Not that long ago, a successful music career seemed somewhat of a pipe dream for Sarah Blasko. Now, fresh from winning an ARIA for Best Female Artist off the back of her stunning debut ’The Overture and The Underscore', the feisty femme is riding high on a deluge of praise and critical acclaim, and it looks like the rest of the world is about to discover what we already know.
MTV catches up to talk overseas adventures, rumours, and death of the internet.
MTV: Congrats again on your win at the ARIAS last year. Where does your trophy currently reside?
Sarah: Sadly, the ARIA resides in a box because I've just moved out of my house and I'm putting everything in storage for eight months. Oh actually, because I've got two now. I don't want to brag I've got two now [laughs], but one's in a box and the other one hasn't arrived yet. I don't have the newest one, because they take it straight off you as soon as you've won it and then send it to you.
MTV: How important do you feel the ARIA’s are in recognising great Aussie talent?
Sarah: I think it's pretty good. But with awards unfortunately it's pretty subjective. I guess I really admire music that's very original or that has something important to say. Often people that are admired in that sense don't usually win awards which is kind of sad, but on the other hand maybe that's sort of what makes people special you know? So I don't know about awards.
It's a weird thing because on the one hand it's pretty flattering and it's a nice thing to win that stuff, but when it comes down to it the most important thing is having a vision for where you want to go with the music. The moment that you stop looking forward to what you want to do and thinking in terms of creativity and start focusing on other things, that's where can get into a bit of shady ground. I'd hate to get sidetracked by those kind of things...but you've got to enjoy it though at the same time.
MTV: We've heard you will be basing yourself in Europe for most of 2010 to coincide with your album release. How does performing to a European audience compare to other areas of the world?
Sarah: Well I actually haven't done that much touring in Europe. I did one or two tours in the UK a couple of years ago so I’ve been but only short stints so it's going to be a pretty different experience actually living over there and really trying to pursue it seriously. So I don't know...the times that I did play were really lovely to be honest. I've been pretty lucky with that. I've managed in the past to get some pretty good tours and stuff so. I'm sure it's going to be difficult at times but I think it's something I've wanted to do for a long time so it's really nice to have the opportunity.
MTV: Do you plan to come back to Australia eventually?
Sarah: Even though I'm moving overseas for what looks like about eight months this year, I just feel like I'll always come back to Australia... it's really important to me.
And I feel really fortunate to be able to have a music career here. I never really thought that was possible. It felt like a wild dream when I put my first record out. So to actually make a living out of music is still a really bizarre concept to me. But yeah, it's wonderful to be able to play music here and for your own country to acknowledge it. You hear about people receive recognition in their own country but go elsewhere and nobody cares. So anything else will be a bonus.
MTV: What’s the weirdest thing you've read about yourself on the internet?
Sarah: Some friends told me they saw a Facebook thing about sighting me walking around Sydney. I walk a lot because I don't drive. So there's this Facebook site dedicated to people seeing me catch the bus and stuff like that which I think is a little bit bizarre if you don't mind me saying! I have to admit I hate Facebook. I'm not on it at all. I think it's a little bit strange.
MTV: Although you have gained widespread recognition for your work, your journey is still beginning. What can we expect to see from Sarah Blasko in 2010?
Sarah: We probably won't see much of me here unfortunately, but I'm planning to come back and do a tour later in the year like sort of October or something. But apart from that mostly just travelling and touring...just working on putting the record out in the UK and Europe and hopefully in the States as well this year so I'm kind of naming it the year of travel.
MTV: If the internet crashed tomorrow...would you panic? Or look forward to reviving old school communication?
Sarah: Oh I'd love it! My God I would love it! I talk about it all the time because just recently I actually just got an iPhone which is very un-me because I've been carrying this phone, which just looks like a shaver. It was this weird old Nokia phone. I feel like everything in me just fights technology but I have to admit things are a lot easier with new technology. But I wouldn't be crushed....everyone should have to write letters again because when people don't see each other's handwriting anymore it’s sad...I think that's when people go it's something to remember them by. Their handwriting.
