Sharon Van Etten
An artist who transformed personal anguish into stark, healing anthems, becoming a lodestar for a generation of indie rock and folk.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American singer-songwriter·Birthday: February 26·Millennials
Biography
Sharon Van Etten's music arrived not as a calculated career move, but as a necessary exhalation. After leaving a troubled relationship in Tennessee, she returned to New Jersey and began performing fragile, deeply confessional songs in New York bars, accompanying herself on a Wurlitzer electric piano. Her early work, like the album 'Epic,' felt like overheard diary entries—raw, unadorned, and magnetically powerful. This vulnerability became her strength, attracting a devoted following. Over subsequent albums, her sound expanded in scale and sophistication, incorporating elements of synth-pop and grand rock arrangements, but the emotional core remained uncompromising. She has evolved from a secret-telling folk singer into a commanding bandleader, her voice gaining a weathered confidence that makes every lyric feel earned. In an era of curated personas, Van Etten's unwavering commitment to artistic honesty has cemented her as a pivotal voice, one that speaks to the complexities of healing and self-discovery.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Sharon was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sharon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Sharon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her 2019 album 'Remind Me Tomorrow' marked a critical and commercial breakthrough, landing on numerous year-end lists.
- Received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Alternative Music Album for 'Remind Me Tomorrow.'
- Composed the original score for the Netflix series 'The OA' for its second season.
- Has collaborated with artists like Angel Olsen, Courtney Barnett, and Josh Homme.
Did You Know?
Before focusing on music, she worked at a record store and studied radio broadcasting.
She took a break from music to earn a degree in psychology.
She has acted in television shows, including a recurring role in the Netflix series 'The OA.'
Her song 'Every Time the Sun Comes Up' famously ends with the studio outtake, 'I washed your dishes, but I shit in your bathroom.'
“I write songs because I have to. It's my way of making sense of the world.”
