Chicago - Sharon Van Etten already has four albums under her belt from over the past six years and in that time, she has become one of the most shrewd new cartographers of the heart. Van Etten is able to portray both emotional difficulties and joys with keen lines and a voice that never compromises in the delivery of feelings. Van Etten’s second record, epic, though only containing seven tracks, was aptly titled. Subsequent albums, (2012’s Tramp and 2014′s Are We There) were lengthier but Van Etten managed still packed plenty of grandiose sentiments into rather small projects. Van Etten has consistently understood the impact of economy –ever since her beginnings all the way to rising stardom.
As such, it’s not surprising in the least, that Van Etten’s upcoming five-song EP, I Don’t Want to Let You Down, functions as much more than a musical stopgap. Though clocking in at only 22 minutes, Van Etten offers insights of surrender and disappointment, admission and longing. The songs are as complex and developed as anything Van Etten has previously created. The project was produced by Van Etten and Stewart Lerman, who worked on Are We There. The extended play also features notable crew of collaborators, including: Heather Woods Broderick (keyboards, strings, vocals), Doug Keith (guitar), Zeke Hutchins (drums), Brad Cook (bass), Darren Jesse (drums), Peter Broderick (strings), Stuart Bogie (woodwinds), and The War On Drugs’ Adam Granduciel (guitar) and Dave Hartley (bass).
Listen to the EP’s title track here, which first debuted in January on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Concluding with a live rendition of the song “Tell Me,” recorded last December at Barcelona’s Gran Teatre Del Liceu, the track is a Van Etten gem about yearning for affections that may never be reciprocated. Its inclusion the the EP will be welcome to fans, as it was previously only available on an expanded edition of Tramp. That acoustic demo remains intimate and enjoyable; a showcase for the remarkable honesty of Van Etten’s voice. Backed now though, by her four-piece touring band, the tune becomes a type of battle cry for respect and a charged pronouncement of Van Etten’s cultivated strength. It’s a map of the singer’s transition from an acoustic songwriter to a bona fide bandleader –a reminder of the poignancy and efficiency her work has long paired.
Sharon Van Etten’s “I Don’t Want To Let You Down” EP is out June 9th via Jagjaguwar.
Van Etten will be playing at select festivals and tour South America in support of the EP.
Full tour list is below.
Pre-order for I Don’t Want to Let You Down is available now through iTunes, Amazon and Jagjaguwar, giving access to the title track as an instant download.
Keep up with Sharon Van Etten through her official website and these social media outlets:
Facebook
Twitter (@sharonvanetten)
Instagram
YouTube
SoundCloud
SHARON VAN ETTEN TOUR DATES
Thu. April 16 – Liege, BE @ The Reflektor
Fri. April 17 – Brussels, BE @ Botanique – Orangerie
Sat. April 18 – Luxembourg, LU @ Rockhal
Sun. April 19 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord (Tolhuistuin)
Tue. April 21 – Bristol, UK @ Trinity – SOLD OUT
Thu. April 23 – Dublin, IE @ Whelans
Sat. April 25 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club — SOLD OUT
Sun. April 26 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club – SOLD OUT
Mon. April 27 – Gateshead, UK @ Sage
Wed. April 29 – London, UK @ O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
Fri. May 22 — Boston, MA @ Boston Calling Music Festival
Mon. May 25 — George, WA @ Sasquatch Music Festival
Sat. June 6 — New York, NY @ The Governors Ball Music Festival
Thu. June 11 — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil @ Imperator
Fri. June 12 — São Paulo, Brazil @ Beco 203
Sat. June 13 — Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Niceto Club
Sun. June 14 — Santiago, Chile @ Ex Oz
Fri. June 26 – Sun. June 28 – Bialystok, PL @ Halfway Festival
Photo of Sharon Van Etten by Laura Crosta
