Working On A New Sound: 'You Kind Of Have To Go Really Extreme In Both Directions'

Missy Higgins is on the pre-release chat circuit for her fourth original LP, Solastalgia.

While much of this tends to stay behind-the-scenes until the album and tour land, she did make a bit of a splash this time around with an appearance on the ABC's Q&A, making clear her strong opposition to the Australian government's position on refugees. Although she appeared confident and articulate, she's also aware that kind of public engagement isn't core business for her. "Musicians are not used to putting ourselves 'out there' in that kind of way, our main thing is our art and that's the reason that we've got a platform in the first place," she explains of the appearance and subsequent media reporting. "So it feels risky and you realise that you're putting yourself out there for potential public criticism, which can really hurt."

To us mere non-award-winning-music-making mortals, this comment might seem strange. Doesn't Higgins put herself 'out there' with each album and stage appearance? 

"Well, I feel like [professional musicians] are much more comfortable in our own arena because that's what we've grown up doing and that's our passion, you know. A lot of the time, and I guess on that show, you're asked to talk about things that I wouldn't volunteer to talk about publicly. I don't feel particularly passionately about the budget or the NBN, or not passionately enough to stand up and shout my opinion to the nation, but if you're going to participate in that then you've got to present your opinions in at least a semi-articulate kind of way," she laughs by way of explanation.

Modesty about general public speaking aside, with the new album Higgins has also chosen to explore new modes of expression. Making a clear beeline for non-traditional production styles, Solastalgia channels a new wave of electro expression via the old wave of '80s nostalgia and revival. "When I set out to write the album I wanted to collaborate with people who could help me take my music in a really unpredictable and adventurous direction. And in order to find out what your new sound is, you kind of have to go really extreme in both directions and I think we did both here - and so I was feeling really free to try out new things and different sounds... I didn't want there to be any fear involved in the making of this album. I wanted to just purely have fun and experiment," she reveals.

The results range from late Bowie to contemporary Christine & The Queens, with Peter Gabriel and Eurythmics all in there for good measure as well. That's not to say that the 'Missy Higgins sound' doesn't still exist, but it is certainly enjoying a new sonic wardrobe. Particularly interesting is closer The Old Star, a song made with friend and previous collaborator Butterfly Boucher. "[Boucher and I] collaborated on my album The Ol' Razzle Dazzle, and we have a really great relationship. We feel really comfortable enough with each other to try out things and see what sticks, and so it was just one of those moments where we had a free afternoon and thought, 'Why not?'" she says. Sonically and thematically it's got a good dose of Bowie, too - a deliberate tribute and metaphor for exploration and embracing the unknown.

"I think, because he had Black Star, his last release, it's definitely a little nod to Bowie. And obviously he had his Starman alter egos, but I think what initially inspired that song was [the fact] that I wanted to write an album that was apocalyptic-themed but that was timelined to start at today and went until the end of the world," she laughs. "I intended that song to be the last one, because that's the last one - aliens coming to earth and judging the silly humans on how they destroyed their own planet. So, yeah! It was fun, it was kind of a really tongue-in-cheek and really fun thing to write. But once it was done I really fell in love with it and really wanted it on the album - I know it's really far out."

On the other end of the spectrum, but every part as strong, is the very specific (and sadly increasingly relevant) 49 Candles. Written after the Orlando shootings in 2016, it's a protest song that gently invites rather than demands. "I was in America during the Orlando shooting and I could feel this really strong sense of - kind of helplessness all around me from people who were just exasperated at the government's refusal to tighten the gun laws... I felt I wanted to write a song from the perspective of what I thought was the American people at that time; you know, feeling as though their voices were just - they were just shouting into the wilderness. So I guess it's just a call for help rather than anything."

Getting ready to take the album on the road will be Higgins and a female-dominated cast. This last bit is also a new and exciting adventure for the musician. "There's four girls in my band, they're all strong singers," she says. "So touring these songs live there's this big wall of female vocal harmonies and it sounds amazing. I guess I've spent most of my life touring with dudes and, you know, a lot of my close friends are guys, but there's something about having women on the road that changes the dynamic and I find myself able to, you know, relate to them about things that I can't relate to my guy friends about."