Even though Sharon Van Etten just released her seventh studio album under the moniker Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, it is actually the first album the singer/songwriter has ever written and recorded in total collaboration with her band — Jorge Balbi (drums, machines), Devra Hoff (bass, vocals), and Teeny Lieberson (synth, piano, guitar, vocals). At first, it seemed like it would be a challenge for Van Etten to let go of creative control, but it turned out to be completely liberating.
The new approach began with Sharon inviting her bandmates into the creative process while they were rehearsing for an upcoming tour. “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!” she explained. “But I loved all the sounds we were getting. I was curious – what would happen? In an hour, we wrote two songs that ended up becoming ‘I Can’t Imagine’ and ‘Southern Life’.”
The lyrical themes are still quintessential Sharon, as she expresses her thoughts on love and the human condition. But musically, the sounds take on new life with both electronics and analog textures, propelling the singer into a new artistic period that is a further departure from her Indie/Folk past. The band chose to record their eponymous album with producer Marta Salogni at the Eurythmics’ former studio, The Church, in London. Salogni (Bjork, Bon Iver, Animal Collective) is renowned for her skills with synthesizers and electronics.
“Her love of synths and sense of adventure was a huge draw to me. Her predilection for tapes and analog instruments was super exciting,” explains Sharon. Salogni also proved adept at providing balance, “facilitating many different personalities, fielding ideas from the different perspectives and making sense of the collective thoughts. I wanted to ensure the band that I would find a producer who would embrace the darkness and the unique sounds we had honed in the writing process.”
Standout songs include the Gothy album opener, “Live Forever,” a haunting track that recalls the synth sounds of 1980s New Wave, and “Trouble,” a midtempo track driven by a dynamic bass line that bubbles under a lush, atmospheric surface. Listeners have responded well to the Attachment Theory’s new collaborative efforts, as the first single, “Afterlife,” reached the Top 10 at Triple A radio. The new single, "Idiot Box," is gaining steam at WXPN, WRLT, WYMS and WDST.
Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory will begin a headlining tour on April 24 in Atlanta, and it will culminate with an appearance at the Bottle Rock festival in Napa Valley on May 24.
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