Singer Songwriter

Edwina Cameron

On a scorching day at Woodford Folk Festival, singer/songwriter Mia Dyson takes to the stage to impress audiences with her unique voice and lyrics.
For many, it is the first time they have seen her perform but, for Mia, it is the latest step in a lifelong alliance with music and the music industry.

“Being in the industry starts when you first get paid to perform and that started for me at 17 when I played in local pubs in Victoria,” Mia said.
“My father, a guitar-maker, fuelled my interest in music and I started playing at 14 and song-writing at 16 — inspired by friends who were writing their own stuff.

“I never had big ideas of stardom but I was really enjoying what I was doing and knew it was what I wanted to do as a career.”

Mia has no formal musical training and has actively avoided singing coaching, however she did study music as part of her Victorian Certificate of Education.
“For me, avoiding singing coaching was a conscious choice as I didn’t want to narrow or formalise my voice,” she said.

“One of my biggest encouragers throughout my career has been Dad. He has been a big support, from making my guitars to driving me to gigs and looking after me with that protective fatherly instinct.”

Mia lives at Anglesea, southwest of Melbourne but travels the country to play shows and festivals, including last week’s Woodford Folk Festival north of Brisbane.

“I love festivals because I like playing in front of a broad range of people who may not have heard of you or seen you play music before,” she said.
“Festivals also provide a great atmosphere and a chance to meet musicians from around the world.

“The downside is that they can be daunting and it can be hard to connect with the audience and tell if people are really enjoying themselves.
“Smaller gigs are great because you can really connect with the audience, you can see their reactions and the sound quality for me on stage is good.”

Mia shuns formality in her approach to music and recorded her first album in a friend’s house at Daylesford in country Victoria.

Her second album was produced at a friend’s holiday house.
“I really avoid studios because they can be expensive and a house allows a more relaxed atmosphere and also means I can spend more time recording than studio costs would otherwise permit,” she said.

“The best parts of the job are getting to write songs, travelling and getting to experiment while playing live with the band. “The downside is getting exhausted from touring and being away from home as well as doing all those little housekeeping tasks that are necessary when trying to make a living from music.”

For Mia, sticking to her instincts and keeping herself unique have been vital in surviving in the industry.

“Don’t let yourself be manipulated, regardless of industry encouragement,” Mia said. “The Kylies (Minogue) and Deltas (Goodrem) are one in a million and it’s a long hard road for everyone.

“It’s also important to have a thick skin because not everyone is going to tell you you’re fantastic. “If you love the work, then keep at it because it’s a lifetime thing and it’s a creative, bottomless and endlessly fulfilling way to make a living,” she said.