Sharon Van Etten Quotes

Powerful Sharon Van Etten for Daily Growth

About Sharon Van Etten

Sharon Van Etten, an American singer-songwriter, was born on February 26, 1981, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Raised in the small town of Belleville, New Jersey, Van Etten developed a deep love for music at an early age, inspired by her mother's record collection and her grandfather who played piano. After high school, she attended SUNY Purchase College to study psychology but dropped out to pursue her musical career. Her journey began in earnest when she moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 2005. There, she self-released her debut album, 'Because I Was In Love,' in 2009. The album showcased her raw, emotive songwriting style, which drew comparisons to artists like Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell. In 2010, Van Etten released her breakthrough album, 'Epic.' Produced by collaborator and boyfriend Zeke Hutchins, the record received critical acclaim, earning a spot on many year-end best albums lists. It was during this time that she also began acting, appearing in the critically acclaimed series 'Twin Peaks: The Return' in 2017. Her next album, 'Are We There,' released in 2014, further cemented her status as a formidable talent. It was followed by 'Remind Me Tomorrow' in 2019, an album that delved deeper into electronica and showcased her growth as an artist. Throughout her career, Sharon Van Etten has consistently explored themes of love, loss, identity, and healing in her music. Her poignant lyrics and haunting melodies have resonated with listeners worldwide, earning her a dedicated fanbase and critical acclaim.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I was born with a veil over my eyes."

This quote suggests that the speaker, Sharon Van Etten, was born with a certain degree of misunderstanding or obscurity in her perspective of life. It implies that she has had to work hard to see the world clearly, to remove the veil and gain a deeper understanding. The phrase can also be interpreted as a metaphor for a lack of initial awareness, intuition, or clarity about one's own identity, purpose, or destiny, which only comes with personal growth and self-discovery.


"But I'm learning to be gentle with myself."

This quote signifies the process of self-compassion and understanding. It suggests that the speaker is acknowledging the need to treat themselves with care, patience, and kindness – similar to how one might treat a loved one. This statement is universal as it resonates with many people who struggle with self-criticism or high personal expectations. It emphasizes the importance of mental health, self-forgiveness, and self-care in our daily lives.


"The darkest hour is just before the dawn."

The quote "The darkest hour is just before the dawn" by Sharon Van Etten signifies that a period of deep despair, struggle, or difficulty often precedes a time of hope, light, and improvement. It serves as a reminder to persevere during difficult times, as better days lie ahead.


"We are our own worst enemies and our own best friends."

This quote by Sharon Van Etten highlights the complex nature of human beings, suggesting that we have an innate capacity to both sabotage ourselves (as our "worst enemies") and support ourselves (as our "best friends"). It underscores the duality within us – our ability to self-destruct through fear, doubt, or negative thoughts, as well as our capacity for resilience, growth, and self-love. The quote serves as a reminder that we have the power to choose which aspect of ourselves we want to nurture and strengthen in our personal journey towards self-improvement and happiness.


"Sometimes the hardest part isn't letting go but realizing you never had control at all."

This quote by Sharon Van Etten emphasizes the human struggle with relinquishing control, particularly in relationships or situations where one feels they have more power than they actually do. It suggests that sometimes we invest our emotions, time, and energy into things beyond our immediate grasp, only to realize later that we never truly controlled them at all. The realization of this lack of control can be challenging, but it's essential for growth as it allows us to focus on what we can change and accept the rest.


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.

- Sharon Van Etten

City, Doing, Deal, Performers

My friends actually used to call me the 'Female Conor Oberst.' I got to open up with him once, and I told him about that, and he thought it was hilarious.

- Sharon Van Etten

Thought, Used, About, Hilarious

Noveller make soundscapes that are creepy, ethereal, really beautiful and all over the place. They can be intense, dark, and groovy but also dreamlike and happy.

- Sharon Van Etten

Happy, Over, Also, Groovy

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Other, Still, Pursuing, Counseling

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

- Sharon Van Etten

Harmony, Notes, Read, Automatically

I'm a sucker for a love song!

- Sharon Van Etten

Love, Song, Sucker

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Next, Always, Move, Hobby

In 2015, I told my band that I was taking a break so I could focus on my home life, go back to school, and try to remember what it was like to feel like a human being again.

- Sharon Van Etten

Focus, Back, Feel, Home Life

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Deep, Very, Listener, Analyze

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Wait, Sometimes, Other, Doubting

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Kid, Feel, About, Journal

Everything will be okay. I have a sticker on my laptop that says that.

- Sharon Van Etten

Will, Everything, Okay, Sticker

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

- Sharon Van Etten

Think, General, Very, Therapeutic

I don't think I'll ever feel perfectly balanced, but I feel like I'm figuring it out, and I'm surrounded by really wonderful people that want to see me succeed and be happy. Life is wild.

- Sharon Van Etten

Happy, Surrounded, Perfectly, Figuring

When I write, it's to heal. It's my own self-therapy so that I don't actually feel sad all of the time.

- Sharon Van Etten

Own, My Own, I Write, Heal

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Red, Cozy, Wear, Holes

I go back to things all the time. It's really nice, too, like when I'm going through some kind of a writer's block, and I'm feeling uninspired, I go to some of my oldest songs from over the years and sift through them, and one thing that's very nice is to see how I've grown up a little bit. A little bit.

- Sharon Van Etten

Through, Some, Very, Block

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Business, More, Helping, Helping People

I'm a late bloomer in music.

- Sharon Van Etten

Music, Late, Late Bloomer, Bloomer

I'm a total goofball.

- Sharon Van Etten

Total, Goofball

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Indie, About, Blogs, Friday

I have a hard time not wearing my heart on my sleeve and answering people honestly. You know, my friends warn me that I should be more guarded 'cause sometimes I am too honest and open, but it's also just who I am.

- Sharon Van Etten

Sometimes, Cause, Guarded, Answering

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Talking, Everybody, About, Dilemma

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Through, Some, Couple, Alienate

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.

- Sharon Van Etten

Leader, Some, Like, Camp

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

- Sharon Van Etten

Perspective, Song, Some, Every Time

I try to focus on the melodies and try to make everything else minimal. The melody and the lyrics are most important to me.

- Sharon Van Etten

Focus, Melodies, Most, Everything Else

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

- Sharon Van Etten

Writing, Start, Working, Tramp

My mom is a history teacher, so we'd go on all these historic trips as kids around Halloween, because it was kind of creepy.

- Sharon Van Etten

Kind, Go, Historic, Trips

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?'

- Sharon Van Etten

Listen, Hormones, Had, Teenager

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.