179. Linying Discusses Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell

On this episode, L.A.-based singer/songwriter/musician Linying gets Al acquainted with Sufjan Stevens’ 2015 album Carrie & Lowell. Linying talks about how the album has impacted her over the last 10 years and how she relates its themes of mortality and grief to her own life experiences. She also explains the ways in which both the music and lyrics of Carrie & Lowell tell a compelling story. Finally, Linying discusses the making of her new album Swim, Swim (to be released on April 4), and what she has learned from traveling between her native Singapore, Los Angeles and the island of Siargao in the Philippines. 

As Linying mentioned on the show, her main homes on the internet are Instagram and Substack. Be sure to follow both accounts!

Instagram: @linying._

Substack: https://linyingmusic.substack.com/

Al is on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has an account on Instagram at @youmealbum. Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter! https://youmealbum.substack.com/. You can also support the show on Buzzsprout at https://www.buzzsprout.com/1542814/episodes or at the link at the bottom of these show notes.

1:29 Linying joins the show

1:51 Linying hasn’t listened to many podcasts

3:51 Linying is not sure whether she considers herself to be a Sufjan Stevens fan

5:51 Great storytelling isn’t an essential part of music for Linying

8:49 Linying talks about how Carrie & Lowell is “God music” for her

11:46 Al and Linying discuss the album’s narrative arc

15:49 Linying and Al talk about their own ruminations on mortality

22:07 “Fourth of July” and “Blue Bucket of Gold” bring up a complicated combination of emotions

27:08 Linying talks about her life circumstances around the time when Carrie & Lowell was released

31:23 Not many albums resonate with Linying, but Carrie & Lowell has been a notable exception

33:07 Linying talks about the track from the album that has the most tenderness

35:52 Neither Linying nor Al have explored Stevens’ albums besides Illinois and Carrie & Lowell

38:32 Linying talks about writing “Dial Tone” and the making of the song’s video

48:32 Linying explains why she made Swim, Swim partially in Siargao

56:35 Linying discusses her plans and goals beyond the release of Swim, Swim

Outro music is from “Blondie” by Linying.