A cocktail of musicality

A cocktail of musicality

Kate Miller-Heidke is flamboyant, distinctive and quite peculiar. Some would describe her music as a cocktail of Tori Amos, Kate Bush and Jill Sobule – but even that wouldn’t do her sound justice.

She’s played at every dusty festival and has done her fair share of smelly pubs and ugly theatre in her quest to sign a recording deal. That persistence has finally paid dividends and her debut album Little Eve is released this week through Sony BMG.

Raised in Brisbane, Miller-Heidke soon realised she had a distinctive voice. Some critics have described it as circus music on acid. Certainly, her latest single Words has sparked much discussion in the music world. But Miller-Heidke wants people to feel not just the music, but to listen to the lyric to take in its full power.

Words is about the misconception in how quickly people leap to judgments about you, based on the way you express yourself,” she said.

“Often people get it wrong. The gay community will be able to relate to the song because I’m sure they’re subjected to heaps of preconceived judgments. But I hope everyone can relate.”

Unlike her last EP, Miller-Heidke said Little Eve is more colourful and eclectic – an opportunity for her to explore new styles and tones within her musical range.

“I studied classical voice for a few years but it wasn’t right for me. In my heart, I’ve always known that I’m suited to song-writing and performing at pubs,” she said.

“I often write the same way as I speak and my personality comes through the lyrics. My voice has a whole range of influences but I like to think it has a bit of rawness and honesty. I also listen to a lot of heavy rock like Korn and the Smashing Pumpkins.”

Miller-Heidke will be supporting Evermore during their tour this month, before embarking on a national tour in July. But some time soon she is keen to perform for the gay and lesbian community as a way of sharing her work more intimately.

“I have a large gay contingent because they respond to good music and are sort of the taste makers in the industry. They will like the theatricality of the live show because I’m influenced by musical theatre as well,” she said.

“I also wrote a song for the community called Gaydar. I used to have a boyfriend who was gay. The chorus goes, ‘Why do I always go for gay guys?’ I went through this phase where I had crushes on gay guys. I’m lucky it’s over now.”

Little Eve is out on 16 June. Kate Miller-Heidke’s website is www.myspace.com/katemillerheidke or check out www.sonybmg.com.au.

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