Sharon Van Etten – 7th Level Music

Sharon Van Etten and The Attachment Theory make you a little less afraid with their new single – “Afterlife.”

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory announce their self-titled debut album, out February 7th via Jagjaguwar, and release the lead single/video, “Afterlife.” Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory presents an exhilarating new dimension of Van Etten’s sound and songwriting. For the first time, it was written and recorded in total collaboration with her band — Jorge Balbi (drums, machines), Devra Hoff (bass, vocals), and Teeny Lieberson (synth, piano, guitar, vocals) — allowing Van Etten the freedom that comes by letting go. The themes are timeless, classic Sharon, but the sounds are new, wholly realized and sharp as glass.

This new approach began while rehearsing in the desert for an upcoming tour when Van Etten invited her band into the creative process: “For the first time in my life I asked the band if we could just jam. Words that have never come out of my mouth – ever! But I loved all the sounds we were getting. I was curious – what would happen?” Magic, apparently. “In an hour we wrote two songs that ended up becoming ‘I Can’t Imagine’ and ‘Southern Life.’”

The album was recorded at Eurythmics’ former studio, The Church, a perfect match for the band’s mystical mix of electronics and analog textures. Producer Marta Salogni (Bjork, Bon Iver, Animal Collective, Mica Levi) was vital as both a connector and a producer for “her love of synths and sense of adventure” and adeptness in “embracing the darkness and the unique sounds we had honed in the writing process,” comments Van Etten.

On “Afterlife,” the album’s sweetly cascading lead single, popcorn synths mesmerize as they dance around the words and melody: “Will you see me in the afterlife?/Will you tell me what you think it’s like/Come and tell me it’ll be alright?/Will I see you in the afterlife?” Despite the weighty subject matter, or maybe because of it, it’s lifted up by The Attachment Theory’s new, almost euphoric sound.

The song’s video, directed by Susu Laroche, collects footage of the band debuting many of the album songs in London’s intimate 100 Club in the midst of recording the album.

Watch the Video for “Afterlife”

Reflecting on this new artistic frame of mind and the art of collectively writing together, Van Etten muses, “Sometimes it’s exciting, sometimes it’s scary, sometimes you feel stuck. It’s like every day feels a little different – just being at peace with whatever you’re feeling and whoever you are and how you relate to people in that moment. If I can just keep a sense of openness while knowing that my feelings change every day, that is all I can do right now. That and try to be the best person I can be while letting other people be who they are and not taking it personally and just being. I’m not there, but I’m trying to be there every day.” With Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, Van Etten deepens the discourse that animates so much of her catalog, exploring what it is to be simply human. This is her genius – oblique, but also relevant and personal.

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory will tour Europe and the UK following the album’s release. Special guest Nabihah Iqbal will be support on the tour.

Portions of the above text are pulled from the album bio by Lol Tolhurst.

Pre-order Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory Tour Dates
Fri. Feb. 28 – Oslo, NO @ Rockefeller *
Sat. Mar. 1 – Stockholm, SE @ Fållan *
Sun. Mar. 2 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega *
Tue. Mar. 4 – Berlin, DE @ Astra Kulturhaus *
Thu. Mar. 6 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon *
Fri. Mar. 7 – Antwerp, BE @ De Roma *
Sat. Mar. 8 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso *
Mon. Mar. 10 – London, UK @ Royal Albert Hall *
Tue. Mar. 11 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall *
Wed. Mar. 12 – Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland Ballroom *

* with special guest Nabihah Iqbal

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[Thanks to Jessica at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen combine their superpowers for a fine new single.

oday, Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen unveil a true knockout of a song, “Like I Used To,” with a gorgeous accompanying video. The track opens less with a chord than with a crash, an announcement to stop what you’re doing and stand at attention: Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen are singing together. “Like I Used To” takes its place among the great anthems: a powerful and joyful ode to reclaiming one’s own space. Sharon’s troubadour swagger is sure-footed and stadium-sized. Angel’s inquisition is piercing, evocative, impossible to dodge. The combination of their voices is so beautiful and electric, it’s almost destabilizing, and it’s only furthered by John Congleton’s production, who has worked closely with both in the past: Sharon on her most recent album, Remind Me Tomorrow, and Angel throughout her career on Burn Your Fire for No Witness and All Mirrors.

