Sharon Van Etten | Broken Record

Songwriting

Sharon Van Etten's songwriting process is both spontaneous and reflective. She often begins with melodies that emerge naturally when she sits down with an instrument, allowing her to explore musical ideas without overthinking them. Sharon describes an instance where she freestyled lyrics during a recording session, initially believing they wouldn't be kept, only to find they perfectly captured the moment 1. This approach allows her to create music that feels authentic and unforced, as she explains, "I just hit stop and I move on to the next thing, and I don't think about that too much" 2.

   

Emotional Depth

Sharon's music is deeply personal, yet she strives for a universal connection. She writes from a personal place, ensuring her songs resonate with listeners on their own terms. Sharon shares that her partner, who is also her manager, helps her gauge the emotional impact of her music, providing feedback on aspects like tempo and thematic consistency 3. She believes in the importance of pivoting creatively, stating, "I think it's healthy to learn how to pivot. And as we get older, I think it's healthy to not depend on one thing to sustain ourselves" 4.