Missy Higgins has released the music video to her new single ‘Shark Fin Blues’, off the Australian singer songwriter’s new book/album ‘OZ’, out September 19th on Eleven. Earlier this month, the 31-year-old announced to fans that she and her fiance were expecting a baby, due in January. She said, “A new chapter is about to begin, and with it a crazy and wonderful journey, no doubt.” Watch the Patrick Fileti directed video via YouTube below.
Missy Higgins Discusses ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle’, Recording In Nashville
Missy Higgins is out with a behind-the-scenes studio episode that was filmed during the recording of the Australian singer songwriter’s new album ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle’. Missy is seen dressing up, getting glitter applied, driving and talking about the story behind the album title and why she decided to record the LP in Nashville.
“‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle’ title came about because I guess I always felt comfortable performing, but there’s always been something to do with the idea of the entertainer doesn’t really sit comfortably with me,” Higgins explained. “Mostly because I think the music industry, or the entertainment industry in particular, consists of a lot of superficiality, just a lot of expectations about how you should present yourself and how you should be on-stage and in public. People have unrealistic expectations I guess so it’s kind of playing with the idea of dressing up as another person on stage and the idea of the double personality. Not really feeling comfortable with this side of things.”
Talking about the location where she recorded the project, Missy said, “One of the things that appealed to me about Nashville, as a place to record the album, is that it’s very far away from the hype of the entertainment industry. Neither my Australian nor my American record company are based here, but there is still so much creativity here, so much music, and I knew that I really wanted to make an album in a place where it could all be about the music, and all be about just having fun in the moment, being creative, no stress, no pressure from a record company or anything external. So finding Butterfly (Boucher) and Brad (Jones) to record the album in this cute little studio called Alex The Great was just perfect, because it’s so far away from my world and so far away from the world that I made my last two albums in.”
Watch the webisode via Vimeo below.
Missy Higgins Is Carving Wood To Create ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle’
With just under two weeks to go until the release of Missy Higgins’ new album ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle’ on June 1st, the Australian singer songwriter is offering another peek into the studio with the third installment in the making of the album series.
“I had a dream a few nights ago that I was carving a wooden block to make a print. It dawned on me in a dream that that process is exactly what we’re doing,” Higgins explained in the ‘Carving The Wood’ behind the scenes video. “Most of the process behind this work of art is the actual carving into the wood, and the final product, what everybody else gets to see, is just this thing on a piece of paper. They don’t get to see the process in the beginning. All the intricate little maneuvers that go into creating the final product.”
Watch it via Vimeo below.
Missy Higgins Readies Third Album ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle’
Missy Higgins sent out a message to her fans about ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle’, the follow-up to her 2007 album ‘On a Clear Night’, which the Australian singer songwriter hinted might not have happened as she had considered giving up on music. The 28-year-old writes:
Hello everyone!
It’s hard for me (and probably you) to believe it, but after a ridiculously long time I’m releasing a third album.
I’m sure you’ll hear more of the story over the next few months: what I’ve been up to, why it’s taken me so long etc. but I wanted to drop you a short note first, not least of all to thank you for waiting so bloody long!
A lot has happened over the last few years, I actually thought I’d quit music for a while there, but of course my heart found that I couldn’t beat without it. I eventually recorded this album in Nashville, Tennessee, with fellow Aussie Butterfly Boucher and Nashville producer/engineer Brad Jones and as you’ll no doubt hear, we had a lot of fun being creative in the studio. That was our only vision, really: to be totally free and to have fun.
As for the songs, everything I have experienced over the last few years: the ups, the downs, the uncertainty, the questioning and all the lessons learnt have made it on to this album. There are a few songs that touch on struggling to juggle the ‘performer’ side of things with the personal, and how that led to feeling as though I had metaphorical rock stuck in my throat for a long time; there is a song about my beautiful grandma, a song of frustration at the world’s leaders, songs about an electric kind of love, heartache, desire, and the journey back to my estranged, yet only true love: music. The parody of the ‘entertainer’ is explored on many tracks, thus the album is called The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle. It’s a bit tongue in cheek, you could say.
Anyway, I guess it took walking away to realize how truly grateful I am for everything, to refill the creative well, and hopefully make my most creative album yet.
Thank you all, truly, for all your support and encouragement over the years, I promise it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Fingers crossed I see you at a show some time soon.. (if you’re in San Fran or LA I’m supporting Goyte on April 18th and 19th respectively, come along!! For everyone else, dates will be announced soon, I promise)
Lots of love,
Missy xx
Watch some behind the scenes footage from the making of the album via Vimeo below.
Missy Higgins’ New Album “Officially Recorded”
Missy Higgins checked in with her Twitter followers (@missyhiggins) moments ago with an update on her forthcoming album, a follow-up to her 2007 sophomore effort ‘On a Clear Night’. The Australian singer songwriter said in Tweets two days ago, and moments ago respectively:
Last day recording 2day. Why am I so goddamn nervous? My stomach will not calm down. But this is good. Its exciting! Sickeningly exciting.
Ok. Album officially recorded. Bit of mixing to go still and then we’re home and hosed. Strange feeling. Third album on the way!
