Sufjan Stevens throws a dance party for new song ‘Video Game’

With this eighth studio album ‘The Ascension’ arriving soon 25th September, Sufjan Stevens is debuting new track ‘Video Game’.

A vibe filled bop, the accompanying video is a cool AF dance party choreographed by and starring Jalaiah Harmon, the teenage creator of the TikTok-famous ‘Renegade’ dance, and directed by Nicole Ginelli.

“It’s unfortunate that we live in a society where the value of people is quantified by likes, followers, listeners and views,” says Sufjan. “So many people are seeking attention for the wrong reasons. I think we should all be doing our best work without looking for accolades or seeking reward.

“The main takeaway of ‘Video Game’ for me is: your worth (invaluable) should never be based on other people’s approval (ephemeral). Just be yourself. Keep it real. Keep it moving. Do all things with absolute purity, love and joy. And always do your best.

“Jalaiah epitomizes all of this and I’m truly inspired by her. So I thought, ‘what if we could get Jalaiah to star in a “dance video” about not wanting to star in a “dance video?”’ I’m so honored she agreed. She clearly owns it, and her work here is beautiful, poignant and true.

“Her dance shows incredible energy, work-ethic and spirit. She is dancing for herself, not anyone else. Her choreography is sophisticated, nuanced, and fun. She is a star. She keeps it real. She keeps it moving. She keeps it true. What a blessing!”

“This was my first time being asked to create choreo for a whole song”, Jalaiah adds. “So I was a little nervous in the beginning, but once I really broke the song into parts and listened to the lyrics over and over, I just put moves together that connected to the words and felt natural for me to do. I think I’m still really trying to get used to this kind of success, so I can’t really define it just yet. I just know that when you work hard and you treat others with kindness and fairness, good things come back to you.”

Watch it now below.