Top 77 Sharon Van Etten Quotes

People relate to songs so differently. No matter what it’s about in reality, people create their own meaning behind it and connect with it on their own terms.

Performing a song is intense. When I see people connecting, it makes it all worthwhile.

I’m attracted to music made by people who let themselves be emotional. They really care about what they do, and we believe in what they say.

If I make assumptions about the audience and start overthinking things, I can drive myself crazy about how the audience perceives me. I try not to do that anymore.

I used to work at a label. I used to be a publicist. I used to be at a management company.

Hopefully, the stuff that is way too personal that I record and keep – people won‘t hear it because it’s way too personal.

I have a day job Monday to Friday. I work at a record label in Brooklyn called Ba Da Bing. It’s a great indie label and I listen to music all day. I meet people online and find out about the cool new music blogs.

If I start panicking a little bit, I just talk through it with somebody.

In some ways, being on the road is like summer camp. There’s a camaraderie, but I’m also learning how to be more of a leader.

I love how small the world is.

I used to hyperventilate, but I don’t do that anymore.

Both my brothers are drummers.

Sometimes music should just be about you sitting on your bedroom floor, or in the back of the car, singing along stupidly. Evan Dando’s music was all about that for me.

I think, in general, I find writing to be very therapeutic and singing in itself to be really therapeutic.

As a kid, you put musicians on a pedestal – well, I did. The more you meet bands, and the more you hang around them, you can have normal conversations.

Music is still my main thing, but I will explore anything that’s interesting and challenging.

I’m a late bloomer in music.

I totally lucked out by meeting a lot of amazing people. I guess it stems from going to shows and being confident enough to meet people and be able to talk to them like a normal person rather than have my head down all the time.

‘Imperfiction’ will forever be one of my favorite records and moments in time.

I get things out of my system through my songs, but, because they can be about so many different things, it takes me a while to get through them emotionally.

I realized that there’s this fine line between being personal and being general and being alienating.

I am my therapist, and I analyze what’s happening and if I’m being hurt in the process. The result is songs that are very emotional, very deep, although I try to write them generally so they won’t alienate the listener.

I was so broken when I did the first record. I was living in my parents‘ basement, I didn’t know anyone. I was broken-hearted and writing this really dark record. I was at the bottom of a well.

Just getting older, you stop caring what other people think, but also, you know who you are, and you know what you want.

You write these vulnerable songs as a sort of therapy, but if you don’t confront people on a daily basis, it’s not reality. There’s still a bit of separation there.

I’m not the sad sack that people might think I am. But I think that if I didn’t write and perform, I probably would be.

I didn’t start writing with band arrangements until I was working on ‘Tramp.’

I only work with people that are mysteries.

I’m a sucker for a love song!

Singing a song like ‘Your Love Is Killing Me,’ people are worried about me. My mother called me, like, ‘What’s going on with you? Are you alright? I thought you were doing fine.’ And I’m like, ‘I am doing fine. It’s just, this is what I do.’

I’m a total goofball.

I can’t read notes well, but I can hear something and sing a harmony to it automatically.

I’ve always liked to learn how to do things – I’m a hobby person. So I’ll learn something at a beginner‘s level, then usually move on to the next thing.

I hit ‘record’ whenever I’m going through a really hard time. I don’t listen to it for a couple of days, so I have some perspective. If it’s too personal to share, and I feel like would alienate the listeners, then I usually don’t share that stuff.

I’m trying to learn how to cook.

Honestly, live is my favorite way of performing. Every show is a completely different energy.

Writing songs helped me figure out how to communicate with other people. I finally figured out that if I could express something in a song, I could probably express it in my real life, too.

I overthink everything. I’m just like, ‘Wait, why do they want to hear me?’ I start doubting myself. Other times, I’ll just get so emotional during a song. Sometimes I’ll cry while I’m singing. It’s so weird. I’m such a baby.

On first listen, it’s nice to just soak up the sound without thinking about what it means. It’s like a relationship. Records I’ve had for years mean more to me now than they did years ago.

I definitely wouldn’t consider myself a professional, but I like to dress up like one.

I always write from a personal place – whether it be about my friends or myself or a story that I heard.

Every time I re-perform a song, I gain some perspective.

Moving to New York City and doing what I do, social anxiety is a really ridiculous kind of curse to have. But I met people along the way who deal with it – performers as well – and they are learning to deal with it daily and deal with it in different ways.

There’s something to writing a hook and something to writing a memorable melody. That’s what I liked about musicals. Then I realized I could write my own songs, and I didn’t have to sing other people’s.

I feel like I’m getting better at being a writer.

My goal is to become a therapist by the time I’m 50.

The studio is a time when you can do anything that you want to. You have that freedom.

When I first started making music, it was where I went when I couldn’t express myself, when I wasn’t able to connect with other people, when I couldn’t talk about what I was going through.

I guess I usually write when I’m in a really intense headspace, because it’s my form of self-therapy.

I hate putting negative energy out into the world. But it’s either inside or out. I mean, it’s either get an ulcer or have a fight.

I’m getting bored performing the same songs over and over. Songwriting comes and goes.

I think leading up to the tour is the most stressful part because you barely have any time home.

I’m a really strong person. I’ve no regrets in my life.

One day when I have a band I will have a band name, but since it’s just me I feel it should just be my name. For me it doesn’t make much sense since the music is from me and about me. I haven‘t ever been in a band.

I have this red cardigan that my friend Coco gave me that has holes for thumbs. It’s my cozy sweater. I wear it a lot.

You’d better have something good to say if you’ve got a roomful of people who’ve paid to see you.

I only write when I’m in a dark place. I hit ‘record’ and get it out, writing and playing my guitar at the same time.

Relationships. Ugh. You have to laugh sometimes.

Everyone has their down days. Unfortunately, that’s when I am the most prolific.

I didn’t have my first band until I was, like, 30.

I’m pursuing a degree in mental health counseling. It’ll be a long journey, and I still want to do music and other creative projects.

I love being domestic: making coffee, just putting on a record, and just sitting, not doing anything. It’s so great.

‘The Boatman’s Call’ is amazing; it’s an album of love songs, really beautiful.

I wanna grow and develop as an artist, and I feel like different kinds of collaborations can only help me in that way.

I like having a home. I like having a place to return to.

I would love to work with PJ Harvey some day.

Brit Marling is very positive, very professional, very encouraging.

I’m really out of touch with myself emotionally. I’ve always had a hard time talking about how I feel.

I’ve always been really shy. I was always afraid of any kind of confrontation.

I started playing, and people responded to it and connected with it and now, I don’t even know what I’m really connecting with anymore or if I’m helping people. Now it’s more of a business.

I hate the term ’emo.’ It turned into this genre of music, when all music, if you connect with it, is emotional.

I always had a hard time communicating my emotions. I’d retreat into my bedroom and listen to music. And when you’re a teenager, you’re dealing with all these hormones. It’s like, ‘What are these?’

All the records I keep are like friends I visit.

Whatever your writing is about, you’re really connected with it, and you can always go back to when that was. I remember everything, and time and place are like a center for me.

The dilemma I have is that everything I do at work is all about me, and at what point is that selfish? I’m just talking and singing about myself, or I’m standing on a stage and hoping that everybody likes me. Obviously, it’s also about the music and feeling and connecting; I know it’s deeper than that.

I was pretty troubled for a long time. And I didn’t know that. As a kid, I never talked about my emotions. My mom gave me a journal, but I didn’t know what it meant. I just wrote all the time, not even thinking about it. But it also made me feel better.

I’m still learning how to be comfortable touring. I haven’t found that balance yet.