MISSY Higgins

Since being Unearthed by Triple J back in 2002, Missy Higgins has forged a successful musical career. This month, she hits the Darwin Amphitheatre for Darwin Festival’s huge opening weekend, supported by Territory talents Prayer Corby and Leah Flanagan.

Tierney White caught up with her to chat about her show, 20 years since she released her debut album The Sound of White, and tattoos.

Hiya Missy, great to chat. Keen to perform under the stars at Darwin Festival?
Yeah, I wish it was sooner because I’m so bloody freezing down here in Melbourne. I can’t wait to get up north. That sound you can hear in the background is my heat pack heating up in the microwave!

I always love going back to Darwin, and I’ve played the Darwin Amphitheatre a few times over the years, but not for a while. I played quite a lot back in the day with my Sound of White album, so it’s kind of appropriate that I’m coming back now for the 20th anniversary.

Yeah, that’s amazing. You’re playing the album from start to finish – what’s it like rehashing this thing you made 20 years ago?
It’s been pretty amazing so far actually, I had no idea what impact that album had made on so many people, and it’s been really wonderful to realise that and to feel so much nostalgia in the audience. And to get a feel for the kind of powerful memories that people are having, from these times in their life, that they’re being kind of transported back to. The songs are so attached to memories in such a vivid, tangible way, so it’s been cool to look out and see these people being transported back 20 years [laughs].

Yeah, absolutely. And do you feel nostalgic as well?
Well, I don’t think so because I’ve been playing those songs live for the last 20 years … but I do feel like I experience some of what the audience are experiencing when I’m playing these shows – there’s definitely a feeling of nostalgia in the audience that I’m getting swept up in, too … It is definitely taking me back!

You’ve been hitting our ears since 2002, how’s it feel to still be doing what you love?
Oh, I feel so lucky, like the last few months, I’ve just had the best time of my life. I think playing live is my favourite part of my job, there’s something about that connection that I feel with the audience, and trying to express myself in an authentic way on stage, and experiencing the songs together, I just love it so much, the songs just come alive when you play them to a live audience … I just love experiencing that.

You get that instant feedback, don’t you?
Yeah, and you have to be on your toes. I love chatting with them, telling them the stories, and hearing their reactions. It just feels very alive. And my favourite part of this show is playing my new songs as well, because the show is in two halves. The first half is a lot of new songs from my new album, as well as some very old B-sides, but yeah, the new album is very raw, so it’s been amazing to share those stories.

Absolutely. And sharing them with people that have followed you throughout – I mean, what could be better than hearing a favourite artist’s first album and then their latest one, you know?
Yeah, it’s kind of like where I was and where I am now, with a few little bits in-between [laughs]. There’s quite a lot of similarities … I really bare my soul in both of those albums for different reasons.

My first album I really bared my soul because that was all I knew to do, I didn’t think that anyone would even hear those songs … and with this album, I just needed to express myself in such a desperate way, that I was like, “I just need to get these out of me, I don’t care what anyone thinks”, you know?

Yeah, and we can’t wait to see it. Besides wowing crowds at Darwin Festival, any other plans while you’re visiting us?
Well, I always seem to make it to the Darwin markets, it’s one of my favourite things to do – watch the sunset and eat dinner on the sand. Actually, last time, we went up there, we all got a tattoo [laughs] maybe we’ll do that again?

Did you? What did you get?
I got three little dots to represent me and my kids – the beautiful chaos of the three of us. And the other girls [from the band and our tour manager] got something similar, so who knows, we’re talking about maybe doing that again! I’ve been suggesting a triangle and a circle for the song ‘Scar’, but it might be a bit cliché, I’m not sure?

Yes, do it! Darwin’s left its mark, hey?
Our tattoo destination, it really has made its mark!

Missy Higgins
WHEN SUN 11 AUG | 7PM, GATES 4.30PM
AT DARWIN AMPHITHEATRE
COST $86-$90
INFO darwinfestival.org.au

_{Photo: Nino Lo Giudice}