IN HER GROOVE

We speak to the nine-time ARIA Award-winning indie-pop artist MISSY HIGGINS ahead of her upcoming tour

What have been your biggest ‘pinch me’ moments?

Touring with Ed [Sheeran for his 2018 ÷ Tour] was up there because I’d never been in front of that many people consistently before. His fans were so excited and full of love for him, I got an inkling of what it was like to be that big a star. And doing that while I was pregnant, then announcing my pregnancy on stage to 80,000 people before singing his biggest single at the time with him— the [one] he did with Beyoncé, “Perfect Duet”—was a dream.

You’re a mum of two now. Has your growing family changed the way you approach work and fame?

The days of me going away for months and months on the road are probably gone now but that’s okay because I did so much when I was in my twenties. My husband [playwright Dan Lee] is a stay-at-home dad whenever I’m touring, so ideally, I’ll space shows to just one or two a weekend, then go home during the week. I just want to hang out with the kids while they’re young...they’re so much fun.

Last year saw you explore new creative avenues closer to home. You co-created songs for the ABC series Total Control, starring Rachel Griffiths and Deborah Mailman, which won the 2019 AACTA Award for Best TV Drama. How did that process compare to writing music for radio?