Latest news with #MissyHiggins
SBS Australia
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Why do some Australian musicians sing with a foreign accent?
Mitch Thompson from country/pop act Seaforth sounds straight out of Nashville — yet he grew up in Sydney. So why does he sing with an American accent? "I have to really think about it to sing in an Australian accent," Thompson, 35, told The Feed. "It's almost like a different section of the brain when I start singing — a different muscle memory of 'this is how words sound when I sing, this is how words sound when I talk'." Thompson recalls being at a singing competition where he was told he sounded too similar to Missy Higgins, who sings with a strong Australian accent. "One of the judges was like: 'You can't copy Miss Higgins' voice so much. It's a little too Aussie,'" Thompson said. So, his singing accent shifted, and by the time he moved to Nashville, the world's country music capital, almost a decade ago, Thompson had lost all trace of Missy Higgins. "Anytime I go off stage, there'll be at least one person that's like, 'Where's your accent go when you sing?' Or people that didn't know that Seaforth is Australian." Seaforth has now amassed close to 500,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Mitch Thompson sings with an American accent as frontman of the Australian country-pop duo Seaforth. Source: Getty / Michael Hickey "The accent and how I sing is just purely based off the music I was listening to," Thompson said. "There was never an active: 'I need to sound like Keith Urban' for it to work over here." There's been a significant drop in local acts making it into Australia's top charts, partly due to the rise of streaming services such as Spotify with algorithms that favour US and UK acts, according to music researcher and former record label manager Tim Kelly. "It used to be the case that you can make a living as an Australian artist in Australia ... like Hilltop Hoods ... or Powderfinger ... who sold most of their recordings and did most of their touring in Australia," Kelly told The Feed. "Now it's deemed that there isn't enough money in the Australian market and you've got to have two other markets as well as Australia." When the accent doesn't fit the song The Australian accent can feel like a hindrance, due to the pronunciation of certain sounds, particularly 's' and 'r', according to Ariana Rigazzi, a vocal coach based in Melbourne. "In one syllable you're pronouncing two vowels [in the Australian accent] … basically your tongue is moving while you're pronouncing that one syllable," Rigazzi said. "And that can be a hindrance while you're singing. So it's easier to do an American vowel instead of an Australian vowel to be able to actually get to the note and not have your tongue move." And Thompson says it would sound "jarring" if he sang in an Australian accent. "You lose the rhymes in certain words that in an American accent would rhyme with the next [word] — you can make it rhyme," he said. 'You've got to sound more like us' Australian artists are competing more than ever with the US and UK market to find an audience — and an accent or sound change may be encouraged by Australian labels to appeal to a wider audience, Kelly said. "There's this gravity of conformity that for new artists that would say, if you want to succeed over here [predominantly in the US and UK] ... you've got to sound more like us." "And the industry supports that pressure because managers and record labels and agents and everyone else is going: 'We want you to sound like the stuff that's doing well.'" Music researcher Tim Kelly says Australian artists are having to compete with the US and UK markets more than ever. Source: Supplied / casimaria Algorithms within music streaming services are how many people now discover new artists; it also plays into the demand for Australian artists to adapt their sound. "There's this pressure to get on the algorithm, to sound like other people, to be able to appeal to international markets by leaning into what works in those markets," Kelly says. Do Australian musicians have to change their sound to find success? Kelly says there's a cultural influence from international markets that has shaped the sound of Australian music — and it's worked. The Kid LAROI, Vance Joy, RÜFÜS DU SOL and Troye Sivan are among Australia's top streamed Spotify artists and yet international audiences would be forgiven for not realising they're Australian. "[There is] increased pressure for you to be able to succeed in other markets and not get locked into an Australian context. There is a debate about whether if you become a triple j favourite — that's great in Australia — but it might lock you out of other markets," he said. "Then you're just seen as an Australian artist." There are exceptions. Acts like Amyl and the Sniffers, Shady Nasty, DMA's, Sticky Fingers, Stella Donnelly, Courtney Barnett, and Hilltop Hoods, who all sound distinctly Australian and have found international success. "The artists that are doing well … Amyl and the Sniffers, King Gizzard, Tame Impala have an Australian-ess about them that has actually served them well in an international context," Kelly said. Amyl and the Sniffers, whose sound is defined by the distinctive voice and accent of lead singer Amy Taylor, recently played at Glastonbury festival in the UK: and Thompson believes global audiences are waiting with open arms to embrace more Australian-sounding music. "An Australian accent would actually stand out more than anything in this market."
