Marcia Hines, Singer, 61

Marcia Hines on her big break in showbiz, taking Velvet to the Opera House - and why she drinks ginger and honey.

Marcia Hines starred in the cabaret show, Velvet, which emerged as a must-see show at this year’s Adelaide Fringe. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Who first recognised your talent in your US hometown of Boston?

It was probably my godmother. She was the lead vocalist in the choir in her church and she was blind. I used to hang out with her a bit, my kindred spirit. She’s not with us anymore. When I was a little girl she was in her 80s.

It took a lot of guts to move to Australia for the musical Hair when you were 16 and, although you didn’t know it at the time, pregnant with your daughter Deni. Did you have any doubts about leaving home? None at all. At 16 we really are relatively bulletproof and we don’t have all of the baggage that comes with life. I knew what I wanted to do, that was the upside. I came here and had an outstanding job and did what I could to keep it.

It was the start of a huge recording and performing career, and a stint on TV as an Australian Idol judge. How has the industry changed over the past 40 years? Back in the day when I was growing up people used to buy albums and they loved the tangible things. Now everybody downloads everything and it’s quickly disposed of. The younger generation seems to be different to us.

Will the recording industry survive the rise of online access and sales? I don’t think it’s going to vanish but it’s metamorphosing as we speak. People love music and they attach themselves to performers, musicians, acts, boy bands and girl bands. People will always go and see things live – as long as you’re a live performer, you’re OK.

Do you see yourself as a role model for young women in entertainment? I don’t want to set myself up for that; if someone else says that, that’s a very nice thing. That was the greatest thing in Australian Idol – that you got to see me, see me cry and care and it was a wonderful seven years.

How have you been able to preserve your voice? It is a gift and I take it very seriously. Your voice is a muscle and it needs to warm up, just like any other athlete. I do a vocal warm-up every night before a performance. I drink ginger and honey, so I speak ginger.

Do you sing in the shower or car? No, I’m a quiet singer – everyone else sings around me. I listen to a lot of music. A friend of mine calls me a walking iPod because I have so many songs in my head. If I was to burst out singing it would be embarrassing.

You’ve just starred in the cabaret show Velvet at the Adelaide Fringe festival. What now? World domination! We’re doing a season at the Sydney Opera House in October. There’s talk about other seasons and taking it overseas. I’m a bit of a workaholic. I do like my downtime as well and I do like to create music. I have my own band, Weather Permitting; I plan to do some work with them now I am back in Sydney.

What’s something people don’t know about you? I am a homebody. I love cooking, I love art. I create mosaics, that’s one of my favourite things to do. I don’t think that I’m any different to anyone else, but I sing. I’m a bit of a loner. I love spending time in art galleries. I don’t usually get out of bed until late because the shows go late.

Will you still be performing when you’re 80? I plan to go until I keel over, or I’m an embarrassment to myself and my friends. This is what I do – as long as I can still do it with my head held high, I’ll do it. To put a smile on people’s faces is really lovely.