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Sarah Blasko

 
Artist: Sarah Blasko

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Acquiesce
See Sarah Blasko Lyrics
  • Born: September 23, 1976, Sydney, Australia
  • Active: 2000s
  • Genres: Rock
  • Instrument: Vocals
  • Representative Albums: "What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have," "The Overture & the Underscore," "As Day Follows Night"

Biography

Australian Sarah Blasko arrived in the U.S. in 2005 with a pedigree that could not be ignored: trailing a list of ARIA Award nominations in the categories of Best Album, Best Female Artist, Best Breakthrough Artist, and Best Pop Release, she also distinguished herself -- and perked the ears of rock skeptics -- by being tagged somewhere along her cross-continental journey with the moniker Girliohead. The comparisons are not unfounded. Like Radiohead and the countless lovelorn, world-weary, too-smart-for-their-own-good British piano pounders that the band spawned, Blasko is an appealing wallower. Her ethereal, at times Fiona Apple-like voice rides the gentle arrangements on her debut full-length, The Overture & the Underscore, taking care never to redirect them, and her lyrics evoke an atmospheric grace that burrows into the mind's dark recesses. Blasko's head space is the kind that's allergic to daylight. It has been reported that Blasko sung her first songs in church alongside her tone-deaf mother and an 80-year-old soprano, but the influences that come across more readily in her music derive from the '80s radio and television she heard as a child -- Prince, David Bowie, and Eurythmics. Those popular acts, combined with the composers her professor father introduced her to -- Rachmaninov, Schubert, and Bach -- formed a pleasing musical jumble she would later pick apart and repackage into digestible, brainy pop. In high school, Blasko led a jazz- and blues-influenced band with her sister that soon dissolved; other bands followed, but within the space of a few years Blasko was determinedly a solo act, and also something of a homebody.

A first EP, the six-song Prelusive, issued in 2004, was routinely referred to as "homespun." But its promise propelled Blasko. Later that year, with The Overture & the Underscore racking up fans in Australia, the artist pulled up stakes and landed in Hollywood. After the disc's 2005 release stateside, Blasko embarked on tours with Ray LaMontagne and Martha Wainwright. Her second full-length album, What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have, was released in Australia in 2006, debuting at number seven on the ARIA chart. ~ Tammy La Gorce, All Music Guide
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Sarah Blasko
Right side profile of a woman standing at a microphone, looking forward, right arm is partly raised and has a partly obscured tattoo on upper arm. Audience members in foreground and background.
Sarah Blasko, ARIA Awards, 26 November 2009.
Courtesy Jeanie Mackinder
Background information
Birth name Sarah Elizabeth Blaskow
Born 23 September 1976 (1976-09-23) (age 33)
Origin Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres Indie rock, indie pop
Years active 1995–present
Labels Dew Process / Universal Music
Low Altitude
Associated acts Acquiesce, Sorija
Website sarahblasko.com

Sarah Blasko or Sarah Elizabeth Blaskow,[1] (born 23 September 1976, Sydney, New South Wales) is an Australian singer-songwriter and musician.[2] After fronting Sydney-based band, Acquiesce from mid-1990s, Blasko developed her solo career from 2002. In 2007, she won the 'Best Pop Release' for What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have at the ARIA Music Awards,[3] which peaked at #7 on the ARIA Albums Charts.[4] Her album, As Day Follows Night, which reached #5[4] and won the 'Best Female Artist' at the 2009 ARIA Awards.[3][5]

Contents

Early life

Blasko was born in Sydney, New South Wales in 1976, soon after her family returned from French-speaking Réunion where both parents were Christian missionaries.[6][7][8] Upon return to Australia her parents often changed churches, with Blasko singing alongside her mother,[6] and settled at a Pentecostal church in Sydney which later became Hillsong.[7] Her mother was a nurse and her father a teacher from Hungarian-German background.[8] While in high school, Blasko and her older sister Kate formed a jazz-blues group.[2][8] By the age of 15, Blasko was concerned by the apocalyptic message of the End of the World and Christ's Return, and eventually left the church in her final year of high school.[7] She had no formal singing lessons until aged 19 and started playing guitar.[8] At university, Blasko completed a degree in English literature and film.[8][9]

