Missy Higgins Sound Of White CD

The story behind Missy Higgins' "All for Believing," the young Australian singers' haunting, classically tinged piano ballad that launched her career, is the stuff of Hollywood dreams, even though the tale begins in a music class in Melbourne. At age 16, she had put off an assignment 'til the last minute and wrote the piece in a rushed half-hour before class. Her sister urged her to submit it to Unearthed, the national song competition run by the influential national alternative radio network Triple J -- and it won. When Los Angeles tastemaker KCRW started playing a live version of the song, Warner Bros. took interest and soon she was on her way to international stardom. Fortunately, she's not just a one-song sensation, as emotional and longing, more lushly produced tracks like "Ten Days" and the playful, folksy (and guitar driven) "Scar" demonstrate. At her core, however, Higgins needs little production to get her musical essence across -- sparse piano- and cello-enhanced tracks like "Don't Ever," "Night Minds," and the title track allow her to come across most honestly. Favorable comparisons to Kate Bush and Vanessa Carlton are inevitable, but as Higgins develops, there's no doubt she'll be the one up-and-coming singers want to compare themselves to. ~ Jonathan Widran

Produced by John Porter (former Roxy Music bassist and producer of The Smiths) and mixed by Jay Newland (Norah Jones), 'The Sound Of White' demonstrates Higgin's great ability as a songwriter. The first single 'Ten Days' encapsulates all that is great about Missy; its lovelorn lyrics, sorrowful strings and memorable chorus all combining to dazzling effect. The album also features 'Scar', the single that went straight to the top of the Australian charts and ended up being the most played radio song of 2004. Throughout other highlights such as 'All For Believing', 'Any Day Now' and 'Don't Ever', Higgin's emotive songwriting and intimate performances confirm her to be an artist of truly global potential.

Recording information: House Of Blues Studio.

Photographer: Adrienne Overall.

Personnel: Missy Higgins (vocals, acoustic guitar, piano); Missy Higgins; Helen Mountford, Helen Mountfort (cello); John Patitucci (bass instrument, upright bass); Keith Christopher (bass instrument); Carlos Cordova (double bass, upright bass); Michael Barker (percussion); Stuart Mathis (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Greg Leisz (guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro); John Porter (acoustic guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, keyboards); Jay Newland (acoustic guitar); Martin Tillman (cello, electric cello); Darrell Leonard, Walt Fowler (flugelhorn); Ken Wiley (French horn); Jamie Muhoberac (piano, keyboards); Dean Butterworth (drums); Debra Dobkin (percussion).

Audio Mixer: Jay Newland.

Entertainment Weekly (No. 825, p.81) - "...[S]hows a depth reminiscent of early Suzanne Vega and Sarah McLachlan..." - Grade: B plus
Mojo (Publisher) (p.90) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Like an upbeat Fiona Apple, she envelops each song in rich, rhythmic piano....Higgins keeps it grounded and melodic..."