Celebrating ‘The Sound Of White’ 20th Anniversary
Missy Higgins is unveiling ‘an anniversary tour with a difference’ to celebrate 20 years since her trailblazing debut, The Sound Of White.
The Second Act Tour will see Missy touring theatres nationally next autumn in a special two act show. The first set each evening will include some brand-new songs, plus a few fan favourites from early in her career, all played in stripped back, acoustic mode. After an intermission Missy will then return with her full band to perform The Sound Of White in its entirety plus some of her other hits.
Don’t miss the special return of Missy Higgins.
The Sound Of White deluxe 20th Anniversary album reissue out April 5, pre-order here
The Sound Of White is one of the biggest and most influential albums in Australian music history. The intensely introspective collection of yearning songs yielded bona fide classics like “Scar”, “Ten Days” and “The Special Two”. It has sold a million copies and received 6 ARIA Awards. Over the last 20 years The Sound Of White has also inspired dozens of young Australian women – including major artists like Amy Shark, Gretta Ray, Gordi and Angie McMahon – to follow in Missy’s footsteps and sing their own songs in their own ways.
Legendary Group Music Director of the triple j Networks, Richard Kingsmill, reflects “the incredible success of The Sound Of White was not just in its sales figures, as impressive as they were. Missy Higgins was something bigger. With her talent, honesty and unapologetic Australianness, she was a signpost for so many artists that followed. The number of local singers and songwriters I’ve interviewed over time who have told me that Missy, and especially that debut album, was the reason they picked up an instrument and started singing in the first place is mind-boggling. Her success crosses the gender divide too. We’ve had plenty of male rock groups in our Like A Version studio wanting to cover Missy songs. Dear Seattle’s cover of ‘The Special Two’ for instance made it into the Hottest 100 of Like A Version this year. So Missy inspired that next generation of artists in a way you don’t see very often. And she’s kept showing music fans that it wasn’t just a time-and-place success story either through the other releases that have come for her over the past 20 years.”
The anniversary of this landmark release will be celebrated with a deluxe edition on CD and LP containing bonus live recordings of every song on the album plus newly expanded artwork. It will land on April 5, 2024. Physical pre-orders commence today, pre-order here.
The Sound Of White 20Year Anniversary Edition will also feature a new track – “Cry Me A River” – which can be heard online now. The classic American torch song was written originally for Ella Fitzgerald and was a hit for Julie London in the 1950’s. Over half a century later Justin Timberlake ‘borrowed’ the title. The tune has a special place in Missy’s heart as it was the first song she ever performed live – sneaking into licensed venues as a 13-year-old to sing it with her older brother’s jazz combo. This stripped back version was recorded at a Sydney charity concert the night before she swept the 2005 ARIA Awards and features her brother, David, on piano. It has always been a fan favourite, but she has never released a recording of “Cry Me A River” … until now.
This smouldering love song kicks off a huge 12 months for Missy as she begins her “Second Act”. The beloved singer/songwriter will start releasing some of her brand-new songs in the lead up to this special two act tour and follow it with her new album later in the year.
Missy Higgins has been nominated for an extraordinary 26 ARIA Awards since being Unearthed by triple j way back in 2002. She remains one of Australia’s most popular live performers; playing to more than 200,000 Australians last summer across various outdoor events including dozens of huge gigs with Paul Kelly.