Check out Sarah do her 'Amazing Things' below...
MTV catches up to talk overseas adventures, rumours, and death of the internet.
MTV: Congrats again on your win at the ARIAS last year. Where does your trophy currently reside?
Sarah: Sadly, the ARIA resides in a box because I've just moved out of my house and I'm putting everything in storage for eight months. Oh actually, because I've got two now. I don't want to brag I've got two now [laughs], but one's in a box and the other one hasn't arrived yet. I don't have the newest one, because they take it straight off you as soon as you've won it and then send it to you.
MTV: How important do you feel the ARIA’s are in recognising great Aussie talent?
Sarah: I think it's pretty good. But with awards unfortunately it's pretty subjective. I guess I really admire music that's very original or that has something important to say. Often people that are admired in that sense don't usually win awards which is kind of sad, but on the other hand maybe that's sort of what makes people special you know? So I don't know about awards.
It's a weird thing because on the one hand it's pretty flattering and it's a nice thing to win that stuff, but when it comes down to it the most important thing is having a vision for where you want to go with the music. The moment that you stop looking forward to what you want to do and thinking in terms of creativity and start focusing on other things, that's where can get into a bit of shady ground. I'd hate to get sidetracked by those kind of things...but you've got to enjoy it though at the same time.
MTV: We've heard you will be basing yourself in Europe for most of 2010 to coincide with your album release. How does performing to a European audience compare to other areas of the world?
Sarah: Well I actually haven't done that much touring in Europe. I did one or two tours in the UK a couple of years ago so I’ve been but only short stints so it's going to be a pretty different experience actually living over there and really trying to pursue it seriously. So I don't know...the times that I did play were really lovely to be honest. I've been pretty lucky with that. I've managed in the past to get some pretty good tours and stuff so. I'm sure it's going to be difficult at times but I think it's something I've wanted to do for a long time so it's really nice to have the opportunity.
MTV: Do you plan to come back to Australia eventually?
Sarah: Even though I'm moving overseas for what looks like about eight months this year, I just feel like I'll always come back to Australia... it's really important to me.
And I feel really fortunate to be able to have a music career here. I never really thought that was possible. It felt like a wild dream when I put my first record out. So to actually make a living out of music is still a really bizarre concept to me. But yeah, it's wonderful to be able to play music here and for your own country to acknowledge it. You hear about people receive recognition in their own country but go elsewhere and nobody cares. So anything else will be a bonus.
MTV: What’s the weirdest thing you've read about yourself on the internet?
Sarah: Some friends told me they saw a Facebook thing about sighting me walking around Sydney. I walk a lot because I don't drive. So there's this Facebook site dedicated to people seeing me catch the bus and stuff like that which I think is a little bit bizarre if you don't mind me saying! I have to admit I hate Facebook. I'm not on it at all. I think it's a little bit strange.
MTV: Although you have gained widespread recognition for your work, your journey is still beginning. What can we expect to see from Sarah Blasko in 2010?
Sarah: We probably won't see much of me here unfortunately, but I'm planning to come back and do a tour later in the year like sort of October or something. But apart from that mostly just travelling and touring...just working on putting the record out in the UK and Europe and hopefully in the States as well this year so I'm kind of naming it the year of travel.
MTV: If the internet crashed tomorrow...would you panic? Or look forward to reviving old school communication?
Sarah: Oh I'd love it! My God I would love it! I talk about it all the time because just recently I actually just got an iPhone which is very un-me because I've been carrying this phone, which just looks like a shaver. It was this weird old Nokia phone. I feel like everything in me just fights technology but I have to admit things are a lot easier with new technology. But I wouldn't be crushed....everyone should have to write letters again because when people don't see each other's handwriting anymore it’s sad...I think that's when people go it's something to remember them by. Their handwriting.
Check out Sarah do her 'Amazing Things' below...
Copyright : MTV Australia
