Missy Higgins has been at the heart of Australia’s music scene for over a decade now, but the Melbourne singer/songwriter isn’t resting on her laurels. Instead, she’s driven to take her music in a bold new direction, complementing her signature acoustic sound with modern electronic influences.
Higgins hasn’t released a full-length since her 2014 covers album Oz, but she plans to release her fifth album early next year. A burning desire for self-improvement has sustained her passion for creating music, even after the phenomenal success she’s already achieved.
“I think the challenge is to keep trying to do something a bit new, and to always be trying to improve,” she says. “I’ve always said every time I release an album I want it to be better than the last one. Of course, that’s hard to measure because it’s a very subjective idea, but I want to make music that I’m proud of and music that I want to listen to.”
Far from the poignant love ballads she is best known for, Higgins says her latest album has been influenced by post-apocalyptic films and literature.
“This music is really different in so many ways. I started out with quite a strong idea of the theme that I had in mind, because I was reading a lot of post-apocalyptic literature and watching a lot of post-apocalyptic movies and TV shows,” she says.
“I started out on that road and then that deviated a bit and I suddenly had all these sub-themes going on. Musically I collaborated with a few different producers that program their own music, so it’s a little bit more electronic than I’ve done before.
“I’m probably the furthest away from The Sound of White that my music has ever been. It’s taking a big step in a new direction for me, which is scary and exciting.”
This new direction mimics the changing nature of the Australian music scene, which Higgins says has inspired her. She also is amazed at the ease in which new artists are able to create and release new music to a wide audience.
“The music scene has changed so much,” she laughs. “It seems to have gone really far down that kind of electronic euro-pop direction. Even the indie music scene has taken on some of that retro electro sound which I love,” Higgins says.
“I’m finding that a lot of really inspirational stuff is coming out, especially from young producers in their bedroom who are just making music on their computers. It’s really opening up all these new avenues to make and self-produce really good quality stuff.”
As Higgins has watched the Australian music scene develop, she has been branching out on a number of side projects. She’s currently in the middle of rehearsals for a theatrical musical production, Miracle City, which is set to open this month at the Sydney Opera House. Higgins says taking on a role in a musical was an exciting challenge for her.
“There’s been some pretty hardcore choreography lessons [and our] choreography woman is trying to teach me to dance from scratch, so she is having to put in a little bit more extra time with me than the others. But I’m determined to not let the team down,” she says.
“I’m just seeing it as a really incredible experience. It’s such a lovely bunch of people too and the music is amazing. It’s always fun to do something that scares you.”
Fans eager to hear Higgins’ irresistible melodies will be able to catch her performing at A Weekend in the Gardens. Playing at Melbourne’s iconic Royal Botanic Gardens, Higgins says she is grateful to be able to perform in her hometown and in such a picturesque environment.
“It’s always so fun to play in Melbourne. I don’t know why but there’s something about playing to my hometown that feels a little more special than usual,” she says.
“I always love playing outdoor venues because there’s a really nice atmosphere and there’s a romance in the air. I also love the Botanical Gardens because you are surrounded by greenery and that environment is so gorgeous.”