From 1998, as Sarah Semmens, she fronted Sydney band Acquiesce on lead vocals, with founding members Paul Camilleri on guitar, Steve Foxe on violin, Dave Hemmings on drums, Ted Langtree on bass guitar and her sister Kate Halcrow on harmony vocals.[10][11] Tracks were co-written by Blasko and Camilleri,[11] Acquiesce recorded an EP, Aa for Acquiesce, released in September 1999.[10] Dave Cullen (ex-Brotherhood Lush) replaced Langtree on bass guitar and they released a single, "Breathe In", in November 2000.[10] Both EP and single were produced by Hugh Wilson (Brotherhood Lush).[11][12] Acquiesce received some local attention in 1999 by winning a national campus band competition.[13] Acquiesce disbanded by January 2001 and Blasko teamed-up with acoustic guitarist, Nick Schneider in the short-lived project: Sorija,[14][15] an acoustic pop/electronic duo, they played gigs in Sydney until April 2002.[14] Early in her career, Blasko had "an unsuccessful marriage".[16]

Solo career

In 2002, Blasko decided to go solo and wrote/co-wrote material for her debut release, the six track EP, Prelusive, which appeared in September—initially a collaboration with Wilson and recorded as demos—later produced by Blasko with Schneider and Steve Francis.[11] Blasko released and promoted her material independently, with financial assistance from her manager Craig New.[11] She also produced the music video for lead track, "Your Way",[11] which was played on local community radio, 2SER, and national broadcaster Triple J, together with two other tracks, "Will You Ever Know" and "Be Tonight".[11] "Your Way" was featured on new Sydney community radio station 2FBi when it first broadcast full-time.[11] Blasko was signed to Brisbane-based label, Dew Process, which repackaged and re-released Prelusive in March 2003.[17] Due to minor variations in packaging, the earlier independent release is more valuable to collectors.[11]

Debut album

In October 2004, Blasko released her debut album, The Overture & the Underscore, recorded in Hollywood during April–June at the studio of engineer Wally Gagel. She co-produced with Gagel and fellow songwriter Robert F. Cranny.[6] Gagel engineered and mixed the album, with assistance from Bruce MacFarlane. Joey Waronker—a studio drummer and touring musician for artists such as Beck and R.E.M.—played all drums and percussion.[6] Besides co-writing tracks with Blasko, Cranny provided bass guitar, drum programming, horn & string sample arrangements, guitars, organ, piano and synth.

The album met with critical acclaim and received platinum accreditation in Australia for sales of over 70000,[18] and peaked into the Top 40 on the ARIA Album Charts.[4] In 2005, Blasko received four ARIA Music Awards nominations, including 'Album of the Year'.[3]

Three music videos were produced for album tracks: "Don't U Eva", "Always Worth It" and "Perfect Now". The video for "Always Worth It" shows Blasko laying, unharmed, on the bottom of an inverted car before exiting and joyfully skipping against the stream of people heading towards the site of the wrecked vehicle. The track, "Always Worth It", featured in the final episode of the US television series, Six Feet Under.

Her debut EP and album focused around acoustic guitar and utilized both live and programmed drums, Blasko’s early recordings possessed appeal for indietronica fans, and in particular for "singer-songwriter" type artists who aspire to this kind of production.[13] On 8 October 2004, Bernard Zuel reviewed the album for The Sydney Morning Herald—"Blasko works in the territory where Ed Harcourt and Fiona Apple shine, taking some of the new acoustic framework (think Turin Brakes) and some of the folk-meets-electronica stuff that came out in the post-Portishead years and applies them to straightforward pop songs."[13]

Her live interpretations display a harder edge and a greater dynamic range than her recordings. Drummer Jeff De Araujo often applies an additional layer of broken beats and percussion to the sampled drum loops; the presence of electric guitars is more pronounced; and Blasko delivers her vocals with increased rawness and energy.

Bret Gladstone, for Australian Associated Press, wrote:

the 28-year-old Aussie has delivered a collection of carefully crafted compositions in her debut album, The Overture and the Underscore. It's a collection torn between reverence of love and weariness of a reality that obliterates it, and it will satisfy anyone who has felt that Norah Jones, Radiohead and Coldplay would serve well as composite musical DNA. Steering away from swanky vocal effects like double-tracking, and, for the most part, harmonies, producer Wally Gagel hones [sic] in on the breathy, weathered velvet of Blasko's voice. He values the authenticity of its imperfections as well as its soul-weary grace, while framing it within widescreen sonic atmospheres at once funereal and emboldened.[19]
Bret Gladstone, "Blasko Showcases Singing in 'Underscore'", 6 August 2005.

