Want to ✨WIN✨ framed + signed handwritten lyrics ✍️ to ‘Edge Of Something’? Order any item from missyhigginsstore.com, and fill out the competition form at missyhiggins.com/competition before March 10 to enter the draw.
Those who’ve already pre-ordered a Total Control mini-album (download / CD) OR a Total Control signed merch pack from missyhigginsstore.com, are also eligible for entry via missyhiggins.com/competition.
Missy’s new mini-album ’Total Control’ is out next Friday March 4.
Missy Higgins today announces the release of her new mini-album “Total Control”set for release on Friday March 4 and available to pre-order now.
The songs from this new mini-album pick up themes of exploitation and female empowerment that run through “Total Control” and which also dominated real world headlines last year as a string of abuse allegations emerging from Parliament House.
Appearing on the TV show “Q&A” late last year, Missy noted that the strong calls for change by leading voices like Brittany Higgins and Australian Of The Year Grace Tame had been a further inspiration for new songs like “Watch Out” and “I Take It Back”.
The mini-album’s title track – a cover of the Motels’ 1980’s classic – takes on a whole new meaning in light of this backdrop and is sure to be a live highlight of Missy’s forthcoming shows.
The “Total Control” mini-album was inspired initially by musical fragments Missy pieced together to fit certain scenes in the ABC’s Total Control soundtrack. What started as brief instrumentals gradually grew lyrics and some expanded into full songs across 2020 and 2021. Missy’s unusually deep association with the show included lead single “Edge Of Something” which featured as the main promo for Season Two.
The program has attracted worldwide acclaim with The Wall Street Journal applauding “…its biting vision of the prevailing codes, and what passes for right and wrong in political society.”Stuff NZ said: “Total Control offers a scathing examination of Australian politics [and] a clarion call for social justice” and said the music was “a magnificent showcase for the songwriting and singing skills of Missy Higgins”.
Over coming months Missy Higgins will headline two separate touring festivals at once – the beachy “Summersalt” and a new all female event called “Wildflower”. The beloved singer/songwriter will also play gigs in cities from Darwin to Torquay, from Birdsville to Broken Hill.
Aptly enough Missy ushered in 2022 with a pre-fireworks performance of the title track on ABCTV’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza – literally starting this busy year with a bang.
“Like lots of people I guess I’m trying to make up for lost time”, Missy explains. “The last two years made me realise how much I missed playing music for people so I want to get out there and do it while we all can. I’m not taking anything for granted anymore.”
Well, yet again, god it’ll be good to get this year behind us, huh. I hope you can all find some joy and connection with each other finally over this holiday season. It’s so hard to know what we can look forward to at the moment and what the future holds, but I have a feeling we can safely say that things ain’t going back to what they were. These shows next year will be our chance to dance, sing and shake off the shit show that has been the last two years! To quote myself, the Machine has Started up again, and it ain’t stopping till us ladies sing, and not even then damnit. I’m so bloody excited to get out there and play for you all. I’ve missed it terribly. There’ll be plenty of new songs being played, like my latest single Edge Of Something, as well as of course the good ol’ hits from days of yore.
Below are the show dates (so far) booked for next year, hopefully there is one near you (unless you live in Timbuktu) and I will see you there!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all you lovely people. And on the theme of being festive, my good friend Ben Abraham and I have recorded a little ditty to soundtrack your bon-bon popping and pudding scoffing. If you’d like to check it out here’s the link: https://benabraham.lnk.to/HYAMLC
Sending love and can’t wait to see your faces next year.
Missy
xx
UPCOMING SHOWS
Sun Dec 19Sandstone Point Hotel, Sandstone Point QLD (with Paul Kelly) Sat Jan 29Lighthouse Festival, Norah Head NSW Sat Feb 5SummerSalt Festival, Royal Botanic Gardens, Hobart TAS Sun Feb 6SummerSalt Festival, Royal Botanic Gardens, Hobart TAS – SOLD OUT
Sat Feb 12 By The C, Torquay Common, Torquay VIC (with Icehouse) – SOLD OUT Sun Feb 13Stomping Of The Grapes, Gerringong NSW Sat Feb 19SummerSalt Festival, Coffs Harbour NSW Sun Feb 20SummerSalt Festival, Queen Elizabeth Park, Coolangatta QLD Sat Feb 26SummerSalt Festival, Stage 88, Canberra ACT Sun Feb 27SummerSalt Festival, North Gardens, Ballarat VIC – SOLD OUT Sat Mar 5Castelli Estate, Denmark WA Sun Mar 6SummerSalt Festival, The Esplanade, Fremantle WA Sat Mar 12Wildflower Festival, Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley VIC Sun Mar 13SummerSalt Festival, Don Lucas Reserve, Cronulla NSW Sat Mar 19Wildflower Festival, Riverstage, Brisbane QLD Sun Mar 20 By The C, Keirle Park, Manly (with Icehouse) NSW Mon Mar 21Great Southern Nights, Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul NSW Sat Mar 26SummerSalt Festival, Mildura VIC Sun Mar 27SummerSalt Festival, M.O Moran Reserve, St Kilda VIC Sat Apr 2Wildflower Festival, Roche Estate, Hunter Valley NSW Sat Apr 16Bluesfest, Byron Bay NSW
Sat May 7 Munro Martin Parklands, Cairns QLD Sat May 28Darwin Amphitheatre, Darwin NT (with Icehouse) July 5-7Big Red Bash, Birdsville QLD Aug 18 -20Mundi Mundi Bash, Broken Hill NSW Sat Oct 29Wildflower Festival, Craigmoor Winery, Mudgee NSW
This was such a wild experience. Not only to play live music for the first time in ages, but to do it in such a magical zen kind of a place: The Peninsula Hot Springs. In one of the songs I’m literally performing on top of a hot springs bath with my feet in the 45 degree water (!!), while watching the sun going down and a 360 degree view over the velvety rolling hills. It was other-worldly. @thesoundau just make the coolest live music videos, I love this show so much. Tune in this Sunday to see my performance and heaps of other great artists perform in crazy beautiful places.
