Sarah Blasko

Sarah Blasko is an Australian singer-songwriter from Sydney, Australia. She is known for a self-reliant approach to making records, with a focus on writing and production as well as a distinctive voice and stage presence. Her work is generally associated with indie pop, pop and singer-songwriter styles, and it also draws on trip hop and some jazz influences.

Early work and solo career

Blasko first appears on the Sydney music scene in the mid-1990s as the singer in Acquiesce. The band tours France with founding members Dave Hemmings and Paul Camilleri, along with her sister Kate Halcrow. Material written by Blasko and Camilleri leads to a single and an EP, recorded with producer Hugh Wilson and gaining local attention.

She begins her solo career in 2002 with the Prelusive EP. After initial work with Wilson, the material is fully realised with Nick Schneider and Steve Francis. When label discussions do not progress, she releases and promotes the EP independently, with financial help from then-manager Craig New. A video is made for lead track “Your Way”, which receives airplay on community stations including 2SER and on Triple J, while “Will You Ever Know” and “Be Tonight” also receive light rotation. “Your Way” also features on the test loop of Sydney community station 2FBi when it begins full-time broadcasting. The EP is later repackaged and re-released by Brisbane label Dew Process.

Albums and awards

Her debut album, The Overture & the Underscore, is released in late 2004. It is recorded in Hollywood at engineer Wally Gagel’s studio and co-produced by Blasko, Gagel and songwriter Robert F Cranny. The album receives critical acclaim, achieves gold certification in Australia and leads to four ARIA nominations in 2005, including Album of the Year.

Blasko records her second album in Auckland, New Zealand at Roundhead Studio, the studio of Neil Finn. She produces it with Robert F Cranny and Jim Moginie, with engineering by Paul McKercher and mixing by Victor Van Vugt. The album debuts at number 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart, is nominated for the 2006 J Award, and wins Best Pop Release at the 2007 ARIA Awards, where Blasko is also nominated for Best Female Artist.

In 2009 she releases As Day Follows Night, produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn & John and recorded in Stockholm with a band of Swedish musicians. The record is less electronically arranged than her earlier work and retains her pop and trip hop style while adding jazz elements. It brings her another ARIA win for Best Female Artist and two further nominations.

Seeker Lover Keeper and later work

In 2011 Blasko forms Seeker Lover Keeper with Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby. The group releases a self-titled album in June and tours churches around Australia to promote it.

Her fourth solo record, I Awake, appears in 2012. She records it with the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra as part of an exploration of her family heritage. She also tours Australian cities with local orchestras providing backing, and performs at the Sydney Opera House in a concert streamed live on YouTube.