The Untitled Interview #47 – Pitchfork Edition: Starring Sharon Van Etten

It’s Pitchfork’s annual concert throwdown this weekend, up there in the Windy City. Sadly, I’m missing yet another festival this year, and I’m just a little crankypants about it. Those of you lucky souls that are there, I’m sure you’ll have a splendid time, what with all the good music that’s going to transpire. Hours and hours and hours of it. (No, I'm not bitter).

To celebrate the weekend of Pitchforkery, the lovely and enchanting songstress Sharon Van Etten answered a mini slew of Pitchfork-related questions. You might remember my gushery over the Megafaun show here a little while back, and Sharon’s performance was a big part of all that high praise. With her beautiful, antique crystal fragile voice and delicate, glorious songs, Miss Van Etten won me over from the word go. Her songs seem to hover somewhere along classic folk songs with a contemporary twist, and her live show is not to be missed. Do you hear me, Chicago? Not. To. Be. Missed. She’s playing this very day, so get your skates on. And buy one of her nifty new tees while you’re at it.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to Pitchfork: plane, train, or automobile?
Sharon Van Etten: Plane and autmobile.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
SVE: A toothbrush, socks.

LET: Who will you be sharing a stage with on the day?
SVE: El-P, Robyn, Modest Mouse.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
SVE: Cass McCombs, St. Vincent, Here We Go Magic, Beach House, Panda bear, Kurt Vile, Tallest Man on Earth.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Chicago?
SVE: Picking up my new t-shirts! We made a fun logo - (the Van Halen logo... haha).

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
SVE: It was at Count Basie Theatre - Evan Dando (old Jr. high crush), The Murmurs, Frente, Pete Droge, The Whirling Dirvishes, and Soup Dragons. HA. That was great...

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
SVE: How crazy people are. I love watching people. The energy...the applause of a big crowd and being part of that is pretty thrilling.

mp3: Love More (Sharon Van Etten from the forthcoming Epic)

[Photo by Victoria Jacob]