TOATU Turns Twenty

Posted on by rfc

The debut album by Sarah Blasko, “The Overture & the Underscore”, turned 20 years old on the 11th of October 2024. This was a labour of love for two young unheralded songwriters and went on to reach #35 in the Australian charts, eventually selling platinum.

Here are Sarah’s own words on the anniversary:

‘The Overture & The Underscore’ is 20 years old today! Wearing my mum’s nursing watch & some family heirlooms on my jacket, I was carrying my past into my future. While I would probably change elements of the recording if I could, I’m still so proud I took the leap & even more proud I’ve stuck around & have continued to make music all these years. Much love to Robert F Cranny for pouring your world into it too & to John Mullen & Dew Process for taking a chance! Thank you & good evening! X

Here are mine:

Happy 20th Birthday to “The Overture & the Underscore”. I’m a little late to the party but thanks to Sarah for the big love in her post and for all the kind words from her loyal fans. It’s gratifying to hear people talk about these songs, especially “Perfect Now”, but the whole thing really. This record changed at least two lives and I’m proud it found its way into other people’s too.

Who would ever have thought that moving to Cronulla would have provided such a sliding doors moment. My thoughts today are with Craig New for bringing us together, as well as Daniel Israel and Gillian Watts, who let us turn the apartment into a demoing camp – some of the guitar we recorded there actually survived and can be heard in the breakdown of “Don’t U Eva”. Shoutouts too to Wally Gagel, who coped ably with our artistic paranoia, and to Joey Waronker for completing the band and acquiescing to the controversial use of sleigh bells.