Surf Coast blues star Mia Dyson is back with a new album and a national tour.
Picture: Tommy Ritchie
Words: Cherie Donnellan
Mia Dyson felt like Torquay’s waves were drowning her music as a talented teenager living on the Surf Coast.
Once quoted describing her former hometown as “devoid of any artistic pursuits”, the international blues star points out that she also spoke “less harshly” on other aspects of Torquay.
“I was talking about my own experience,” she says.
“When I was 13 or 14 I felt like I was isolated in terms of having no musical comrades. All my primary school and high school friends and, well, the whole town, just seemed to be focused on the surfing culture.
“That’s where I was coming from.”
Dyson now praises Torquay’s maturing music scene, wishing the regular nights of live performances existed during her adolescence.
“It’s fantastic to hear about everything happening down there now.”
After building a name in Australia, the soulful songstress with the smoky voice left to dive into the American music scene in 2009.
Dyson concedes she might have jumped into the deep end a little too quickly.
“When I first moved to the states I was overwhelmed,” she reveals.
“I think I kind of went over there with my blinders on. I was so passionate about going and I really wanted to live over there but I didn’t really plan it, like how I was actually going to make it work.”
Dyson remembers initial feelings of vulnerability in the US.
“I was really struggling. I’d just broken up with my partner, I lost my management and I was broke.
“I felt like I had bitten off more than I could chew.”
Flick to page 49 to find out how Mia Dyson found new success … and a new love!
