Sharon Van Etten

Sharon Van Etten
Background information
Birth name	Sharon Van Etten
Born	(1981-02-26) February 26, 1981 (age 32) [1] New Jersey, United States
Genres	Indie rock, folk
Occupations	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocal, guitar, piano, percussion, omnichord, harmonium
Years active	2009 - present
Labels	Ba Da Bing, Language Of Stone, Jagjaguwar
Associated acts	The Antlers, The National, Beirut, The Walkmen, Wye Oak, Julianna Barwick, Shearwater
Website	www.sharonvanetten.com

Sharon Van Etten is an American singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York City.

Her songs were described by the music website Pitchfork Media as having "some echoes of folk tradition but generally in a more personal, introspective space."[2] NPR Music asserts: "Her songs are heartfelt without being overly earnest; her poetry is plainspoken but not overt, and her elegant voice is wrapped in enough rasp and sorrow to keep from sounding too pure or confident."[3]

Biography

Van Etten was born and raised in New Jersey where she attended North Hunterdon High School.[4] She moved to Tennessee to attend Middle Tennessee State University, where she discovered a variety of influential music.[5] After moving back home to New Jersey, Van Etten was encouraged by Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio to pursue a career in music.[6]

Her official debut, Because I Was In Love was released in spring 2009. In April 2009, Van Etten performed vocals and guitar for the song "Coming Home" written by Jeremy Joyce for the feature film "Woman's Prison." [7] In August 2009, she appeared on the critically acclaimed album Hospice by The Antlers performing vocals on the track "Thirteen". In January 2010, Van Etten was a featured artist on Weathervane Music's Shaking Through Web Series. On September 21, 2010 she released her second album Epic.[8] She also contributed backing vocals to The National's song "Think You Can Wait" from the soundtrack to the film Win Win in 2011.[9]

Van Etten joined The National for thirteen European tour dates in February–March 2011, and at the 2011 MusicNOW Festival in Cincinnati. She opened for The National again at the Hollywood Bowl (with Neko Case) in September 2011 and the Beacon Theatre in December 2011. In May 2012 Van Etten played alongside The Walkmen, Beirut, St. Vincent, The Antlers, Atlas Sound, and others at the Crossing Brooklyn Ferry Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.[10]

Her third studio album, Tramp, was released on February 7, 2012 on Jagjaguwar.[11] Tramp was produced by The National's Aaron Dessner, and recorded in his studio over a period of several months. After the release of the album, she will embark on a tour beginning in Philadelphia. The album features guest appearances from Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Matt Barrick, Zach Condon, and Jenn Wasner.[12] In regard to the album's guest appearances, Van Etten told American Songwriter magazine, "People may think 'They got this star-studded cast,' but what it boils down to is that they’re friends that wanted to participate on this record."[13] "Tramp" debuted at No. 75 on the Billboard 200 charts.

In January 2013 Van Etten performed at John Cale's tribute to Nico, A Life Along the Borderline, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City.[14] She opened for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds's North American tour in March/April of 2013 and even assumed backing vocal duties for the legendary Australian band.

Albums

• Because I Was in Love (2009)
• Epic (2010)
• Tramp (2012)

References

1. ^ http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/43854
2. ^ http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13226-because-i-was-in-love
3. ^ http://www.npr.org/2010/09/15/129859757/first-listen-sharon-van-etten-epic
4. ^ Regis. North Hunterdon High School Yearbook, 1999, p. 44.
5. ^ Haruch, Steve (20 January 2011). "How Sharon Van Etten went from Murfreesboro coffee slinger to one of the country's most original voices". Nashville Scene. Retrieved 5 February 2011. 
6. ^ Smith, Dane (18 January 2011). "Confidence a plenty". Mountain Xpress. Retrieved 5 February 2011. 
7. ^ http://www.womansprisonmovie.com/
8. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/epic-r1957327
9. ^ Mertes, Micah (31 March 2011). "Sharon Van Etten, a voice to be reckoned with". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 25 April 2011. 
10. ^ http://www.americanmary.com/tour_history.php/
11. ^ http://frontpsych.com/2012/02/07/going-national-a-review-of-sharon-van-etten-tramp/
12. ^ http://www.avclub.com/philadelphia/articles/sharon-van-etten-announces-new-album-tour-dates-ee,64879/
13. ^ "Sharon Van Etten: Tramps Like Us". American Songwriter. Retrieved 12 April 2012. 
14. ^ http://www.bam.org/music/2013/a-tribute-to-nico

External links

• Official website
• Sharon Van Etten on Myspace