Missy Higgins
Passionate and sincere, Australian singer-songwriter Missy Higgins is a welcome relief in a music landscape littered with disposable pop. The 24-year-old Melbourne native has enjoyed phenomenal success in her homeland, and a growing fanbase in the U.S., in spite of — or perhaps because she shuns the usual synthetic packaging and tabloid tackiness. Instead she's adopted a more timeless approach, relying on her undeniable songs and unforgettable live performances to forge a genuine connection with her audience.
Higgins began her music career singing standards with her older brother's band when she was just 13. She was thrust into the limelight in 2001 when she won a national songwriting competition run by an influential national alternative radio network while still in high school. Instead of capitalizing on the moment, she chose to backpack around Europe before returning home and releasing an eponymous EP that topped the indie charts in late 2003. Airplay on influential Los Angeles tastemaker station KCRW led to a Stateside deal with Warner Bros Records. The following year, she released the Scar EP in Australia, which entered the country's charts at Number One, followed by the best-selling The Sound of White, which was released internationally later that year. Higgins made repeated trips to the US and UK, opening for the likes of Ray Lamontagne, The Finn Brothers, and Howie Day. By the end of 2005, she had racked up more than 200 gigs culminating in a memorable series of huge outdoor concerts around Australia.
Higgins' new album, On A Clear Night, retains the irresistible melodies and piercing lyrics of her critically lauded debut The Sound of White, which was Australia's best-selling album of 2005. On A Clear Night (certified triple platinum in Australia) was awarded the Highest Selling Australian album of 2007 and saw Missy crowned with yet another ARIA Award (Australia's Grammy) as the country's "Best Female Artist" for the second time.
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