Sharon Van Etten

Sharon Van Etten is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress known for her personal songwriting and contralto voice in the indie rock and folk music scenes. Van Etten has developed a dedicated audience with albums that span indie folk and synth-driven sounds. Her early career was shaped by personal challenges, including overcoming an abusive relationship, which influenced her songwriting and artistic direction. A pivotal moment occurred when she shared her demo with Kyp Malone of TV On The Radio, who encouraged her to continue pursuing music.

Van Etten's first nationally released album, "Because I Was in Love," was recorded for Language of Stone and distributed by Drag City. After independently releasing several albums, she signed with Jagjaguwar and released "Tramp," produced by Aaron Dessner of The National. This album marked her debut on the Billboard 200 chart. "Are We There" received critical acclaim and was included in Pitchfork's list of the 200 Best Albums of the 2010s.

Following "Are We There," Van Etten explored new creative avenues, studying psychology and mental health counseling, composing her first film score for "Strange Weather," and acting in "The OA" and "Twin Peaks." She released "Remind Me Tomorrow," which incorporated synthesizers and experimental sounds, earning recognition from NPR Music, The Guardian, and BrooklynVegan. The track "Seventeen" was featured in the Netflix series "Sex Education," introducing her music to a broader audience.

Van Etten continued her solo work with "We've Been Going About This All Wrong," maintaining the new wave style of her previous album while delving into emotional themes. She contributed the song "Quiet Eyes" to the soundtrack of the film "Past Lives" and co-wrote "Close to You" for the first season of The Buccaneers on Apple TV+ with Courtney Barnett. Van Etten also released "Sharon Van Etten & the Attachment Theory," a collaborative album that expanded her sound into new territory. Through her work in indie rock, folk, film scoring, and television, Van Etten has established herself as a significant songwriter and artist in contemporary music.