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| photo by Heidi Ross |
Australian singing sensation Missy Higgins, best known for
the 2007 gold-selling U.S.
single “Where I Stood,” has returned after a long absence with “The Ol’ Razzle
Dazzle” -- her third and strongest album to date.
While the adult alternative music artist’s previous releases
were often stark and contemplative, this one is brighter, due to an emphasis on
melody. Recorded in Nashville
with co-producers Brad Jones (Jill Sobule, Matthew Sweet) and fellow Aussie musician
Butterfly Boucher, it shows the Melbourne
native in a less timid light.
“Butterfly and I both share a mutual love of harmonies and
really enjoy creating them,” said Higgins, 29.
“At every given opportunity, if vocals could [replace] an
instrument, we used that instead…I’ve never had that experience in the studio
before: being with another female and doing harmonies at the same time.”
Lately, Higgins has served as opening act for Gotye’s tour,
where she often joins him to do “Somebody That I Used to Know.” For the solo
Belly Up show, Boucher will be Higgins’ vocal partner.
The more vivacious sound on “Dazzle” (currently top 10 Down
Under) is evident on the English music hall vibe of “Hello Hello” and dance-inflected
“Temporary Love.” Grammy-winning songwriter Dan Wilson (Adele, Dixie Chicks)
collaborated with Higgins, as did Kevin Griffin (Better Than Ezra, Blondie),
who suggested the album title.
Utilizing less common instruments like stylophone, vibraphone
and harmonium helped keep the studio process fresh. In addition to the usual
piano, Higgins also “tried new things. I played Tibetan bowls, toy piano and made
animal noises. There was a lot of laughing involved and it was a very joyful
experience.”
Music
City’s influence can be
felt on the folky, mandolin-fueled “If I’m Honest” and bluesy “Watering
Hole.”
Alluring album opener “Set Me on Fire” helped temper her creative
stagnation. Having emailed various American friends about whether they needed a
house or dog sitter, Higgins embarked on a cross-country sojourn. Brooklyn
made a distinct impression.
“I wrote a whole heap of lyrics about my writer’s block”
there.
Throughout the songs, there’s a
unifying lyrical theme of finding your identity. Key examples include
the feminine assertiveness of “Tricks,” haunting, PJ Harvey-esque
confessional “Unashamed Desire” and power to the people message in
“Hidden
Ones.”
During the early 2000s, a still teenaged Higgins received
airplay on influential Aussie radio station Triple J with “All for
Believing.” Stateside, KCRW in L.A. played the tune.
First album “The Sound of White” debuted at No. 1 on the
national Australian charts in ‘04 and sold more than half a million copies (the
platinum certification threshold is 70,000). The track “Scar” was among the most
played on Aussie radio. Reprise Records later put out “White” in America.
“That was crazy,” Higgins recalled. “I got signed while I
was still in high school. I really didn’t have many songs. A couple of years
later, I’d written the album and released it. The fame happened quickly. I
think it’s probably taken me until now to finally adjust. It was a huge roller
coaster.”
The 2007 follow up effort “On a Clear Night” featured a
guest appearance by Crowded House’s Neil Finn and also went to No. 1 at home. Over
here, it received NPR attention and TV placements on “Grey’s Anatomy,” “One
Tree Hill” and elsewhere. Then Higgins had the honor of performing on her
country’s segment of the global Live Earth benefit concerts.
All told, Higgins has amassed seven ARIA Awards (equivalent
to our Grammy), some MTV Australia Awards and a half dozen top 20 singles back
home.
“When I look back, it’s a blur. I almost didn’t have time to
appreciate it for what it was. I didn’t feel like I really worked for it very
hard. It’s good to be in a place now where I feel much more comfortable.”
Facing a crisis of confidence in 2010, Higgins went on a
journey of self discovery. She took a college course on Indigenous studies and delved
into charity work.
“Part of it was disillusionment and feeling I really wasn’t
making a difference; what I was doing really wasn’t worthwhile. I wanted to do
something that would make an impact I could actually see.”
Higgins’ big screen acting debut in “Bran Nue Dae,” an
adaptation of Aboriginal musical co-starring Geoffrey Rush, also came that
year.
“I never realized that I’d love acting so much. It was just
like playing dress up as a kid and so great to be creative in an area that
wasn’t music. [Now] I know other outlets are out there.”
bellyup.com
missyhiggins.com
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