I really loved singing this duet with Mark Seymour, a song from his brilliant album Slow Dawn, called The Whole World is Dreaming. Mark and his band filmed a live version of the whole album during one of Melbourne’s many lockdowns, (shot exquisitely in a very empty Forum theatre), which is airing on @abctv Plus soon. And we are releasing the live recording of The Whole World is Dreaming. Please enjoy and I *highly* recommend checking out his album if you haven’t already 💚
The video to ‘Edge Of Something’ is here! Live footage of me singing this song (at home in my study because, well where else would I possibly be right now?!) woven through footage from Season 2 of Total Control by the genius ABC editor Hilary Campilan, makes for such a powerful video for this song.
Writing for Deborah Mailman, Rachel Griffiths (and many more amazing women in the show) and the fierce and complex characters they all portray was truly a bloody joy. Watching their faces on the screen in front of me every day on repeat as I was writing felt incredibly relevant. Like I was watching unfold all the impossible predicaments that women – especially women of colour – are forced into these days if they manage to claw their way into the arena. These women were choosing to keep fighting despite knowing full well that the world wasn’t set up for them yet. Elbowing their way to the front, bruised and broken but grabbing the microphone anyway. Truly an inspiration.
I’m so proud of this song and this project. And seeing as though album sleeve credits seem to be a thing of the past… I’d like to give some big shout outs to: Total Control’s producer Darren Dale at Blackfella Films, the amazing music production duo @sonarmusicofficial whom I wrote the short version of this song with for Season 1. This full expanded version featured in Season 2 features Leigh Fisher on drums, Cameron Deyell on guitar and Brendon Love on bass (who also co-produced the track, and he and I are currently making more songs together so stay tuned there!). Engineered and mixed by the magician Nao Anzai at Rolling Stock studios Collingwood.
After enduring Melbourne’s lengthy lockdowns Missy Higgins is about to start making up for lost time. She’s dropping new music tied to the acclaimed TV series “Total Control”, she’s guesting on a hip hop track by Birdz, and she’s announcing lots of summer shows including headlining the beach concert series “SummerSalt” and the new all-female festival, “Wildflower”.
“It’s been lovely to get so much ‘quality time’ with my young family over the last 18 months”,Missy explains, “but if I’ve learned anything it’s that making music keeps me sane!”
The first fresh challenge the beloved singer/songwriter set herself involved ABCTV’s triple AACTA Award winning drama “Total Control”. Several of her hits were featured in 2019’s first season plus she added vocals and lyrics to some short instrumental pieces in several episodes. During lockdowns this provided a fresh writing challenge as she sought to expand some of those short TV fragments into complete songs.
Her new single “Edge Of Something” – released today – is one of several works born out of this process. Originally an 80 second piece for the TV show it’s now been reimagined as a full song and recorded from scratch with co-producer Brendon Love (from the Teskey Brothers). To bring things full circle this new version is currently being featured in an eye catching promo for Season 2 of “Total Control” and will also make a memorable appearance in one of the new episodes.
“I’m really proud to have my music featured in this particular show”,Missy explains. “It’s a compelling drama about the challenges women face in public life so I think it’s ‘must see TV’ after all the revelations coming out of Canberra this year.”
In addition to “Edge Of Something”,Missy will soon be releasing some other new songs from the show including “Watch Out” which she teased during a recent performance on ABC’s “The Set”. The episode also featured a collaboration with Butchulla rapper, Birdz, who was a fellow guest and that association gave rise to Missy’s featured appearance on his new single “Legacy 2” which is out now.
With the release of all this new music, Missy is also planning a return to concert stages around the country. First out of the gate were announcements last week regarding her headlining some big “SummerSalt” gigs in beaches and parks across the country. More of those Covid-safe events are expected to be announced over the coming weeks.
