Currently based in Brooklyn, NY, USA, van Etten débuted with single Much More Than That (2007, Abaton Book Company). Her album Are We There was released on 14 May 2014 on Jagjaguwar).
van Etten moved to Tennessee to attend Middle Tennessee State University, where she discovered a variety of influential music. After moving back home to New Jersey, she was encouraged by Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio to pursue a career in music.
van Etten undertook her first UK tour with Meg Baird in Jan 2008. She toured with Great Lake Swimmers on their European tour in May 2009, kicking it off with a show in London with Beirut and Shearwater. She again toured with them in September/October 2009.
On May 26th, 2009, she released her "Because I Was in Love" single on 12" vinyl, CD and MP3 on Language of Stone.
She was the first artist to record in 2010 for the Weathervane Music's Shaking Through video series.
On September 21, 2010, her sophomore album, "Epic" was released on Ba Da Bing. The powerful 7-track album featured much more instrumentation than her first, primarily-acoustic affair. The evolution of her sound proved that she is much more than a traditional folk singer-songwriter.
The release of Epic coincided with a difficult break-up of a relationship. She busied herself with touring for the record, but when the singer completed her schedule a year later, she found herself homeless in New York. After a period of sleeping on friends' couches, recovering from her heavy touring schedule, she hooked up the National's guitarist Aaron Dessner to record her third album, Tramp, which was released on February 7th, 2012.
May 2014 brought about the release of Van Etten's fourth record, Are We There, on Jagjaguwar. Van Etten self-produced the record with Stewart Lerman, with the guidance of bandmate and manager Zeke Hutchins. Most of the recording was done at Hobo Sound Studios in Weehawken, New Jersey, with piano tracks being recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. The record features musicians Zeke Hutchins, Doug Keith, Heather Woods Broderick, Dave Hartley, Adam Granduciel, Marisa Anderson, Stuart D. Bogie, Mickey Free, Mary Lattimore, Little Isidor, Jacob Morris, Torres' Mackenzie Scott, Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg, Lower Dens' Jana Hunter, and Efterklang touring member Peter Broderick.
In 2015, the EP I Don't Want to Let You Down was released on Jagjaguwar. It is composed of the songs that did not make it onto Are We There.
On October 2, 2018, Van Etten released a new track entitled "Comeback Kid" and announced her next album Remind Me Tomorrow, which was released on January 18, 2019. On February 28, 2019, Van Etten appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to perform the single "Seventeen".
Sites: MySpace
Kevin's
Sharon Van Etten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's all we ask.
If it were all up to me, I would say
Come up with these truths instead.
You dig your own grave.
You dig your own grave.
Envy all less, we know.
Crazy, basic.
In your own breath, you cough.
Ooh, in your own breath.
Ooh, in your own breath.
Take on yourself.
It's the only way I will breathe.
Temples, temples,
In your own breath.
Ooh, in your own breath.
Ooh, in your own breath for me.
The lyrics of Sharon Van Etten's song "Kevin's" are enigmatic and open to interpretation, but they are laden with themes of identity, self-destruction, and vulnerability. The opening lines, "True, tell everyone you know. It's all we ask. If it were all up to me, I would say Come up with these truths instead," suggest the desire for honesty and authenticity in relationships. Perhaps the singer is asking Kevin to reveal something substantial about himself, instead of keeping it hidden.
The repetition of "You dig your own grave" highlights a sense of agency in causing one's own downfall or suffering. The phrase "Buried in masculine pain all the time" can be read as a commentary on toxic masculinity and the pressure men face to suppress their emotions, leading to self-destruction. The lines "Envy all less, we know. Crazy, basic. In your own breath, you cough" intertwine envy, self-deprecation, and fear, creating a complex and intricate portrait of an emotionally troubled individual.
The refrain "Ooh, in your own breath" serves as a haunting reminder of the ever-present, inescapable self. "Take on yourself. It's the only way I will breathe. Temples, temples, In your own breath" could be interpreted as the singer's advice to Kevin to embrace himself fully to find inner peace. Overall, Kevin's lyrics create a sense of unease, yet the song's haunting melody and Sharon Van Etten's powerful vocals make it an enchantingly beautiful track.
Line by Line Meaning
True, tell everyone you know.
Be honest and share your true feelings with those around you.
It's all we ask.
All that is desired is for you to be truthful.
If it were all up to me, I would say
If I had complete control, I would encourage honesty and openness.
Come up with these truths instead.
Focus on sharing genuine and authentic truths rather than hiding behind falsehoods.
You dig your own grave.
Your own actions and choices lead to your downfall.
Buried in masculine pain all the time.
Constantly trapped in societal expectations of masculinity which cause emotional pain.
Envy all less, we know.
We understand that envy and comparison are futile and unhelpful.
Crazy, basic.
Foolish and unremarkable.
In your own breath, you cough.
Your own emotions and struggles are causing you pain and discomfort.
Ooh, in your own breath.
Reinforcement of the idea that you must address your own internal issues.
Take on yourself.
Look within yourself and take responsibility for your own actions and feelings.
It's the only way I will breathe.
Addressing your own issues is necessary for the artist to feel at peace.
Temples, temples,
A likely reference to the physical sensation of stress and anxiety.
In your own breath.
The source of the struggle is within oneself.
Ooh, in your own breath for me.
Further emphasis on the importance of addressing personal struggles for both the individual and the singer.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: AARON BROOKING DESSNER, SHARON KATHARINE VAN ETTEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anika says "hi"
on A Crime
Sharon, if you ever read this ... thank you.