Missy Higgins left no stone unturned in its creation The Second Actthe Australian singer-songwriter's sixth studio album.
It was released 20 years after her groundbreaking debut The Sound of White, The Second Act (via Eleven/EMI) finds Higgins at a completely different and vulnerable stage of life.
Higgins explored the pain of a breakup and channeled it into the album, which she explains was recorded in a back room at her house.
“The songs came out in desperation. Really, desperate to find a way forward,” he says during one Zoom call outside her house. “And because songs have always been that for me, they've always been very, very cathartic and therapeutic, they've always been a way for me to figure things out.”
Australian audiences have also connected with the album. The Second Act opened at No. 1 on the ARIA Chart on Friday, September 13, for her fourth leader.
“There aren't that many albums written from the perspective of parents, especially single parents,” he explains. The Second Act he does, and captures “the kind of sadness that comes with that, and the sense of responsibility and guilt.”
Higgins has her hands full this year, not just with parenting duties and her new LP. The Melbourne artist has been touring throughout the year in support of The Sound of White's 20th anniversary. When its 40 dates sold out in minutes, Frontier Touring added an “encore” run in the run-up to Christmas. For Higgins, Christmas will come early. On November 20, he will be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, during a segment of the ARIA Awards in Sydney.
Higgins' career got off to the brightest start The Sound Of Whitewhich dominated the ARIA Chart for seven non-consecutive cycles and collected a slew of ARIAs.
Her sophomore set On a clear night (since 2007) and third collection Ol' Razzle Dazzle (2012) also led the chart, while Oz (2014), Solastalgia (2018) and Absolute Control (2022) all cracked the top 3 spots.
The United States beckoned and Higgins lived for a time in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles. It even notes a bestselling author Harlan Coben among her fans and supporters (the couple made several in-store appearances together in 2009).
Another US tour may have to wait. “I wanted to go to America this year, but it is very difficult with the children. I don't really want to leave them for two weeks. I would have to get a babysitter or it would be late nights. It's just too hard. I think I'll just have to wait until they get a little older. And do the big thing.”
Good things, it is often said, come to those who wait. Until then, fans can live with a record that's as raw and human as any released this year. “With every album, it's a snapshot of my life. The Sound of White was a snapshot of my teenage angst and this is a new chapter, this transition to the second act. I'm happy to have it.”
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/missy-higgins-interview-the-second-act-1235778358/
