Sharon Van Etten has dropped a brand new track – her first new solo release since 2020.
Following up on last year’s team-up with Angel Olsen, ‘Like I Used To’, the new single is titled ‘Porta’, and comes alongside details of a new run of tour dates for this summer.
According to Van Etten, “Porta” was written in 2020 “at one of my lowest lows. For most of my adult life I have struggled with bouts of depression and anxiety and coping mechanisms, and I sometimes let those dark moments get the best of me. During this time I felt very dissociated. Not connected to my body and I felt out of control.”
Eventually, Van Etten reached out to her friend, Stella Cook, who runs Base Pilates in North Carolina. “I was seeking a friend, someone to talk to who understands what finding the core means but also knows what my weaknesses are and can help me work around them and find my other strengths. I knew I was entering a no judgment zone and I needed to be held accountable for my actions and Stella helped me step up. We would meet once a week on Zoom, have a catch up on life over a quick coffee and then get to work. Then, a day or two later she would send another video my way so I had something to work towards the end of the week. She was encouraging, but not pushy. If life got in the way, I didn’t feel like I let her down – but I loved our sessions. I looked forward to them. I started feeling closer to her, and closer to myself, and it helped things seem hopeful. And I just wanted to share that with the world,” says Van Etten. “Instead of the darkness. Instead of my fears. My message is to work through them. Even when it’s hard. Even when it hurts. Reach out. Reach out to that friend who helps you reach out towards yourself.”
This summer will see Van Etten embark on the Darkness Fades Tour, which includes five dates in the UK and Ireland, including a huge show at London’s Brixton Academy on 17th June.
The dates read:
May
31 Lisbon, PT @ Aula Magna
June
2 Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound
5 München, DE @ Muffathalle
6 Antwerp, BE @ Openluchttheater Rivierenhof
7 Hamburg, DE @ Markthalle
9 Oslo, NE @ Loaded
10 Stockholm, SE @ Rosendal, Djurgarden
11 Copenhagen, DK @ Syd For Solen
13 Berlin, DE @ Metropol
14 Utrecht, NE @ TivoliVredenberg Grote Zaal
15 Paris, FR @ La Cigale
17 London, UK @ O2 Brixton Academy
18 Birmingham, UK @ O2 Institute
19 Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy Leeds
21 Glasgow, UK @ Barrowland
22 Dublin, IE @ Vicar Street
