Sharon Van Etten announces Dublin gig and shares new single 'Porta'

Sharon Van Etten is set to return to Dublin, as part of her Darkness Fades Tour of Europe – playing Vicar Street on June 22. She'll be supported in Dublin by hotly tipped Brooklyn artist L'Rain.

To coincide with the news, Van Etten has also shared 'Porta', her first new solo release since 2020, as well as an accompanying music video.

The track was written in 2020, when she says she was at one of her "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," Van Etten comments. "During this time I felt very dissociated. Not connected to my body and I felt out of control.

“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," she continues. "I knew I was entering a no judgment zone and I needed to be held accountable for my actions and Stella [Cook, who runs Base Pilates in North Carolina] 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."

Eventually, Van Etten says, "it helped things seem hopeful."

"And I just wanted to share that with the world,” she resumes. “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.”

The Darkness Fades Tour of Europe kicks off in May, before arriving Dublin in June, following a string of UK dates.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 11, at 10am. See Ticketmaster for more information.

Take a look at the video for 'Porta' – premiering at 5pm Irish time this evening – and stream the track below: