times when things feel off balance. For me, alone time is very important. Nature is very important. Moving my body and getting lost in my thoughts has become a must – whether it be running or, in the case of this song, hiking.

I wrote this song when I was solo camping for a night at French Creek State Park not far from my home in PA. During Covid lockdown, my wife and I realized that we would burn out in the responsibilities of our day to day life if we didn’t take time to ourselves. The melody and lyrics came to me as I was hiking the Lenape Trail back to my campsite. I have a little classical guitar that goes with me most places, and I wrote the song in completion that evening. I got so attached to the sound that the little guitar ended up being the instrument we recorded the basic tracks with.” – Denison Witmer

“Older and Free” is available now on all streaming and download platforms.

Video Directed and animated by Stephen Halker. Original art by Eric Fisher.

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Asthmatic Kitty Records Celebrates The 1-Year Anniversary Of Sufjan Stevens’ Javelin 

October 4th, 2024 , by

Released in 2023, October marks the 1-year anniversary for Sufjan Stevens’ acclaimed album, Javelin

Each track on Javelin starts intimately: the trickle of an acoustic guitar, the patter of a lidded piano, and the cascade of a coruscant arpeggio. And then, of course, there is that disarming voice, the throughline in one of the most eclectic catalogs of any songwriter this century—soft but strong, as if the very scenes of hurt and hope it is about to share have only galvanized it through the decades. Javelin pairs musical sweep with emotional breadth, an entire lifetime of feeling woven into 42-minutes. On Javelin, Sufjan, as you may know him best, returns: offering gorgeous if pained little glimpses of himself, so that we may see ourselves more fully.

To celebrate the anniversary of the release, Asthmatic Kitty Records is offering 15% off Javelin vinyl, CDs, and merch for the month of October. We will also hold a contest on the AKR socials this month for a lucky winner to receive a Javelin bundle. There will also be numerous opportunities for you to cast your vote on our socials for your favorite Javelin song and lyrics. Be sure to follow AKR on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X and/or YouTube for updates and  more information.

Also, don’t miss the new Javelin 1-Year Anniversary Tote Bag, available as a standalone item or part of a bundle in the AKR store!

SHOP THE JAVELIN COLLECTION | STREAM JAVELIN

Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas Vols. 6-10’ Vinyl Box Set & Exclusive Merchandise Now Available for Pre-Order

August 29th, 2024 , by

Asthmatic Kitty Records announces the repressing of Sufjan Stevens’ Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10 LP box set. Pre-order now.

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Sufjan Stevens’ Seven Swans Turns 20, Deluxe Editions Available Now

May 3rd, 2024 , by

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this now-beloved piece of Sufjan’s catalog, AKR is releasing deluxe physical and digital versions of the album, available now.

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Sufjan’s ‘Javelin’ 2023 Best-Of Round-Up

January 24th, 2024 , by

Thanks to everyone for listening.

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Announcing the Official 2023 Sufjan Yule Log

November 30th, 2023 , by

Sufjan has written and recorded over 100 holiday songs, released in two collections: Songs for Christmas (2006) and Silver & Gold (2012). You can read an interview with Sufjan with Craig Jenkins about this holiday music here. We have set his expansive five-hour, 10-volume holiday repertoire to a peaceful yule log backdrop. This video is ideal for your favorite holiday activities: decorating the tree, baking, making calls to loved ones, or enjoying hot cocoa. You can also view the video (and a lot of other Sufjan holiday videos and links) here.

To celebrate the holiday season, we will premiere this video (directed by Brian Paccione) on Friday, December 1st, at 11AM ET. Join us for a virtual holiday gathering as we showcase the yule log.Of course, a holiday celebration isn’t complete without sharing some gifts! Give us the gift of sharing your Sufjan holiday playlist, and we may feature our favorites on our socials! Send your Sufjan holiday playlist to us using this form.

AKR Holiday Sale: Select CDs and vinyl from Sufjan and other AKR artists 20% off

November 20th, 2023 , by

The annual AKR Holiday Sale is here again. This year, enjoy a 20% discount on select CDs and vinyl from artists including Sufjan Stevens, Angelo De Augustine, Denison Witmer, and others. Among many other highlights, this sale includes Sufjan’s The Ascension 2xLP, the Ocean Blue variant of A Beginner’s Mind by Sufjan & Angelo, the Esther LP by The Welcome Wagon, and the Gathered of Out Thin Air 2xLP from Half-handed Cloud.