Missy Higgins In Nashville Recording Her Third Album
Missy Higgins checked in with fans on her newsletter earlier this week, talking about the follow-up to her sophomore album ‘On a Clear Night’. The Australian singer songwriter tells readers:
For the last 3 months I’ve been in Nashville, Tennessee recording my *drum roll* third album! Yes, it’s been a bloody long time waiting, sorry about that. The upside is that I’ve done some really cool things in my time off over the last couple of years in an attempt to re-fill this old Creative Well, and hopefully it’s going to make for a really inspired album. Those of you who have been following my (somewhat disjointed and often ridiculous) tweets will know that I’m recording with a good friend of mine, Aussie musician Butterfly Boucher, who’s co-producing my album with a fabulous Nashville man named Brad Jones. The three of us are having a ball, playing various instruments we’ve never tried before, laughing a lot, throwing around crazy ideas to see if they stick and just generally being creative. It’s exactly the kind of experience I wanted the making of this album to be. And I’m fully immersed in the process, so much so that I’m sleeping out the back of the recording studio in a dark little cave with bad seventies wall-paper, dark green shag carpet and last night a raccoon almost feel through the roof onto my head, no joke.
Royal Wedding Reaction On Twitter
Several pop artists were sharing their thoughts via Twitter while watching the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton earlier today. Amongst them:
Miley Cyrus (@MileyCyrus): wow wow wow #royalwedding so romantic. FLAWLESS. =] How lucky is Kate? Its every girls dream to be a princess. Harry??? haha jkjk
Lucie Silvas (@LucieSilvas): Wow. I can’t help, like a lot of us, to be totally emotional looking at Kate Middleton in her wedding dress, they look so happy! Amazing : )
Esmee Denters (@esmeeworld): Congrats to the Royal Couple balcony kiss was so romantic! Loved the McQueen dress !
Melanie Brown (@OfficialMelB): What a great wedding, wishing them all the best, so happy for them!!
Sophie King (@sophiedollyrock): Amazing wedding!! Now time for my sisters Hen!!! 20 girls gone wild!!
Imogen Heap (@imogenheap): Just woken up. Ready for day of interviews In Mexico City. Did Will and Kate get married already? Highlights? Am gonna get asked for sure!
Heidi Range (@Heidi_range): A real life fairytale, amazing! Such a special day x
Missy Higgins (@missyhiggins): Am I the only one who really couldn’t care less about the royal wedding? Granted she looks stunning but this is dragging on.
Miranda Cosgrove (@MirandaBuzz): I love Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. She looks so beautiful #AlexanderMcqueen
Josh Hoge (@JoshHoge): the royal wedding feels a lot like the Macy’s parade in NYC. I’m waiting for them to say “here comes Bart Simpson & the USC marching band”.
Jessica Origliasso (@Jessicaveronica): I’m a sucker for Tradition, a blue blooded accent,& a good cup of tea! But would still rather my Royal Wedding look more like an Oliver moviePixie Lott (@pixiesongs): many congratulations Kate & William, enjoy your special day - Kate you look so beautiful xoxo
Rob Thomas (@ThisIsRobThomas): am I the only one who doesn’t give a sh** about the royal wedding?
Missy Higgins Starting Pre-Production On New Songs
It’s been a while since Missy Higgins released a new album, but a follow-up to her 2007 sophomore album ‘On a Clear Night’ appears to be in the works. The Australian singer songwriter told her Twitter followers (@missyhiggins) hours ago she’s heading out to work on new material:
heading into the studio today to start pre-production on new songs!
Missy Higgins Adjusts To College Life
Missy Higgins, currently enjoying downtime between albums, talked with News.com.au about being enrolled at Melbourne University for a course in indigenous studies. “Going to uni was a totally new experience for me, so that in itself was pretty fascinating,” Higgins explained. “I found the getting up early for morning lectures part the hardest to adjust to; I managed to be late almost every time.” Read more.
Missy Higgins Performing Benefit Show To Protect The Kimberley
Missy Higgins and her band will get up close and personal with just a few hundred music lovers at Trak in Melbourne on January 16th. Tickets are available for $50 at TicketMaster.com.au. The singer songwriter will be joined by some surprise musical guests to help raise funds in support of ‘Environs Kimberley’.
Environs Kimberley is a small environment group based in Broome who have been fighting to protect the Kimberley for the past 15 years. The group successfully stopped a 200,000 hectare cotton proposal and the damming of the Fitzroy River in conjunction with the Traditional Owners of that area. They now need Australia’s help to protect the Kimberley from large scale industrialization.
Missy has confirmed that all profits for the benefit concert will go straight to ‘Environs Kimberley’ to assist them in their attempt to lobby governments for the long term preservation of this precious part of Australia. Missy has a strong personal connection with the region. She has owned a small place in Broome for several years and many of the songs on her triple platinum selling album ‘On A Clear Night’ were written there. Higgins also played a role in the acclaimed movie ‘Bran Nue Dae’ which was filmed in the Kimberley in 2008.
Missy states:
The Kimberley region is one of the last true remaining wilderness’ on the planet, and any Australian who’s lucky enough to have visited this incredible part of our country knows how special it is. It would be a crime on so many levels to allow this mammoth industrialization plan to go ahead. Not only would it be the biggest LNG processing plant in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s just one foot in the door as far as further industrialization goes - they are making no secret of that with plans already to extensively strip-mine the Mitchell Plateau for bauxite. Recently WA Premier Colin Barnett has begun compulsorily acquiring the land, stripping the Kimberley Traditional Owners of their Native Title rights. I find it hard to believe that this is even legal anymore and it completely undermines any progress we’ve made with reconciliation in recent years. The point is that there are alternatives to bringing the gas onshore at James Price Point, and I think it’s our responsibility to make sure that our leaders choose these alternatives over those, which are irreversibly damaging to the Kimberley Coast. It’s just too special to ruin forever.