Time Out
04-07-2025
- Time Out
This sunny coastal town is Australia's top trending destination for a winter road trip
The humble road trip is kind of a quintessential Aussie cultural practice. While some travellers plan their route around the coolest Airbnbs in the country, others hit the road in search of beachfront campsites where they can fall asleep under the stars. Sure, summer is the most popular time for campervan adventures in Australia, but new data shows Aussies are chasing the sun this winter, with a fresh list of the top trending road trip destinations. The cool cats at Camplify gathered data from more than 1,700 caravan bookings for between June and August 2025 to determine the ten most popular winter road trip spots across the country. It's clear we Aussies are dreaming of sunnier days, with our sun-soaked West Coast dominating the top ten. More than one in four Aussies are road-tripping in Western Australia this winter, with the stunning coastal town of Exmouth claiming the top spot. It accounted for almost ten per cent of all winter bookings on Camplify – and with average temps sitting at a balmy 24 degrees from June to August, it's not hard to see why. Our Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, recently visited Exmouth – and she hasn't stopped raving about it since. In fact, it could be her favourite Aussie destination of the year. While there, she ticked off a bucket list swim with whale sharks (the world's largest fish), searched for black-footed rock wallabies at Yardie Creek, and hiked through the fossil-crusted Mandu Mandu Gorge, a place that's been inhabited by humans for about 30,000 years. Humpback whale season has also just kicked off, making winter an even more magical time to visit. Just a 1.5-hour drive from Exmouth, Coral Bay ranked as Australia's second most popular winter road trip destination, claiming more than five per cent of bookings. Further south, the picturesque resort town of Kalbarri ranked third, while other Western Australian gems like Monkey Mia, Margaret River and Esperance also made the top ten. On the East, Mundi Mundi – an expansive outback plain in far western New South Wales – ranked as Australia's fourth most popular winter destination. In late August, the region comes alive for the annual Mundi Mundi Bash, where music lovers camp beneath vast desert skies and groove to the sounds of iconic Aussie artists like Missy Higgins and the Hoodoo Gurus. Feeling inspired to hit the road? You can check out Australia's top winter road trip destinations listed below. Don't forget to pack the snacks! The top 10 winter road trip destinations in Australia Exmouth, WA Coral Bay, WA Kalbarri, WA Mundi Mundi, NSW Sunshine Coast, QLD Broken Hill, NSW Monkey Mia, WA Gympie Muster, QLD Margaret River, WA Esperance, WA 🌊
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Missy Higgins, The Living End, Boy & Bear head up Wanderer 2025 line-up
Good things come to those who wait, and you've been waiting for a boutique arts and music festival experience situated among a tree-lined, beach-adjacent paradise, then biannual event Wanderer Festival is here with the goods. Taking place on the picturesque Pambula Beach on the New South Wales South Coast on Yuin land, Wanderer returns the first weekend of October with a finely curated bill of Australian and international acts. The incomparable Missy Higgins needs little introduction and is the star of the Saturday night programme. The Hall of Fame inductee and Double J Artist of the Year joins Wanderer off the back of a sold out tour celebrating both her inspirational blockbuster debut The Sound of White and chart-topping spiritual sequel The Second Act . Expect sing-alongs, euphoria and — let's face it — tears. Homegrown indie-folk legends Boy & Bear are festival staples, and if you've never experienced their soothing harmonies and innovative pop angles in the flesh? You're in for a treat. The ever electrifying The Living End will have you moving Sunday night. Fresh from releasing 'Alfie', a new single reconnecting with their rockabilly roots, you'll be treated to a setlist of new treats alongside blistering classics Fronted by the iconic Adalita, Magic Dirt still play with the same energy and presence they always did. They'll make a great pairing with Hockey Dad – Windang rock royalty whose mix of grunge, surf rock and punky pop makes them a must-see live act. Jetting their way to the Sapphire Coast will be L.A. quartet Saint Motel. For more than a decade they've been crafting silky, theatrical pop that the grandest of '70s acts would approve of — the perfect cocktail-sipping soundtrack. Also on the international front: soulful Nigerian-born, London-shaped singer-songwriter Jacob Banks, America's self-styled 'First Lady of Outlaw Country', Nikki Lane, and if you're looking for a boogie, then there's young Netherlands producer Lavern and French electronic maestro Petit Biscuit. Also joining the party is vocal powerhouses Emma Donovan and Grace Cummings. Both released some of the best albums of last year and are rarely less than brilliant on stage. Why not indulge in the stunning vocal harmonies of Folk Bitch Trio, or how about a DJ set from bloghouse heroes Cut Copy? Or heading to the Wanderhaus stage for back-to-back sets from turntable masters? You've also got roots sensations Pierce Brothers, Dublin duo DUG, self-built indie rockers The VANNS, and Double J's very own Henry Wagons playing Johnny Cash's esteemed American Recordings. If all that wasn't tempting enough, know that there's even more acts to be added to the bill. And if the 2023 edition is anything to go by, the calibre will remain high. Debuting in 2022 from Falls Festival founder and The Lost Lands impresario Simon Daly, Wanderer festival is a family-friendly affair that offers a full arts program and activities for all ages, for when you need a breather from the live music. It all goes down in Pambula Beach near the Sapphire Coast, situated halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, or a three-hour drive from Canberra. It's worth the trip for the pristine location, alone. Plus, you'll have to wait until 2027 to get the Wanderer experience again. Here's the line-up so far for Wanderer Festival 2025, proudly co-presented by Double J Saturday: Missy Higgins, Saint Motel (USA), Hockey Dad, Magic Dirt, Lavern (NL), Pierce Brothers, Grace Cummings, Folk Bitch Trio, Johnny Cash Recordings w Henry Wagons, O And The Mo (NZ), Jack Botts, The Tullamarines, Dust, Groove Society, Jimi The Kween, Bec Sandridge, Prodikal — 1, Sixten b2b Benjamin, Sunday Lemonade, Bega Sound Collective Sunday: The Living End, Boy & Bear, Jacob Banks (UK), Petit Biscuit (FR), Nikki Lane (USA), Cut Copy (DJ Set), The Vanns, Dug (IRL), Emma Donovan, Sylvie (USA), The Bures Band, Groove Society, Jimi The Kween, Bega Sound Collective, Lotte Gallagher, Mika James, Radium Dolls, Val Moogz, Lillian Mcveity Plus, Wanderhaus acts Chicka b2b Rangz, Darcy M. & Carlo T., Jai Cole b2b Kurtis Markwort, Just Andrew, Swell Records DJs, Usual Suspects DJs Wanderer Festival happens at Pamula Beach on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October. Tickets are on sale now. Ticketing info, including an opportunity to win VIP upgrades, can be found at the Wanderer Festival website.
