Denison Witmer’s new album, Anything At All, is out now. Produced by his longtime friend Sufjan Stevens, the album features intimate, reflective songwriting with guest appearances from Stevens on multiple tracks.

Also out now, the lyric video for “Shade I’ll Never See” – a beautifully crafted three-minute journey where Denison’s introspective lyrics meet sweeping bursts of instrumentation. Produced and recorded by Sufjan Stevens, who is also featured on the track, the song captures Denison reflecting on the life he wants to create, reminding both himself and listeners: “If I don’t make time for it, it’ll never happen.” The song offers a reflection on the fleeting nature of time and the importance of intentionally creating space for what matters most. As the song unfolds, it invites listeners to slow down and consider their own desires and dreams, leaving a lasting emotional imprint that aligns with the thoughtful spirit of the album.

Track listing:

1) Focus Ring
2) Older and Free
3) A House With
4) Making Love
5) Clockmaker
6) Confessions
7) Lost In My Head
8) Shade I’ll Never See
9) Slow Motion Snow
10) Brother’s Keeper

Anything At All is now available to stream/buy now here.

Archival tour photo of Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer at Lake Mendota in Madison, WI.

Denison and Sufjan met in 2003.  “I was on tour in Scandinavia when a friend gave me a copy of Sufjan’s album, Michigan. I listened to it on repeat for a few weeks,” Denison recalls. Shortly thereafter, he reached out to Sufjan to do a two-week tour of the Midwest. “It was just the two of us in a midsize rental car.  You get to know someone pretty quickly when you’re in the car together for seven hours a day.” The two have been friends ever since. “The best thing about this whole project was that Sufjan and I got to spend a lot of time together. We’ve been friends for over 20 years now, and though he has played on a few of my albums, we haven’t worked on music together in over ten years.  It’s also the first time he’s produced and arranged any of my songs from start to finish.”

Throughout the process Sufjan steered Denison in new and challenging ways, questioning his lyrics, pushing him to explore the things that had been left unsaid, deliberately or otherwise. What might have been a challenge simply reinforced their bond, the process becoming a comfortable space for the pair to spend time being in a creative mindset together, during otherwise difficult circumstances.  “We had so much fun just being in each other’s company. Even though the motivation of the project was to make a record, it became as much about the process as it was the outcome.  It was a nice reminder to keep moving forward… to keep working on the things that inspire me with people that inspire me.”

Video directed and animated by Stephen Halker.

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