Ahead of her Australian tour next year, with visits to Golden Plains Festival, Womadelaide and the Perth International Arts Festival, we caught up with American singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten to find out a bit more about her most recent album Are We There, her approach to songwriting, and her thoughts on touring Australia, and the Australian festival circuit.
You’re currently touring around Europe, how have the shows been going so far?
So far so good. We are all a bit tired since we have been on the road since March, pretty much – but the shows have been going well. We are driving from Switzerland right now and the crowds here were really sweet – and it was our first time through!
Your last Australian tour back in 2013 seemed like it went pretty well, how did you enjoy the tour?
I fell in love with Australia. There wasn’t enough time. The energy of the audiences was really restorative and we are looking forward to coming back and seeing more.
Your upcoming Australian tour involves a mix of festivals and club shows. Do you have a preference? And does your approach differ depending on whether you’re playing a festival or a smaller venue?
I usually don’t like playing festivals as much, but the festivals in Australia are so much fun. Playing mid tempo ballads can be a bit frightening at a party type festival, but people seemed really into it.
I prefer clubs usually because I like to be close with my band and feel the energy of the room – but I can feel that at festivals sometimes…
What was the inspiration/story behind your new record Are We There?
I wrote these songs over the course of 2 years, unknowingly documenting the demise of my relationship and also writing about the struggles of being on the road and trying to maintain a healthy relationship.
Choosing my career over my relationship… because that was the healthier choice at the time.
How do you approach the songwriting process? And over the course of your four albums do you feel the way you write songs has changed?
My writing is my therapy. I write when I am going through a dark time to exorcise the demons. When I pick up an instrument I just play a chord progression until I come up with a melody and then I find a simple structure. Once I have that, I hit record and sing stream of conscious for about ten minutes. I leave it for a couple days and then I listen back to it once I have some distance from that emotion. Then I sit down and listen to what it was I was going through and look into the mirror for a while. If I think the ideas in the song are relatable and not too personal, I will turn that into a song. I still write this way.
The lyrics on Are We There seem to come from quite a personal space; do you find songwriting to be a cathartic experience?
Absolutely.
How do you go about deciding which songs are going to make it on to a record? Do you aim for an overarching theme or message, or is it something more general?
As long as they are not too personal where they become alienating to the listener, I share them. I am still learning how much is too much though. Things are changing in me
Do you construct your setlist in a similar way?
I try to have a mix of songs from old and new and slow to mid to upbeat. My upbeat songs are few and far between so I try not to give it all away at once.
Are We There is possibly the only record I have seen with “recommended listening” in the liner notes, what have been some of your favourite albums of the year?
The War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream
Spoon – They Want My Soul
Pure X – Angel
A Winged Victory for the Sullen – ATOMOS
Tiny Ruins – Brightly Painted One
Hamish Kilgour – All of it and Nothing
She Keeps Bees – Eight Houses
Steve Gunn – Way Out Weather
Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire for No Witness
Hiss Golden Messenger – Lateness of Messengers
What have been some of the highlights of the year for you?
Playing David Letterman and my sister conceiving a child!
Other than your Australian tour, what does 2015 have in store for you?
On our way to Australia, we get to play in Japan and after Australia I get to play in New Zealand! We do a UK tour in April and then we are taking a bit of a break. We will probably play festivals here and there but I am excited to get back into writing mode and take some time home to be with my loved ones.
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SHARON VAN ETTEN TOUR DATES:
Mar 01 – Factory Theatre – Sydney, Australia
Mar 03 – The Hi-Fi – Melbourne, Australia
Mar 04 – The Zoo – Brisbane, Australia
Mar 06 – Womadelaide Festival – Adelaide, Australia
Mar 07 – Golden Plains Festival – Meredith, Australia
Mar 08 A Festival Called Panama – Tasmania, Australia
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