News

Sarah Blasko And Caro Emerald For HMV's Next Big Thing

• 23rd Dec 2010

Two highly individual female artists, both signed to Dramatico Records, are to co-headline the final night of HMV’s Next Big Thing gig series in February. Australia’s Sarah Blasko and Caro Emerald, from the Netherlands, both made waves critically with their British debut records in 2010 and together will form an evening that will be complemented by a DJ appearance by Portishead’s Andy Smith between sets.

Sarah Blasko’s sound has been loosely described as “PJ Harvey without the shouting” (Q Magazine), with an emphasis on acoustic instruments but she is an artist all of her own. Sarah uses her lyrics as a purging process, and wrote her album ‘As Day Follows Night’ following a devastating break up. Yet the tunefulness of the David-Byrne-quoting ‘Over And Over’, the jazz-club bound ‘Bird On A Wire’ and the pounding ‘No Turning Back’ reveal that, far from being morose, Sarah has an innate way of finding a sweet, uplifting melody that will burrow itself into your head. Sarah’s beguiling live presence has led to festival performances at V, Secret Garden Party and The Great Escape and support from BBC 6 Music and a range of press including NME, Vogue, Q and Grazia.

The vintage pop of Caro Emerald is a sound to make the likes of Mark Ronson and Lily Allen prick up their ears, and an example of how word-of-mouth can lead to an overnight smash. An impromptu performance of her debut 'Back It Up' on a local TV station in Holland led to an overwhelming public clamour to hear more. Debut album 'Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor' is inspired by her love of 40's and 50's film and music and makes it accessible for a modern audience. Samba, jazz, bossa nova, mambo and crackling vinyl all rub shoulders, with recurring lyrical themes of love and loyalty, flirtation and frustration. A record-breaking album in her home country, Caro's sepia-tinged melodic take on life is topping airplay charts across the continent; on these shores BBC Radio 2 made it their Album Of The Week, while her first two singles 'Back It Up' and 'Riviera Life' have both found themselves on their A-list after great demand.

2010’s HMV Next Big Thing gigs gave early exposure to the likes of Marina & The Diamonds, Ellie Goulding and Professor Green. Sarah Blasko and Caro Emerald are two artists with an innate understanding of melody and undeniable presence onstage, and a fitting match for the Next Big Thing series.

Sunday 13th February 2011
The Jazz Café, London
Tickets £10 available from link