Missy Higgins slipped quietly into the studio for the shooting of Street Press Australia's [SPA] annual ARIA award cover. Placing a small cardboard box on the ground before saying her hellos to 360 and Dougy Mandagi of The Temper Trap, Higgins then divulged that the mysterious package contained the ARIA Award we had requested for the day.

A few metres of bubble wrap later and Higgins had explained that she'd had to get the award from her mum's place – it seems Mama Higgins is the keeper of the pointy prizes.

Each year in the lead up to the ARIA Awards, SPA select ARIA Award nominees to come together for a shoot that will grace the covers of the annual ARIA issues of The Drum Media, Inpress and Time Off. Past shoots have included members of Powderfinger, The Living End and Silverchair as well as Washington and Dan Sultan.

Today Higgins gathered at Kane Hibberd's studio with 360 and Mandagi for a pre-ARIA drinks vibe that included the three daring to imbibe our prop sparkly – a nice drop of Whisper picked up at the local bottle shop for $6.

The results of the shoot will be be unveiled next week. To preview in our galley, click here.