LOS ANGELES — While developing her latest album, Sharon Van Etten humorously contemplated naming it “Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory.” This prospective title was a nod to her fascination with psychology and the band-like connections among her group members. Though most of her bandmates have been collaborating with her for years, this album marked the first time Van Etten engaged in songwriting with them, making the playful title feel pertinent. However, when she proposed the idea to her band, they humorously suggested she could use “The Attachment Theory” as long as they didn’t have to discuss their attachment styles, to which Van Etten laughed.
In preparation for their upcoming fall tour, revealed on Monday, Van Etten discussed her intuitive writing process and how motherhood has made her more aware of her phone usage.
The transition in the creation of this record happened quite organically, according to Van Etten. During preparations in 2022 for the “We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong” tour, they were trying to find a way to perform the album, recorded in different segments during the pandemic. To rekindle their connection after remote working on the album, they decided to rent a house and studio in the desert for a more immersive band experience, contrasting with typical sterile rehearsal environments. This allowed them to reconnect as both companions and musicians. As the week concluded and they wrapped up their planned rehearsal set, Van Etten suggested jamming, weary of her own voice but inspired by the sonic ambiance they’d created. Surprisingly, in just a couple of hours, they crafted two new songs without much effort and ended the week on a content note. However, the sessions were serendipitously recorded by her engineer, and when she shared them with her partner back home, she believed this could be her next creative direction. Following their initial tour for the past record, they returned to the same studio shortly after for a purposeful writing session, resulting in a remarkably productive period.
For the songs developed in the desert, Van Etten started entirely afresh, which was a new approach for her. She applied her solo composing method of discovering melodies first and then vocalizing a stream of consciousness. The experience of singing this way felt spiritual to Van Etten, akin to a form of emotional release. Expressing emotions through music before she has the words helps transform the feelings into something potentially therapeutic.
The album name, “The Attachment Theory,” stemmed from Van Etten’s playful reference to her psych interests as well as her personal family experiences. Band dynamics, akin to those within a family unit, form a unique support system and shared journey, from rehearsing to touring and recording. Van Etten acknowledges that while attachment theory often pertains to parental relationships, it also highlights how bonding as a collective unit. Despite the theoretical undertones, the specifics of their attachment styles remain humorously confidential.
Van Etten’s song “Idiot Box” opened up a conversation on the modern obsession with entertainment. She acknowledged the irony of these times—being perpetually glued to screens, a notion challenging not only for herself as an artist but also as a parent. She advises her own child against the very screen habits that she struggles to control. While Van Etten recognizes the need to be mindful about such interactions, she admits it remains an ongoing challenge, underscoring the importance of checking in with one another amid a world of digital distraction.