Sharon Van Etten Quotations

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.

I love being domestic: making coffee, just putting on a record, and just sitting, not doing anything. It's so great.

I think there are times in a lot of people's pasts where they've unintentionally fallen in love with really damaged people. You go out with someone who's a mess so you can feel less of a mess.

I'm still learning how to be comfortable touring. I haven't found that balance yet.

Writing songs helped me figure out how to communicate with other people. I finally figured out that if I could express something in a song, I could probably express it in my real life, too.

The only thing that's helped me get through some really hard times was just being able to write and express - it's very cathartic for me. I'm hoping that, by writing and performing for other people, it affects them the same way.

I've always been really shy. I was always afraid of any kind of confrontation.

When you get home after being gone for a month or two, time moves on without you. You're scrambling to catch up with the people. Some friends and family understand, but then there are others who just think that you can't find enough time in your life for them.

The musician lifestyle is not easy for most people to understand. This is something I'm struggling with. When you're on tour, people think you're just having the time of your life and it's really romantic.

You're the reason why I'll move to the city; you're why I'll need to leave.

If you work on anything long enough hopefully you’ll get better and I feel like we’re just growing.

I don't want to bury anything in poetry.

I'm really out of touch with myself emotionally. I've always had a hard time talking about how I feel.

I'm excited to go study and read and immerse myself in something.

Life is too short to surround yourself with people who aren't looking out for you.

Im trying to learn how to cook.

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

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.

I'm getting bored performing the same songs over and over. Songwriting comes and goes.

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.

It's hard if you're just touring constantly. It's like, "What am I going to write about? I'm in the van, I'm playing another show..." I'm still writing about heartbreak that happened years ago. I don't see the point of writing and putting out another record until I can do something else.

One day when I have a band I will have a band name, but since it's just me I feel it should just be my name. For me it doesn't make much sense since the music is from me and about me. I haven't ever been in a band.

Saw Torres play their first New York show tonight at Cake Shop. SO good. Do yourself a favor and check out her record. Her voice is KILLER.

Honestly, live is my favorite way of performing. Every show is a completely different energy.

I did jazz dance for a few years.

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

My mom used to ask me when I was gonna write a happy song. I still tell her that it's when I start to write really happy-sounding songs that everyone needs to start worrying.

I guess I usually write when I'm in a really intense headspace, because it's my form of self-therapy.

I grew up going to musicals with my mom here in New York, going to Broadway. I used to be in musicals in high school.

I hate putting negative energy out into the world. But it's either inside or out. I mean, it's either get an ulcer or have a fight.

Don't ever feel inhibited. It's harder to censor yourself than to just be yourself.

I really hope that when someone puts my record on that they hear me.