Sarah Blasko: We Won’t Run

During Sydney Festival, Sarah replied to an email we’d sent her manager; “Hi Amy, I’d love to do a shoot the player video. It’s funny ‘cos I just saw the Play Me, I’m Yours thing in the paper today… that’d be a great idea for a video. Lots of my new songs are on piano too. I like the tattoo parlour in surry hills…”

Sarah Blasko: Hold on My Heart

We loved the idea of filming Sarah at the Illustrated Man tattoo parlour. We knew the place would be bustling with people, the noise from Central Station would be a challenge to work with, we weren’t sure how Sarah’s  gentle ballads would hold up in a potentially tough and thuggish environment, but she was game – and so were we.

When we arrived, a nervous looking couple with their newborn baby were refused ink, the tattooist excusing himself by saying that “A child’s name next to their date of birth will often be misread as their date of death.” Another man was also refused when he wanted a tattoo right on his ankle. He’d spent 30 minutes in the waiting room searching through folders and looking for courage. Deflated, he left quickly and un-tattooed.

Sarah Blasko: Woman by the Well

It became clear that despite initial apprehensions, this was a passionate setting where people came with a goal in mind and a personal story to fulfill. Rather than loose themselves in our impromptu performance, they meditated on the wall of birds, mermaids, daggers and hearts. In search of a new audience, we wandered around the sunny streets of Surry Hills and found an empty stage at the Australian Chinese Community Association, and later at a lovely little cafe I’d always noticed but had never been to before.

Sarah Blasko: All I Want

– Amelia & Jonathan
Thanks Luke Jerram, Sydney Festival & Emma

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