Last week it was also announced that Missy will headline “Wildflower” a brand new all-female festival which features Kate Miller-Heidke, Kasey Chambers, Sarah Blasko, Deborah Conway, Vicki Thorn (The Waifs) & Alice Skye.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be a part of Wildflower. All the women involved are total inspirations and some were actually really big influences on me in the early days of my career,” There’s something about being on the road with so many powerful creative women, it’s so rare it kind of creates magic when it happens. I was involved in the second round of Lilith Fair in America about ten years ago and it goes down as one of the best experiences I’ve ever had, I made lifelong friends out of it. I have no doubt this will be the same, but this time showcasing to the country the huge amount of Aussie talent we have here. It’s an incredible way to get back in to playing live music again, holy moly I’ve missed it.”
As Missy sings in her new single, “I’m on the edge of something … possibly beautiful”.
Firstly, I’m beyond thrilled to announce that I’ll be involved in Wildflower Festival, touring early next year. Its an all-female line-up and all the women involved are total inspirations, some of which were actually really big influences on me in the early days of my career. There’s something about being on the road with so many powerful creative women, it’s so rare it kind of creates magic when it happens. I was involved in the second round of Lilith Fair in America about ten years ago and it goes down as one of the best experiences I ever had, I made lifelong friends out of it. I have no doubt this will be the same but this time showcasing to the country the huge amount of Aussie talent we have here. An incredible way to get back in to playing live music again, holy moly I’ve missed it.
Secondly… A NEW SONG! It’s called Edge Of Something. I’m very very proud of this song, the theme of which actually is incredibly apt when announcing alongside an all-female tour. It’s a Woman-power song, with BITE. I’ll tell you more about it later but for now I’ll tell you it’s out next Friday October 15.
Can’t wait for you to hear it and can’t wait to see you at a show 🙂
Whoo hoo very excited to announce more live shows! I’ll be playing at Summersalt Festival with a heap of great Aussie artists in Hobart on Sunday 6th February and in Fremantle on Sunday March 6th. Tickets + info: www.summersaltmusic.com.au
Broome: Damn! My show at The Roey next week is being postponed due to current border restrictions. New show date is Friday October 1 and existing tickets are valid for the new date. Hope to see you there but if you can’t make it along then you can obtain a refund from your place of purchase.
I’ve been wanting an excuse to go back to my favourite place in the world, and playing a show is the perfect one! Broome is like a second home to us, I’ve written many a song there and met my husband there. Very much looking forward to getting up into the warm weather and playing a gig at the classic Roey Hotel.
CENTRAL COAST: I’m playing at Lighthouse Festival with Didirri, Sam Windley, Elaskia, +more in November. Hope to see you there! Tickets on sale this Thursday June 17 at 9am.
QUEENSLAND! This Winter I’ll be doing a big gig at Cairns Festival on Sunday 29 August. I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve played in Cairns, the band and I are so excited to get up there. Cairns is always such a warm and beautiful change from cold Melbourne so I’m looking forward to feeling like I’m on holiday up there! Tickets on sale now via https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/…/popular…/missy-higgins
Very excited to announce this. This Sat 24 April 8pm on ABC my episode of The Set will be airing! The band and I had so much fun performing a few songs in the “backyard” (including a new song you won’t have heard) having a cheeky cocktail and a chat with the hosts and collaborating with rap artist Birdz on a well known song from the early 2000s that you won’t believe we dared take on! Birdz also does his own incredible set that blew me away. Any opportunities like this to play at the moment are like diamonds. So. Fun. Hope you enjoy Missy xx
Hi everyone, some sad news about my WA shows in early March – unfortunately due to ongoing WA Border restrictions for Victorians, the promoters have had to make some changes.
FREMANTLE PRISON SHOWS March 4 + 5
Thu 4 March show has been rescheduled to Thu 15 April and the Fri 5 March show is now rescheduled to Fri 16 April. If you are able to attend on the new dates you don’t have to do anything – you can hold on to your existing ticket and it will still be valid for the new date. If you are not able to attend on the new date you are entitled to a refund by contacting Ticketmaster prior to Mon 22 March.
GOOD DAY SUNSHINE FESTIVAL March 6
Good Day Sunshine Festival has sadly been cancelled. All ticket holders will automatically receive refunds. To make up for this cancellation, we are immediately announcing that Ben Lee and I will be doing a replacement show at 3 Oceans Winery on Sat 17 April. Pre-sale for this show is only available to current Good Day Sunshine Festival ticket holders, and they will receive the pre-sale ticketing link via email. General public on-sale is from 10:00am local time Mon 1 March via www.missyhiggins.com/shows.
Heartbroken that this has had to happen – but as with everything in the past year, we just have to roll with the punches. We’ll all be together again very soon!
Hi everyone! I’m doing a live stream gig on my TikTok for Isol-Aid Festival this Sunday 7 February at 6:00pm 💕
Be sure to tune in on time because it’ll only last about half an hour – and I promise we’ll jam pack heaps of tunes in there for you all! If you want to get a notification when the stream starts, follow my TikTok @missyhigginsmusic now… which you really should be doing anyway! 😂 Have a great rest of the week and I’ll see you on Sunday!
