Missy Higgins reveals an album, a book and she’s pregnant with a baby boy

EXCLUSIVE: ACCLAIMED singer, actor and now author Missy Higgins is getting ready to welcome her first child, and that’s not all she’s got in store for fans.

THE Special Two singer Missy Higgins and her playwright fiance Dan Lee will become a very special three in January.

Higgins will be taking time out from her career next year to nurture her next major production, a baby boy, who is due in January.

The creative duo met in Broome where Higgins has been a frequent visitor for several years, filming her acting debut in the 2009 musical Bran Nue Dae there and calling it her “home away from home”.

Lee is also a musician and invited Higgins to sing with his band Cable Bitches during one of their gigs last year.

They became engaged in December but have kept their plans to wed private since Lee announced they were getting married.

A new family ... Missy Higgins with fiance Dan Lee and a baby makes three. Picture: Supplied/Missy Higgins

Higgins said they are “so excited” about becoming parents.

“I don’t think we’ve quite got our heads around how much our lives are about to change, but we’re so excited about it,” she said.

“Both being ‘creatives’, we’re mostly looking forward to getting out of our own heads and obsessing about something other than ourselves for once!

“And, of course, teaching him piano and guitar, I can’t wait for that.”

MORE: Missy Higgins kissed by artist for Archibald Prize

Higgins was recently the subject of an intimate portrait for the Archibald Prize which featured her kissing the artist Sophie Hewson.

She has often discussed sexuality as “fluid” and previously had relationships with women.

Her first child isn’t her only revelation, with the 30-year-old musician and activist also making her debut as an author this year, proving a popular drawcard for this weekend’s Byron Bay Writer’s Festival.

She will release both OZ, the album and OZ, the book next month.

“I wanted to try something different this time around. I couldn’t decide between

making a covers album or writing a book so I decided to do both at once. Musically it’s intended to be a real mixed bag of lollies,” she said.

Australian singer, songwriter and actor ... Missy Higgins can now add author to her credits with the upcoming release of OZ. Picture: Supplied

The album features Higgins reimagining 15 songs she loves by a wide range of Australian artists including Icehouse, The Angels, Paul Kelly, Dan Sultan, Slim Dusty and Divinyls.

She has also invited some of her mates to sing with her on the record including her Bran Nue Dae co-star Sultan, Kate Miller-Heidke and American artist Amanda Palmer.

The accompanying OZ book is a collection of essays inspired by the recordings which reflect on her own life, love and “how not to wear high heels”.

“Obviously part of the reason I called the whole project OZ is that it’s all about Australian songs,” she said.

“Plus, for the first time, I recorded the whole thing in Australia.

“However the title has a second meaning. I like the idea of songwriters being like the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz.

“Some people think we’re special people who have special powers but really we’re just scared little people hiding in a backroom somewhere, working like crazy to make sure we don’t get found out.”

Higgins has been one of Australia’s most successful and acclaimed artists in the past decade, with her first three records The Sound Of White, On A Clear Night and The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle all reaching No. 1 on the charts and going on to sell more than one million copies.

Both OZ the album and the book are released on September 19

The OZ tracklisting:

1. You Only Hide (Something For Kate)

2. Old Fitzroy (Dan Sultan)

3. NYE (Perry Keyes)

4. Shark Fin Blues (The Drones)

5. Was There Anything I Could Do (The Go-Betweens)

6. Back To The Wall (Divinyls)

7. Don’t Believe Anymore (Icehouse)

8. The Biggest Disappointment feat. Dan Sultan (Slim Dusty)

9. Everybody Wants To Touch Me (Paul Kelly)

10. Curse On You (The Blackeyed Susans)

11. No Secrets (The Angels)

12. Before Too Long feat. Amanda Palmer (Paul Kelly)

13. Blackfella/Whitefella feat. Crystal Itjuwalyi Butcher (Warumpi Band)

14. Calm And Crystal Clear (Neil Murray)

15. The Way You Are Tonight (Don Walker)

Originally published as Missy Higgins reveals an album, a book and she’s pregnant with a baby boy