Sharon Van Etten's first interview
- By Greg Rose -
- Aug 07, 2012
Sharon Van Etten released one of the finest albums of 2012 earlier this year and has been thrilling festival audiences all summer. We couldn't resist catching up with the New York artist to find out all about her first times. Read on as Sharon Van Etten shares her first date, first job and first single secrets...
My first memory is…
Getting lost in a house that my parents just moved into. I was like two or three, I had started walking and the house was bigger than I was used to. I wandered under the piano, my parents found me crying. Ever since I have played music because I resent my parents so much (joking)!
The first time I knew I wanted to be a musician….
Was when I played an open mic at a high school and people actually listened. My friend made me do it, I played a song that I wrote that was really terrible. It was about having a rough time when you’re 14. It’s not still in the setlist!
The first job I ever had was…
As an assistant for a baker, who I also babysat for. My top baking tip is to measure.
The first time I met a hero of mine…
Was meeting Evan Dando in line to get his autograph at Tower Records. I went with my older sister. I was so nervous that I forgot to bring anything to sign. So I ripped up an envelope that I saw and he signed the lip of the envelope. I’ve still got it somewhere. He was very introverted.
The first single I bought was…
Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance With Somebody. I lucked out!
The first time I got drunk…
Was in high school and my best friend Dana came back with two bottles of Boomslang. It was so bad. It was fun because we were just being stupid kids. We drank the Boomslang on the beach and smoked cigarettes. The next day I remembered exactly where I threw up because it was bright pink!
My first date was…
Watching a Woody Allen movie with my first high school boyfriend. We watched Sleeper, I had never laughed like that before. I was a serious kid and usually watched serious movies. It was a very sweet date.
The first time I collaborated completely was on my new record ‘Tramp’…
Aaron Dessner from The National produced ‘Tramp’ (Zach Condon from Beirut, Hamilton Leithhauser from The Walkmen and Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner also appear on the record). Everyone supports each other. It’s a small world. Whenever you do something very specific, you are going to run into the same people, your circles are going to overlap. There are a lot of really good people in New York, and a lot of people who love collaborating.
My first nickname was…
My first nickname was Shiny. My Irish grandmother always called me Shiny and it stuck with the family. My bandmate’s nickname is Moon Patrol. Her nickname for me on tour is Snack, because I’m always eating. Shiny is nicer than Snack!
The first time I will play Shepherds Bush Empire…
Is this October 8th. It will be a step up from the shows at the moment, we want to keep getting better and better. We’re not going to do anything crazy like interpretive dance, nothing over the top! I’ve only seen photographs of the venue, I can’t wait.
Look out for some of Sharon Van Etten's worst times coming to Virgin Red Room soon...
Did you enjoy those first times? How about some more from; The Ting Tings, We Are Augustines, Katie Melua, The Jezabels, Sleigh Bells, Kyla La Grange, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Blood Red Shoes, Charlie Simpson, The Futureheads, Vanquish, Lostprophets, Tom Williams & The Boat, Andrew W.K., Ane Brun or Niki & The Dove?
By Greg Rose. Content Manager. Tweets @greglrose and blogs at greglrose.com
