sarah blasko

Sarah Blasko Says Female Songwriters Need R.E.S.P.E.C.T

11:28AM Clem Bastow | Ethereal singer-songwriter Sarah Blasko has used Australian Musician’s women in music issue as a soapbox from which to decry the industry’s treatment of its female artists. She reckons – rightly – that female artists are amalgamated as one soupy whole while the latest bloated, booze-soaked borer from the boys gets praised from the rooftops. Blasko was voted the country’s most respected artist and finest live performer in a special Australian Musician magazine poll to turn the lights on the achievements of Australia’s female musicians. …Blasko said her contemporaries continued to struggle for the same recognition as male songwriters. “I don’t think female writers are acknowledged in the same kind of way,” she said after learning the results of the poll. “I think often they are lumped together. It’s looked upon as a genre – female singer/songwriter. “Whereas I think it’s not really indicative of the diversity of female writers.” Goodonya, Sarah, though we’re sure we don’t need to point out the irony of her having to use a “women in rock” feature to air such views. In any case we’d much rather listen to “women’s music” (whatever the buggery that is) than another whining male troubadour who wants his ex-girlfriend back or an emo sook whose dad didn’t cough up enough pocket-money (etc). More »