Like I Used To by Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen: A Refreshing Collaboration

Probably one of the most hit or miss projects in the music world is when two really great artists decide to collaborate on a song or album. Don’t get me wrong; I am always rooting for artists to collaborate. However, I am sure we all can think of a time or two where you heard of an artist collaboration and got your hopes up, only to be a bit let down. Sometimes two individuals that both have insane talent somehow miss the mark when put together. However, Like I Used To by Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen, is not one of those cases.

For starters, Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen are both indie folk/indie rock sort of singer-songwriters who have been in the game for similar amounts of time. The both of them are also considered to be some of the strongest singer-songwriters of the last decade, which raises the stakes for a song like this even more. And while their music style and career lengths may be similar, the two hadn’t really come together until this collaboration. When asked about the collaboration, they both had stated how they admired the other’s work and always wanted to reach out but the opportunity didn’t really happen until now. I find it even more impressive that two individuals who hadn’t worked together previously were able to create such a wonderful collaboration, which just reiterates my point of just how perfect this collaboration turned out to be.

Now, let’s get into what makes this song so delightful! Sharon opens up the first verse of the song with her lovely voice and lures listeners in with lyrics that immediately get you thinking. She then leads into the pre-chorus where Angel joins her and you can immediately hear how well their voices complement each other. Once the chorus arrives, you can notice how clearly each of their voices can be heard, yet also appreciating how well they sound together. The chorus describes them doing things that they used to do, giving the listener the chance to try and understand if that is a good or bad thing. Then Angel performs the second verse where her voice seems to give off a bit of a Stevie Nicks type of sound. Angel’s verse truly shines a light on just how great her song writing skills are and gives the listener more insight into the significance of doing the things they used to do. Once we reach that second chorus, you can almost feel a sort of build up in your chest that makes you want to just dance around and sing the lyrics as loud as you can. As they both sing about doing all these different things they use to do, you can really feel the refreshing experience they describe of getting to that place of doing all these things you use to do or feeling more like your self again. Of course music is in the listener’s hands and interpretation should be personal, however, I took it as that moment of getting back to feeling more like yourself after a period of struggle. This could be for getting over a rough breakup, going through a depressive episode, getting stuck in the motions of every day life for too long, or going through any other sort of hard time where your old carefree self feels so far away. I know personally I have been through tough times and all of a sudden I would catch myself singing in the shower, dancing while getting ready, or just having a little bit more hope than I’d had in a while and it’s honestly such a refreshing feeling and I believe Sharon and Angel couldn’t have put together a better song to encompass that experience. Something else I really appreciate about this song is that although it is a happy song, it feels more authentic than most upbeat music. It gives the experience of happy after not experiencing it for a while versus the fake over-positive happy music we often hear.

As if the melody and lyrics weren’t enough to make for a perfect collaboration, the music video truly is the cherry on top. The music video, directed by Kimberly Stuckwischm, is shot in what looks like an old house out in a desert. In the video we see both Sharon and Angel sporting a 1970s shag hairstyle as well as being styled in clothes that gives homage to the 1970s aesthetic. The house the video is shot in even has the wood paneling and features other details to go along with the 1970s aesthetic, such as the green suede couch in the beginning. The video shows them alone in different parts of their house doing various things like playing guitar, lying on a couch, or staring into a mirror with a sort of sadness to really highlight a certain melancholy feeling. As the song progresses, we see them both make their way outside and even start to dance around. I love how this shows the physical progression of pulling yourself out of a rut. Something I really enjoy about the video is this shot where their faces are lined up as they’re singing, (3:24) giving a nod to ABBA. Overall, I find the music video to be a perfect compliment to the song with its location, moody atmosphere, 1970s aesthetic, and the story it tells.

With two strong artists like Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen, I couldn’t have hoped for a better collaboration. This song is the definition of a breath of fresh air and has been on repeat since I came across it. This song put me in my feels, made me want to throw my arms in the air and dance around, gave me nostalgia for the me I used to be, and also made me feel inspired. The only bad thing I have to say about this collaboration is just how bummed I am that these two aren’t doing a whole album together (that we know of).

If you seem to have been in a rut lately, going through a hard time in your life, or just not feeling like the true version of yourself, I cannot recommend this song enough. I have been going through a hard time myself after the death of my grandfather and this song almost brought me to tears with how refreshing it made me feel. The authentic song writing, the raw portrayal of pulling yourself out of a rut, their voices harmonizing so well together, and a phenomenal music video puts this collaboration down as an A plus in my book! Give the song and video a listen down below!