
Sharon Van Etten is back and this time, she’s not alone. Collaborating with her band, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory are set to release their self-titled debut album on 7th February via Jagjaguwar. To kick things off, they’ve dropped their euphoric lead single ‘Afterlife’, which you can check out now.
Van Etten’s new project marks a distinct shift in her creative process, as it’s the first time she’s written an album collaboratively with her bandmates Jorge Balbi (drums, machines), Devra Hoff (bass, vocals), and Teeny Lieberson (synth, piano, guitar, vocals). Reflecting on this new approach, Van Etten shared, “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?” The result? “Magic, apparently,” Van Etten adds with a laugh. “In an hour we wrote two songs that ended up becoming ‘I Can’t Imagine’ and ‘Southern Life.’”
The album was recorded at none other than The Church, Eurythmics’ former studio, known for its mix of analog and electronic sounds. Producer Marta Salogni, who’s worked with the likes of Björk and Bon Iver, was crucial to shaping the album’s distinctive texture. “Her love of synths and sense of adventure,” Van Etten notes, “embraced the darkness and the unique sounds we had honed in the writing process.”
The lead single, ‘Afterlife’, offers a glimpse into this new sonic direction. The track dances between hope and uncertainty, with lyrics that muse on what lies beyond this life. The chorus, “Will you see me in the afterlife?/Will you tell me what you think it’s like?” encapsulates Van Etten’s knack for pairing weighty subject matter with infectious melodies.
On the band’s upcoming UK and European tour, the group will take these new songs to the stage, including a huge night at London’s Royal Albert Hall. With support from Nabihah Iqbal, these shows promise to be as atmospheric and intense as the album itself.
As Van Etten reflects on this chapter, she says: “Sometimes it’s exciting, sometimes it’s scary, sometimes you feel stuck… but 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.”
It’s a sentiment that’s not only relatable but also one that defines Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory’s forthcoming album – raw, human, and ultimately, a reflection of the shifting emotions that shape us all.
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- Afterlife
- February 2024
- Jagjaguwar
- Marta Salogni
- Nabihah Iqbal
- new album
- Sharon Van Etten
- The Attachment Theory
- UK tour