Sharon Van Etten embraces a new chapter in her music career

In the self-titled album 'Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory', released in 2021, Sharon Van Etten explores emotional themes through music while collaborating with her bandmates for the first time. The collaboration marks a significant turn in her musical career, transitioning from solely being a solo artist to sharing the creative process with a group. Van Etten, originally from New Jersey, began her career following a tumultuous relationship with an abusive partner, which hindered her musical aspirations. After relocating to Los Angeles and finding stability in her personal life, she felt emboldened to express herself through jam sessions with her band. Recording took place at the Church Studios in London, where they drew inspiration from English post-punk bands of the late 1970s and 1980s while also touching on deeper philosophical conversations around life and death. Van Etten shares that during the sessions, the band delved into topics such as the value of existence and their perspectives on mortality, reflecting on the transformative power of music in her life. Her collaboration with bandmates Devra Hoff (bass), Jorge Balbi (drums), and Teeny Lieberson (synths) resulted in an album characterized by its 'seductive and hypnotic' sound crafted under the production of Marta Salogni. Through songs like 'Live Forever' and 'Idiot Box,' Van Etten questions the human experience, engaging listeners with deeply introspective lyrics. Notably, she acknowledges the significance of this change in her career, revealing that she previously required emotional safety before wanting to perform and share her songs in a group setting. The emotional weight of her past shows in her music, as she recounts how she often found her early work to be deeply personal and tied to her survival. This album symbolizes a profound moment for Van Etten as she merges her personal and artistic lives, allowing herself to be vulnerable while also leaning on the contributions of her bandmates. In her reflective interviews surrounding the album, she expresses gratitude for the support she feels now and acknowledges the collaborative process not just as a means of presenting her music, but as an integral part of her healing journey.