No coupon code is needed as discounts are already applied.

Each order includes an official Asthmatic Kitty logo sticker.

View everything on sale here.

Here’s just a few of the items on sale:

Angelo De Augustine Shares Live Double Single: LIVE DTLA

November 8th, 2023 , by

In June, Angelo De Augustine released his fourth solo studio album, Toil and Trouble. Today he’s releasing new live versions of two songs from Toil and Trouble: “Another Universe” and “The Ballad of Betty and Barney Hill,” available for listening here. Alongside the new versions are videos directed by Jessica Calleiro, filmed on a rooftop in downtown Los Angeles and set to a backdrop of a setting sun over an LA skyline. Angelo is accompanied on the tracks and videos by musicians Sam Gendel and Gabe Noel. 

You can purchase a Cauldron Fire colored vinyl LP of Toil and Trouble here, and a Toil and Trouble t-shirt designed by Eric Timothy Carlson here

Sufjan’s new album, Javelin, is now available

October 6th, 2023 , by

Javelin, Sufjan’s tenth solo studio album, is available now for listening on streaming platforms, for purchase on CD and LP at our store here, or at your local record store. All CDs and LPs come with a 48-page book of art and essays by Sufjan. Below is a list of all the colors of Javelin vinyl you can purchase and where to buy them. We have some of our AKR exclusive Seaweed Ocean Blast LP available at the AKR Store.

Also available for purchase at the AKR Store is a Javelin t-shirt and a sweatshirt, both manufactured in Detroit by Soft Goods and screen printed in Atlanta by Danger Press, an enviro-tote on 15oz natural cotton, and a limited edition backpack designed by Charleston-based J-Stark

Here are the track listing and vinyl splits for Javelin:

SIDE A

1. “Goodbye Evergreen” 3:35

2. “A Running Start” 4:21

3. “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?” 4:09

4. “Everything That Rises” 4:59

5. “Genuflecting Ghost” 3:32

SIDE B

6. “My Red Little Fox” 3:42

7. “So You Are Tired” 4:49

8. “Javelin (To Have and to Hold)” 1:52

9. “Shit Talk” 8:31

10. “There’s a World” 2:29

Total length: 41:59

Javelin Apparel:

Javelin vinyl variants:


AKR Seaweed Ocean Blast
Buy it at AKR Store
Indie worldwide exclusive Lemonade
Buy it at your local record store (or online)
Rough Trade Green Smoke
Buy it at Rough Trade
Magnolia Record of the Month Orange Cream
Buy it at Magnolia
Black vinylUrban Outfitters Solid Green
Buy it at Urban Outfitters
Spotify Fans First Pop Bottle Clear(Out of stock)

“A Running Start” from Sufjan’s Javelin available now, album on Friday

October 3rd, 2023 , by

This Friday, October 6th, Sufjan releases his new album, Javelin. Today, we present the final pre-release single, “A Running Start,” which Sufjan describes as “a song about the exhilarating power of first loves and first kisses, and finding safety and serenity in the sublime beauty of nature.” 

Hear the song or watch the lyric video here.

All physical copies of Javelin will include a 48-page book of art and essays created by Sufjan, and we’re providing a free digital version of the book early. You can view that here.

Also: you don’t have to wait until Friday to hear the full record! Several record stores and shops are holding listening events this evening (see below for details). They’ll have free Javelin goodies, and you’ll be able to purchase and walk away with your own copy of Javelin. You can also pre-order or pre-save the album and Javelin merch from the AKR store here, including an AKR Sea Foam vinyl LP.

October 3, 2023

New York, US, Rough Trade

Austin, US, Waterloo Records

Philadelphia, US, Repo Records

Chicago, US, Reckless Records

Atlanta, US, Criminal Records

Toronto, Canada, Sonic Boom

Montreal, Canada, Le Vacarme

Vancouver, Canada, Neptoon Records

Nashville, US, Grimey’s

Charleston, US, J. Stark w/ records sold by The Record Stop

Wilmington, US, Fuzzy Needle

Chattanooga, US, Yellow Racket Records 

Toledo, US, CULTURE CLASH 

Seattle, US, Easy Street Records 

Indianapolis, US, LUNA music 

Halifax, Canada, obsolete records 

Orlando, US, Park Ave CDs 

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