Biography
Who is Sharon Van Etten?
Early life and education
Born in Belleville, New Jersey, Sharon Katharine Van Etten grew up as the middle child of five siblings. Her family lived in Nutley before moving to Clinton during her pre-teen years. She attended North Hunterdon High School, where she participated in the school chorus and performed in various stage musicals.
Musical career and early releases
Before her studio debut, Sharon Van Etten worked at Astor Wines and served as a publicist at Ba Da Bing Records. She released her first studio recording, Because I Was in Love, on May 26, 2009. This album was produced by Greg Weeks at Hexham Head studio in Philadelphia and distributed by Drag City. Her second project, Epic, followed on September 21, 2010. To record that album, she collaborated with musicians such as Jeffrey Kish, Dave Hartley, and Jessica Larrabee.
Acting and recent projects
Sharon Van Etten has maintained a career in acting alongside her musical pursuits. She played the character Rachel in the Netflix mystery series The OA, appearing in both series from 2016 until 2019. Her film credits include the 2020 feature Never Rarely Sometimes Always and the 2021 film How It Ends. In 2019, she released the album Remind Me Tomorrow, which shifted away from guitar-focused arrangements to incorporate more synthesizers and experimental sounds.
Influences and musical style
Sharon Van Etten possesses a contralto vocal range that critics have described as raspy, luminous, and husky. She has cited Ani DiFranco as a primary influence, noting that DiFranco was the first non-pop female musician she heard who wrote confessional songs. This experience encouraged her to play guitar more frequently. Other artists she has credited as influences include Scott Walker, Roy Orbison, Joy Division, Cocteau Twins, and Celine Dion.
Birthday and age
Sharon Van Etten was born on February 26, 1981, which makes Sharon 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Sharon shares the date with 72 other famous people.
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