epic Ten

May 2021 Secretly Society release on dusty blue and cream vinyl.

Sharon Van Etten​’s career since the release of her second album, 2010’s ​'epic'​ ​is well-known; critically lauded albums, films, and television shows have continually displayed her expanding artistry. Upon its release, ​'epic'​ laid a romantic melancholy over the gravel and dirt of heartbreak without one honest thought or feeling spared. Her songs covered betrayal, obsession, egotism, and all the other emotions we dislike in others and recognize in ourselves. Van Etten's grounded and clenched vocals conveyed a sense of hope – the notion that beauty can arise from the worst of circumstances. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of this special album’s release, and to acknowledge the convergence of Van Etten’s present and past work, she asked fellow artists she admired to participate in an expanded reissue, where each artist would cover one different song from ​'epic'​ in their own style. Some are musicians Van Etten herself admired in her early days (​Fiona Apple​,​ Lucinda Williams​, and Aaron Dessner​ and ​Justin Vernon​ of ​Big Red Machine​), some are peers (​Courtney Barnett​, ​IDLES​), and others are part of a younger generation of innovators (​Shamir​,​ St. Panther​). What they all share is embodied by ​'epic'​ – a musician frankly communicating themself through the power of music. The resulting ​'epic Ten'​ is a double LP featuring the original album plus the new album of '​epic' ​covers and reimagined artwork.