Cover versions

After the release of her debut album, Blasko demonstrated her enthusiasm and flair for interpreting the songs of others.

With Cranny, she performed a cover version of Crowded House's signature song, "Don't Dream It's Over", which featured on the tribute album, She Will Have Her Way: The Songs of Tim & Neil Finn. The track was engineered by David Trump at Big Jesus Burger studios in Sydney, and mixed by David Hemmings. In 2006, Blasko performed "Don't Dream It's Over" live at the Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.[7]

The pair performed a stripped-back version of Underground Lovers' "Losin' It", with voice and acoustic guitar. It has become a favourite in their live set and has led to a collaboration between Blasko and the song's co-writer, Glenn Bennie, for his second album, Emptiness Is Our Business, with his side-project, GB3.

Blasko also covered the Cold Chisel song, "Flame Trees", for the soundtrack for Rowan Woods' film, Little Fish, and featured on the 2007 Cold Chisel tribute album Standing on the Outside. This track was produced by Wayne Connolly, (Underground Lovers, You Am I, The Vines, Youth Group) and Jim Moginie (ex-Midnight Oil).

Blasko has performed "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John on the ABC Records release, Triple J: Like a Version - Vol 2. She performed the New Buffalo track, "Come Back", after the artist was forced to cancel a number of support slots in February 2005.

What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have

Blasko spent April 2006 recording her second album in Auckland, New Zealand at Roundhead Studio, the studio of Crowded House frontman Neil Finn.[20] She produced the album with Cranny and Moginie;[21] while recording sessions were engineered by Paul McKercher (Glide, The Cruel Sea, You Am I, Augie March).[21] New York-based producer/engineer Victor Van Vugt, mixed the record.[21] Van Vugt has worked with Beth Orton, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds—mixing a number of their albums and some Mick Harvey solo work—and production efforts such as PJ Harvey’s Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea.

The album featuresd Dave Symes on bass guitar and Jeff De Araujo on drums & percussion.[21] Moginie played wurlitzer, piano, guitar, omnichord and other gadgets.[21] As well as vocals, Blasko supplied guitar, organ, vibraphone, wurlitzer and drum programming.[21] Cranny played acoustic & electric guitars, piano, organ, harmonium, synthesiser, bass guitar, and wurlitzer.[21] The choir and strings were arranged by Cranny and Blasko and conducted by Cranny.[21]

The first radio-only single released from the album was "[explain]" on 11 September, with a music video viewable on Blasko's official website. The next single, "Always on This Line", also had a video which received play on VH1 and MAX. A video was also made for "Planet New Year", in which she falls in love with a piano. "[explain]" reached #79 and "Always on this Line" achieved #58 on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2006.[22] The album was released in Australia on 21 October, it debuted at #7 on the ARIA Albums Charts[4] and has received platinum accreditation.[18] It was also nominated for the 2006 J Award.[20]

As Day Follows Night

In 2008, Blasko composed the score (with Stefan Gregory) for Bell Shakespeare's production of Hamlet, which ran in July–August.[23] While working on the Hamlet score, Blasko also began composing for her third studio album, As Day Follows Night.[23] Blasko recorded it in Stockholm, Sweden, and blogged on her official site about her experiences from January 2009.[24] She had written the songs without input from long term co-writer, Cranny—their creative and personal relationship had ended.[16] Blasko decided to record in a simpler and more straight forward manner—without electric guitars and keyboards.[23] The album was produced by Bjorn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John)[16][23] and released in Australia on 10 July, which peaked at #5 on the ARIA Albums Charts.[4] The first single from the album, "All I Want", debuted on Triple J on 3 May. Blasko has received five ARIA Music Award nominations for her work in 2009.[3] Blasko performed "All I Want" at the ARIA Awards ceremony on 26 November.[25]

Touring

Sarah Blasko has toured extensively in Australia, as well as the US, Canada, UK and Ireland. Although the exact configuration varies, she performs with a five or six piece band usually consisting of drums, electric and synth bass, acoustic and electric guitar plus keyboards and various samplers/ effects units. Due to the breadth of arrangement most of the touring musicians are multi-instrumentalists.

She also performed in a duo with Cranny accompanying on guitar and keyboards. In both formats, Blasko plays acoustic guitar and occasional keyboards. She has toured with folk/roots artists such as Ray LaMontagne and played outdoor rock festivals.

