Video directed by Kylie Hazzard. Photos by Andrea Perez. Graphic by Rommel Alcantara/KCRW
Video directed by Kylie Hazzard. Photos by Andrea Perez. Graphic by Rommel Alcantara/KCRW

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory: KCRW Live from HQ

Intimate performances, fresh sounds, and candid conversations with a view.

Written by Anne Litt

After 20 years of working alone (fearlessly), Sharon Van Etten decided to take a “sonic trust fall.” Seeking more synths, drums, electronics, and collaboration in her life, Sharon set out on a mission. First stop? Getting the band together: synth queen Teeny Lieberson, fretless bass virtuoso Devra Hoff, and peerless percussionist Jorge Balbi. An informal “jam session” (the expression makes them laugh) in the desert produced two songs; Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory was born.

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory is also the title of Sharon’s debut LP with her newly formed band. It’s quite the departure from her previous six solo studio albums, as the songs that make up this new record are the results of her first time writing and recording with a group; the first time she’s had the chance to find a sound with other artists. She and her new band talk constantly about overlapping energetically and aesthetically. The connection they share is obvious, confidence and swagger are all over these recordings created by her “chosen family.”


Watch our extended session with SVE & The Attachment Theory above as the core four (rounded out by Snake Polley for additional guitar, vocals, and keys) hit KCRW’s Annenberg Performance Studio with electrifying renditions of (almost) every song from the new record — including “Live Forever,” “Afterlife,” and “Trouble.” 

And watch my interview with Sharon below where we dig deeper into her excitement about getting the band together, and how calling it “The Attachment Theory” speaks to her dual fascinations with psychology and wordplay. Plus, after revealing that she was initially intimidated by writing music with “jazz cats” (Sharon considers herself to be mostly self-taught), she hit me with this insight that I hope you’ll appreciate as much as I do: 

“Everyone has a different language and as soon as you put yourself into a room with anybody you just find your own common language… and I think you can do that with anyone if you just open yourself up to that collaboration.” 

Explore more KCRW Live From sessions







Credits:

KCRW Music Director: Alejandro Cohen
Interviewer: Anne Litt
Director/Director of Photography/ Editor: Kylie Hazzard
Camera operators: Ali Ivosevich, Jacqueline Lehr, Kylie Hazzard
KCRW Recording / Mix Engineer: Hope Brush
Assistant Engineers: Katie Gilchrest and Nick Lampone
Executive Producer: Ariana Morgenstern
Senior Producer: Anna Chang
Event Producer: Liv Surnow
Digital Producer: Marion Hodges
Digital Editorial Manager: Andrea Domanick
Social Video Editor: Tohar Zamir
Lighting Design: Jason Groman
Lighting Operator: Jack Arthur
Art Director: Evan Solano

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