The song’s stunning accompanying video, directed by Kimberly Stuckwisch and shot in Los Angeles and Joshua Tree at various locations, elevates the overall vibe and free spirit of “Like I Used To.” It is a visual representation that truly celebrates the collaborative nature of these two special songwriters and performers.
Watch Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen’s Video for “Like I Used To”
Both Sharon and Angel have long-admired one another from the close-but-far distance of life on tour, a life that unifies them even as they’ve spent years criss-crossing each other from miles, countries, continents apart. Ask them each about the song’s origin story and they inadvertently stitch a mirror together, a story of mutual admiration and, lucky for us, eventual collaboration. “Even though we weren’t super close, I always felt supported by Angel and considered her a peer in this weird world of touring. We highway high-fived many times along the way…I finally got the courage in June of 2020 to reach out to see if she would want to sing together. I got greedy and quickly sent her a track I had been working on,” says Sharon.

“I’ve met with Sharon here and there throughout the years and have always felt too shy to ask her what she’s been up to or working on,” says Angel. “The song reminded me immediately of getting back to where I started, before music was expected of me, or much was expected of me, a time that remains pure and real in my heart.” To call it magic is to cheapen the connection between these two masters, but when you listen it’s hard to call it anything else.

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[Thanks to Jessica at Pitch Perfect PR.]

Sharon Van Etten releases new single and tour dates.

Sharon Van Etten follows 2019’s Remind Me Tomorrow, “an album of hope, intimacy and perseverance” (New York Times), with a new single, “Beaten Down,” and its gorgeous accompanying video. “‘Beaten Down’ is about love, patience and empathy,” says Van Etten. “It’s about making life-changing choices and remaining strong enough to see them through.” Produced by John Congleton, the song opens with dark, minimalistic percussion and Van Etten’s smoldering voice before growing more textured, expanding with layered vocals, synths and keys.

The “Beaten Down” video was directed by Nicky and Juliana Giraffe at Giraffe Studios and features Van Etten and the dancing duo of Allison and Veronica Huber. “Our goal was to create a striking and psychedelic video set in the California desert, a welcoming of Sharon’s next chapter here,” explains Nicky and Juliana Giraffe. “Upon hearing the song, our minds automatically drifted into stark black and white, fever dreams, dark silhouettes contrasted against a barren desert landscape. Our intention was to give Sharon’s song and performance space to breathe and echo. It was important to us that the dancers were strongly connected and we’re so lucky to have worked with the talented Huber Twins on this project.”

Watch Sharon Van Etten’s Video for “Beaten Down”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC9GyTAuk8s

As previously announced, Van Etten guest stars in Eliza Hittman’s new film, Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always,which premiered at Sundance last week to a great deal of industry praise and won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Neorealism. The film opens in theaters in North America on March 13th, 2020. Watch the trailer here.

Van Etten will tour the southeast this April playing cities she has not yet visited in support of Remind Me Tomorrow. Additionally, she’s just announced a return to New York this summer. She’ll headline Central Park SummerStage on Wednesday, July 29th and be joined by Real Estate and Grace Ives.

Stream/Purchase Remind Me Tomorrow –
https://sharonvanetten.ffm.to/remindmetomorrow

Sharon Van Etten Tour Dates:
Fri. April 17 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live
Sat. April 18 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
Sun. April 19 – North Charleston, SC @ High Water Festival
Mon. April 20 – Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom
Wed. April 22 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
Fri. April 24 – New Orleans, LA @ Civic Theatre
Sat. April 25 – Fort Worth, TX @ Fortress Festival
Sun. April 26 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s
Tue. April 28 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
Fri. May 22 – Boston, MA @ Boston Calling
Wed. July 29 – New York, NY @ Central Park SummerStage w/ Real Estate, Grace Ives

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Sharon Van Etten announces tour dates for 2019.

Sharon Van Etten Announces 2019 Remind Me Tomorrow World Tour

New Album, Remind Me Tomorrow, Out January 18 On Jagjaguwar

(photo credit – Ryan Pfluger)

“A blustery, marchlike (but shifty) beat and pealing organ chords orchestrate an encounter between a ‘runaway’ and a ‘comeback kid’ — or maybe it’s an internal debate
for someone re-entering the pop fray.“
— New York Times

“[Sharon Van Etten’s] voice sounds almost like Siouxsie Sioux here—deep, bellowing, and fuzzed out at the edge of the distorted signal—and her tone is muscular and triumphant, with a controlled vibrato that suggests someone shouldering into a brisk wind.” — Pitchfork

“‘Comeback Kid,’ an energetic, scrappy-kid rock song, is a horns-blaring entrance.” — FADER

“[Sharon Van Etten’s] stunning show anticipated a welcome return to music with next year’s Remind Me Tomorrow.” — Austin Chronicle

