Former REM singer Michael Stipe has put his Manhattan penthouse loft apartment up for sale, according to Wall Street Journal via Rolling Stone.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Stipe explained that this was part of his plan to reinvent himself as an artist, and that he is currently looking for a large studio space where he can work on his sculptures.

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“I wake up in the morning thinking of sculpture, not lyrics,” he said. “Lyrics are too hard.”

The penthouse loft apartment and studio on Canal Street in SoHo is on the market for US$10.95 million.

The property previously belonged to actor Casey Affleck, who sold it to Stipe in 2007 for $5.75 million. Affleck in turn had bought the properly from the film director Gus Van Sant.