The name Blasko means one who is very talkative and it suits well Sarah Blasko, although Sarah is admittedly softly spoken and doesn’t waste words it is her music with brilliant lyrics that capture with precision emotions where Sarah’s voice can be heard at its loquacious best.
I had the opportunity to speak to Sarah Blasko this week about her new album and upcoming visit to Tasmania.
Sarah tells me she has enjoyed previous visits to Tasmania and well remembers the beautiful Theatre Royal.
This time Sarah will be performing with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra which will be something new and she is looking forward to ‘the freshness’ of the experience and of ‘creating some magic’ with Tasmania’s acclaimed Orchestra. There will be a day off on this trip and Sarah would love to get to MONA (perhaps a potential future performance venue?) and also get in some driving whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Sarah’s new album ‘ I Awake’ begins with the title track which, with its exhilarating drum beats cannot fail to awake the spirit of the listener and send them as was mentioned ‘spiralling’.
The album was recorded in Stockholm Sweden and backed by the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra found some of its inspiration in Leonard Cohen’s songs of love and hate.
This is Sarah’s music stripped back and extreme and she wants to move her audience in the aim and manner of all good art.
Sarah’s parents were missionaries for a short time and religious imagery plays a part in some of her lyrics ‘baptisms’ and being ‘lost and found’ as well as imagery of seeing and being open with what you don’t see.
But this is just a small part, the album is about becoming ‘Awake’ and Sarah taking us on an emotional roller coaster in her highly original way.
After the tour of Australia with symphony Orchestras Sarah will tour Europe. Istanbul, England, France and The Netherlands being some of the destinations. After which Sarah will be looking to a more extensive winter tour of Australia in August.
Sarah performs with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra on Monday 4 February at Wrest Point Casino.
Paula Xiberras