Blasko has toured the UK and Ireland with Tom McRae, and US and Canada with Ray LaMontagne, James Blunt and Martha Wainwright. She has played at Woodford Folk Festival, The Falls Festival, Homebake, Splendour in the Grass, Festival of the Sun, WOMADelaide festival and in 2006 joined the national Big Day Out tour.

In March 2007 Blasko performed a special concert in Perth, Western Australia in the Octagon Theatre of the University of Western Australia. Blasko supported by a string quartet and a local guitarist. During the show she performed a duet with Joe McKee, frontman of local rock band Snowman.

Discography

Albums

EPs and singles

Radio singles

  • 'The Overture & the Underscore
    • "Counting Sheep" #37[citation needed] (national airplay charts), "Perfect Now" #43, "Always Worth It" #12
  • What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have
    • "[explain]" #8, "Always on This Line" #14, "Planet New Year"
  • As Day Follows Night
    • "All I Want" #64

Other contributions

  • Little Fish soundtrack – "Flame Trees"
  • She Will Have Her Way: Songs of Tim and Neil Finn – "Don't Dream It's Over"
  • Like a Version 2 – "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
  • Write Your Adventures Down: A Tribute to The Go Betweens – "Bye, Bye Pride", "Hold Your Horses" (with Darren Hanlon)
  • The Devoted Few Schematic Tracks Remix EP – "Nothing Ever Changes".
  • Peabody The New Violence album – "Got You on My Radar", "The Weight Just Right", "Song for Val", "Got Your Hooks In"
  • Nations by the River Holes in the Valley album – "Heart Attack Romance", "Cracking Up", "Would It Be Nice", "The Prettiest Girl"
  • Bluebottle Kiss Doubt Seeds double album – "Speak Up Memory", "Dream Audit"
  • GB3 Emptiness Is Our Business album – "Nothing in the Way"

Awards

ARIA Awards

Blasko has won two Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Music Awards from 14 nominations.[3][5][26]

Year Nominated work Award Result
2003 Prelusive Best Female Artist Nominated
2004 The Overture & the Underscore Album of the Year Nominated
Best Female Artist Nominated
Best Pop Release Nominated
Breakthrough Artist - Album Nominated
2007 What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have Best Female Artist Nominated
Best Pop Release Won
Sharon Chai, Sarah Blasko – What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have Best Cover Art Nominated
Paul McKercher – What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have Engineer of the Year Nominated
2009 As Day Follows Night Album of the Year Nominated
Best Female Artist Won
Best Pop Release Nominated
Sharon Chai – As Day Follows Night Best Cover Art Nominated
Head Pictures, Damon Escott, Stephen Lance – "All I Want" Best Video Nominated

Other awards

Year Award-giving Body Award Result
2006 Australian Music Prize The Amp (What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have)[27] Nominated
J Award Australian Album of the Year (What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have)[20] Nominated
Jack Awards Best Female Live Performer[28] Won
2009 J Award Australian Album of the Year (As Day Follows Night)[29] Nominated