Time Out
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
On The Steps
It's hard to name a more iconic Australian live music venue than the Sydney Opera House. In fact, I dare you. And while the Concert Hall, Utzon Room and other architecturally stunning indoor spaces have their merits, a show on the Opera House forecourt – out in the air, with views across the harbour – is beyond year, the Sydney Opera House On The Steps series brought some of Australia's most beloved musicians to the Opera House forecourt, with Crowded House, Troye Sivan, Missy Higgins and Tina Arena performing outside of the country's most famous building, as well as global acts including Two Door Cinema Club, Declan McKenna and Glass Animals. For anyone lucky enough to attend, the On The Steps shows were a highlight of Sydney summer 2024 – gorgeous amber sunsets and joyful crowds gathered on the Mayan-temple-inspired steps to see their favourite artist perform in front of one of the world's most beautiful city skylines. Now, the organisers have confirmed that On The Steps is coming back for 2025, with this year's line-up looking better than ever. So far, only four acts have been announced, with more due to drop over the next few weeks and months. The first act confirmed to light up the steps for the 2025 summer season will be the iconic Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, who will be performing a one-off show on Wednesday, December 3. Franz Ferdinand's forecourt show will be the first time they've performed in Australia since 2018, when they brought their distinct breed of post-punk indie rock on a tour around the country. Next up, the hugely talented British songwriter/ hip-hop artist/ lyrical genius Loyle Carner will bring his poetic brilliance to the forecourt on Thursday, December 4 – his first Sydney show since his 2023 tour. A personal favourite, Byron-born alt-pop angels Parcels will perform two huge forecourt shows on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7. Rounding out the line-up, comedy star Urzila Carlson will be bringing big giggles to the forecourt on Saturday, December 13.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Missy Higgins cuts a flirty figure as she leads celebrity arrivals at the 2025 APRA Music Awards alongside Richard Wilkins in Melbourne
The 2025 APRA Music Awards got off to a fun start on Wednesday night. The show, which is held in Melbourne, brought out some of Australia's biggest music stars. Leading the charge was Missy Higgins who kept things simply in a flirty gingham mini dress. She paired it with a deep green jacket, white socks and a pair of patent leather Dr. Martens flats. For makeup, she chose a peachy, glowing look with a nude coral lipstick and lashings of mascara. The singer wore her reddish locks pulled back and completed her ensemble with gold hoops. Putting in a dapper appearance was Richard Wilkins opted for an all black ensemble for the night. The entertainment reporter paired a velvet blazer with skinny jeans and boots as well as a chunky belt. Gypsy Rogers stunned in a lace mini dress that sat close to her incredible figure and matched her fishnet tights. The singer, who is the daughter of pop star Kate Ceberano, added a pair of stacked patent heels and kept her accessories minimal. For makeup, she chose a warm toned palette with a rosy lipstick and wore her curls down. Singer Kaiit opted for an artistic look in a frock patched together from mixed checked fabrics. She wore it over a a while shirt and chunky boots while carrying a boho crochet shoulder bag. The star ensured her makeup matched her eclectic ensemble and clipped her curls off her face. Briggs put in a cool appearance, with the Aussie rapper choosing a long camel coat over a black ensemble. He added a number of chains and had his tattoos on display, completing the ensemble with leather boots. Grace Newtown was glamorous in a bold floral frock with taffeta skirting and a plunging neckline. Jock Cheese of Tism commanded attention in a dapper, classic suit paired with a balaclava. He wore a blue satin vest under his jacket and added a bowtie for a touch of class. Former children's entertainer Murray Cook of The Wiggles opted for a retro look for his night out. He wore a purple velvet suit with flared trousers and an eye-catching shirt in matching tones in a psychedelic pattern.
