Mia Dyson

It is somewhat of a homecoming when acclaimed Australian singer-songwriter Mia Dyson kicks off her Australian Idyllwild tour in Sydney.

The gigs are the first opportunity for Dyson to perform new tracks from her latest album in Australia, which she says “feels great, I’ve been looking forward to playing with my Australian band again and bringing all of these new songs.”

Despite the fact this is an Australian debut for the tracks, Dyson has previously toured the United States with the show and that has made her more confident the performances will be a success.

“I’ve cheekily gotten my road-testing of the songs out the way by playing them over here, so I’m feeling really good about performing and am really confident in my Australian band.”

Dyson prefers to use two separate bands for each country, in what sounds like it could be a logistical and performance nightmare, however she describes the process of working with the two as being “great, I’ve got an incredible band in both countries and they’re quite different with their own strengths but that’s what makes it so fun. I get to reimagine the songs every time I go between countries.”

When she moved to the US Dyson essentially hit the reset button on her career and had to build her reputation from the ground up with a brand new audience, “it was tough but also really liberating to be playing where no one really knew my music and I had the challenge of winning audiences over again, which was really exciting” says Dyson.

“On a personal level it was also really challenging not having much of a local support network initially and there were a lot of times I wanted to just pack it in & go home. I’m so glad I stayed now though as I’ve built that network and find I’m particularly inspired living in Los Angeles with so much creativity around me,” she says.

In spite of all these challenges and hurdles, Dyson’s career has flourished performing alongside the likes of Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Nicks, two personal heroes. Mia Dyson has also become a household name in her own right with tracks featured on the hit television series Bones and in an Australian Army recruitment commercial.

The popularity of Dyson is not to be argued, in fact the Idyllwild tour has been extended due to popular demand and Sydneysiders get the first chance to, as Dyson puts it, be a part of the “energetic, frenetic, eclectic and dynamic show.” (JA)

Oct 2, Newtown Social Club, 387 King St, Newtown, $25-30+b.f, newtownsocialclub.com