References

  1. ^ ""Be Tonight" at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/worksearch.axd?q=Be%20Tonight. Retrieved 18 November 2009. 
  2. ^ a b La Gorce, Tammy. "Sarah Blasko > Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:0nfuxqyaldte~T1. Retrieved 18 November 2009. 
  3. ^ a b c d e "ARIA Awards 2009 : History: Winners by Artist: Sarah Blasko". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). http://www.ariaawards.com.au/history-by-artist.php?letter=S&artist=Sarah%20Blasko. Retrieved 18 November 2009. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Discography Sarah Blasko". Australian charts portal. australian-charts.com. http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Sarah+Blasko. Retrieved 15 November 2009. 
  5. ^ a b "ARIA Awards 2009 Winners". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). http://www.ariaawards.com.au/news.php. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
  6. ^ a b c d "Blasko, Sarah". Music Australia. National Library of Australia. 15 January 2004. http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-ma-NAMO~1779. Retrieved 18 November 2009. 
  7. ^ a b c d Zuel, Bernard (20 November 2006). "Sarah Blasko - Gig Reviews - Music - Entertainment". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/news/gig-reviews/sarah-blasko/2006/11/20/1163871307778.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1. Retrieved 19 November 2009. 
  8. ^ a b c d e Zuel, Bernard (4 February 2005). "God, she's good". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/news/Music/God-shes-good/2005/02/03/1107228833546.html. Retrieved 21 November 2009. 
  9. ^ Collins, Simon (19 November 2009). "Music Review: Sarah Blasko". The West Australian (West Australian Newspapers Limited). http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/-/entertainment/6493052/music-review-sarah-blasko/. Retrieved 20 November 2009. 
  10. ^ a b c Spencer, Chris; Zbig Nowara, Paul McHenry with notes by Ed Nimmervoll (2002) [1987]. "Acquiesce". The Who's Who of Australian Rock. Noble Park, Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN 1865038911. http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/whoswho/PHPReleaseTracks.php?band=1155&userasks=4449. Retrieved 27 November 2009.  Note: [on-line] version established at White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd in 2007 and was expanded from the 2002 edition.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sarah Blasko". Music Australia. National Library of Australia. 3 April 2007. http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-ma-destra+Media~7A5A0205-48A8-4DD3-81A2-0173851FE4D4. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
  12. ^ "Hugh Wilson on AirPlay Direct". AirPlay Direct. http://airplaydirect.com/music/HughWilson/. Retrieved 19 November 2009. 
  13. ^ a b c Zuel, Bernard (8 October 2004). "The Overture & the Underscore, Sarah Blasco - CD Reviews". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/07/1097089477538.html. Retrieved 19 November 2009. 
  14. ^ a b "Club Acoustica - Artists - Sorija". Club Acoustica. http://svc093.wic020v.server-web.com/clubacoustica/artists.asp?AID=165. Retrieved 19 November 2009. 
  15. ^ "Club Acoustica - Artists - Sarah Blasko". Club Acoustica. http://svc093.wic020v.server-web.com/clubacoustica/artists.asp?AID=431. Retrieved 19 November 2009. 
  16. ^ a b c Zuel, Bernard (4 July 2009). "How soul music saved Sarah Blasko". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/music/how-soul-music-saved-sarah-blasko/2009/07/03/1246127687198.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1. Retrieved 19 November 2009. 
  17. ^ "Prelusive EP > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kbfyxqrdld6e. Retrieved 20 November 2009. 
  18. ^ a b "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2008 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2008Albums.htm. Retrieved 20 November 2009. 
  19. ^ Gladstone, Bret (6 August 2005). "Blasko Showcases Singing in 'Underscore'". Australian Associated Press (AAP). http://cdrom.launch.com/read/news/19970725. Retrieved 19 November 2009.  Note: Article is quoted at Norah Jones News on Yahoo! Music
  20. ^ a b c "The J Award - Nominated Albums - Sarah Blasko / What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 2006. http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jawards/06/what_the_sea_wants.htm. Retrieved 20 November 2009. 
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h "What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have > Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kzfrxqurld6e~T2. Retrieved 20 November 2009. 
  22. ^ "2006 - history - triple j hottest 100". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100_08/history/2006.htm. 
  23. ^ a b c d Silva, Bonita (July 2009). "The Interview: Sarah Blasko" (PDF). Vertigo (University of Technology, Sydney): p. 30–31. http://www.utsvertigo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/vertigo_ed8.pdf. Retrieved 21 November 2009. 
  24. ^ Blasko, Sarah (25 January 2009). "The Adventure Begins..". Sarah Blasko official website. http://sarahblasko.wordpress.com/2009/01/. Retrieved 20 November 2009. 
  25. ^ "ARIA Awards 2009 : News : Second Group of Stellar Australian Performers Announced". 16 October 2009. http://www.ariaawards.com.au/news.php?page=2. Retrieved 21 November 2009. 
  26. ^ "2009 ARIA Awards Nominees". The Age (Fairfax Media). 20 October 2009. http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/articles/2009/10/08/1254701090895.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1. Retrieved 20 November 2009. 
  27. ^ "Augie March take out AMP award". The Advertiser (News Corporation). 7 March 2007. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21342845-5005962,00.html. Retrieved 21 November 2009. 
  28. ^ "Living End win four Jacks". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). 22 June 2006. http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/living-end-win-four-jacks/2006/06/22/1150845303296.html. Retrieved 22 November 2009. 
  29. ^ "The J Award - Sarah Blasko / As Day Follows Night". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 2009. http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jawards/09/artists/sarahblasko.htm. Retrieved 21 November 2009. 

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