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Missy Higgins - She's Got Legs!
At just 24 Missy Higgins is already a veteran of the music industry. Ever since triple J unearthed Higgins back in 2001 the singer has slowly but surely been carving a niche for herself in the industry as a singer songwriter with a talent for writing hooky pop rock.
Earlier this year Higgins released her sophomore album On A Clear Night – the follow up to her phenomenally successful debut release The Sound of White. The new album showcased a more mature Higgins and not surprisingly was certified platinum (70,000 sales) before it even hit stores.
Sophomore blues? Not for Higgins – although the singer admits she was initially a little worried as to how the new album would be perceived. But a case of the jitters is pretty normal in the tall poppy cutting Australian music scene. Fortunately for Missy, the album has received both critical and popular acclaim, cementing her place as the chanteuse of the moment.
Not one to rest on her laurels, Higgins is currently in the midst of a series of showcase gigs – plying her trade at Borders bookstores around the US – a humbling position for any muso – yet Higgins remains nonplussed; she seems more than happy to just be out there and playing, admitting that the record and herself have yet to really break it in the States.
Asked whether this is important, Higgins shrugs down the line: “not really, you know, the first record didn’t do that great over here so I don’t expect much – I’m just grateful to be doing gigs and getting the songs out to people.” Whether this is a matter of doing the hard yards – and just touring the album, Higgins is uncertain. “It hasn’t really taken off over here.” It would seem there is no magic formula to success.
So the game-plan according to Higgins is to try and get her tracks out onto TV and film – hence the showcases and time in LA. I mention TV series Grey’s Anatomy and the success it brought Regina Spector and Higgins concurs stating “it’s amazing”. “Show’s like Grey’s Anatomy – that are also really well respected for their use of music – you go on their website and they list all the tracks in episodes and you can buy CDs straight from their site – they have an enormous influence and can really break an artist.”
Still ensconced in LALA land, a place Higgins describes as “crazy and weird – the best and the worst” the singer is looking forward to returning home to hit the trail, taking her new album out on a series of for ‘One Night Only’ tour dates.
So will it really be one night only? What of the poor folk that missed out on tickets.
“I doubt there will be any,” says Missy.
“‘No, some shows are already sold out,” I insist…
“Really?” she sounds unconvinced.
So why the one night only concept?
“It spices things up a bit. When you’re doing a tour playing the same songs it’s easy to get complacent. Being in a different town, keeping the show moving, keeps it fresh – you don’t get the chance to glaze over and doing shows of that size. That makes it a really different experience.”
When she returns Higgins is also doing her bit for charity – headlining the upcoming Legs 11 concert. No surprise really, given that Higgins is not one to shy aware from a good cause – witness her appearance at Wave Aid, the Live Earth gig and her carbon neutral tours… So why Legs 11?
“ I just think it’s a good cause says Missy. “Although I haven’t personally been touched by cancer, I do know a lot of people that have had cancer in their family or had breast cancer affect someone in their life – it’s more and more prevalent these days – it’s like everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by cancer. And even though it’s not that common for someone of my age group – it’s becoming more and more common – so I think it’s important to draw attention to the issue.”
And she gets to play with an orchestra.
“Yeah I get to play with an orchestra – which is like one of my nerdy dreams – to hear my songs played in such a grandiose manner. I really wanted to do that. So when we were looking at ways to do this differently and Sydney Youth Orchestra had approached us to do it – I thought ‘Yeah’!”
The gig will mark Higgins’ first venture into the Legs 11 arena – although she admits to hearing via Tim Rogers that the festival is very “chilled out” and so she can’t wait to play it.
In the meantime Higgins continues to “eye off her guitar”.
“I’m looking at it right now, as we talk,” she laughs. Still she insists a third album is a long way off. “I’ve been pretty clear with the label,” she says. “And they’re not giving me any pressure. I’m gonna take some time before doing anything for the next album.”
Yet she admits to being constantly inspired by daily life to pick up an instrument and start writing a song. Her only lament: “I wish my piano was portable. I’d love to take my piano everywhere with me…”
Missy Higgins On A Clear Night is out now through Eleven.
Sydney audiences can see Missy performing with the Sydney Youth Orchestra at Legs 11 on October 26 at Sydney’s Domain.
The For One Night Only tour will visit the following cities and venues:
Saturday November 17: Kuranda Amphitheatre, Cairns
Sunday November 18: Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre (intimate theatre mode)
Tuesday November 20: Great Western Hotel, Rockhampton
Thursday November 22: Gold Coast Convention Centre (intimate theatre mode)
Friday November 23: Brisbane Entertainment Centre (intimate theatre mode)
Saturday November 24: Mullumbimby Leagues Ground
Sunday November 25: Coffs Harbour Showgrounds
Tuesday November 27: Port Macquarie Panthers
Wednesday November 28: Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre (intimate theatre mode)
Friday November 30: Newcastle Entertainment Centre (intimate theatre mode)
Saturday December 1: Sydney Entertainment Centre (intimate theatre mode)
Sunday December 2: Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth
Wednesday December 5: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (intimate theatre mode)
Friday December 7: Adelaide, Entertainment Centre (intimate theatre mode)
Saturday December 8: Homebake Festival, The Domain, Sydney
Sunday December 9: Wollongong Entertainment Centre (intimate theatre mode).
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