“Based on her set alone, Remind Me Tomorrow is now easily one of the most anticipated records of 2019.”
— Consequence of Sound (ACL recap)

Sharon Van Etten returned earlier this month with the announcement of her fifth full-length album and first in over 4 years, Remind Me Tomorrow, out January 18th on Jagjaguwar, and new single, “Comeback Kid.” Following the album announcement, Van Etten also made her return to the stage, giving “one of the weekend’s most stunning sets . . . a first live taste of her expansive new sound on Remind Me Tomorrow” (Rolling Stone) at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, followed by Red Rocks, and Treasure Island Music Festival. Today, she announces her 2019 world tour featuring performances at the Beacon Theater in New York, Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, The Fillmore in San Francisco, Thalia Hall in Chicago, 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., London Roundhouse and beyond. Nilüfer Yanya will support on all North American dates and Fred Armisen will be a special guest for the New York show. All dates are below and tickets are on sale this Friday at sharonvanetten.com.

In addition to garnering a great deal of media and fan attention from around the world for “Comeback Kid,” the “rousing, serrated anthem” (NPR Music) was the #1 most added at AAA radio in its first week, the lead in the New York Times’ “Playlist” and a top 10 New Music Friday pick (it was featured in 23 New Music Fridays, globally).

Written while pregnant, going to school for psychology, and after taking The OA audition, Remind Me Tomorrow was written in stolen time: in scraps of hours wedged between myriad endeavors — Van Etten guest-starred in The OA, and brought her music onstage in David Lynch’s revival of Twin Peaks. Off-screen, she wrote her first score for Katherine Dieckmann’s movie Strange Weather and the closing title song for Tig Notaro’s show, Tig. The breadth of her passions (musical, emotional, otherwise), of new careers and projects and lifelong roles, have inflected this album with a wise sense of a warped-time perspective. It reckons with the life that gets lived when you put off the small and inevitable maintenance in favor of something more present.

Remind Me Tomorrow follows Are We There, a top 10 critically praised album of 2014. Working alongside producer John Congleton, the resulting songs are as resonating as ever, the themes are still an honest and subtle approach to love and longing, but Congleton has plucked out new idiosyncrasies from Van Etten’s sound. He helped flip the signature Van Etten ratio, making the album more energetic-upbeat than minimal-meditative.

Listen To Sharon Van Etten’s “Comeback Kid” –
https://youtu.be/US4xCFUuHuQ

Pre-order Remind Me Tomorrow –
https://sharonvanetten.ffm.to/remindmetomorrow

Sharon Van Etten Tour Dates:
Wed. Feb. 6 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club #
Thu. Feb. 7 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer #
Fri. Feb. 8 – Boston, MA @ Royale #
Sat. Feb. 9 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre $ #
Mon. Feb. 11 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall #
Wed. Feb. 13 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre #
Thu. Feb. 14 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall #
Sat. Feb. 16 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue #
Mon. Feb. 18 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre #
Tue. Feb 19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall #
Thu. Feb 21 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom #
Fri. Feb 22 – Vancouver, BC – Imperial #
Sat. Feb 23 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre #
Tue. Feb. 26 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore #
Thu. Feb 28 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park #
Fri. March 1 – Los Angeles, CA – The Theatre at Ace Hotel #
Thu. March 21 – Birmingham, UK @ The Mill
Fri. March 22 – Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
Sat. March 23 – Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street
Sun. March 24 – Glasgow, UK @ St. Luke’s
Tue. March 26 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
Wed. March 27 – Bristol, UK @ SWX
Fri. March 29 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord
Sat. March 30 – Brussels, BE @ Orangerie (at Botanique)
Mon. April 1 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie
Tue. April 2 – Koln, DE @ Luxor
Wed. April 3 – Munich, DE @ Strom
Fri. April 5 – Berlin, DE @ Lido
Sat. April 6 – Hamburg, DE @ Grünspan
Sun. April 7 – Copenhagen, DK @ Studio 2 (DR Concert House)
Tue. April 9 – Gothenburg, SE @ Pustervik
Wed. April 10 – Oslo, NO @ Parkteatret
Thu. April 11 – Stockholm, SE @ Kagelbanen

# = with Nilüfer Yanya
$ = with Fred Armisen

Download hi-res jpegs of Sharon Van Etten and cover art –
http://pitchperfectpr.com/sharonvanetten/

(Remind Me Tomorrow cover art, photo by Katherine Dieckmann)

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