Sufjan Stevens releases first Christmas song in 15 years
“On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better)” joins selections from his earlier holiday recordings on a compilation due November 6.
Sufjan Stevens has released “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better),” his first Christmas song in 15 years. The new recording appears on Worst Christmas Ever!, a compilation arriving November 6 through Asthmatic Kitty.
The collection draws from two holiday box sets Stevens issued in 2006 and 2012, each containing five EPs. It gathers selections from those recordings on one disc alongside the new song.
In a statement accompanying the song, Stevens described forgiveness as something people could exchange during a holiday associated with gifts. He characterized the track as a prayer for greater understanding and expressed hope that people could become more loving, forgiving and welcoming.
The release follows a September appearance with Meg Lui’s band at the launch show for Instant Validation, an album Stevens produced. That performance was his first time onstage since 2018; he had not toured since 2016. His other production projects have included a children’s album by John Legend.
