IF the energy from the first single from Marcia Hines' latest album is anything to go by then she has no intentions of slowing down.
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Hines’ 14th studio album, Amazing, launched in April and the first single, Remedy, features Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe.
Not only that but Crowe also directed the video that accompanied the single.
Crowe, who is well-known for his musical abilities as well as his dramatic ones, previously sang with Hines on his own band albums.
“I sang with Russell on one of the tracks on his albums and the chemistry was great,” Hines said.
“When I was writing my song, I thought ‘I’ve got a great song here, who can I ask to sing it?’
“We sang it together and had a ball doing it, which I think you can kind of hear. And he was kind enough to direct and be in the video.”
The video for Remedy features Hines and Crowe working in a hospital and has had a whirlwind of reactions since being released.
But there is no doubting the power of Hines’ voice, which will be on show in Bendigo on August 24 at The Capital theatre.
“It has been about eight to 10 years since I’ve been to Bendigo but I like it. It’s such a nice city,” Hines said.
“The real work starts when the tour begins (on July 31) and we go down the east coast to Tasmania and across to South Australia. It’s quite an extensive tour.”
Hines is expecting a mix of demographics in her audiences with people remembering her from when she arrived on the music scene in the 1970s as well as when she was a judge on Australian Idol, which introduced her to a new group of fans.
In 1975 Hines’ debut album, Marcia Shines, was the biggest selling album by an Australian female artist in 1975.
Shewas a judge on Australian Idol for all seven seasons (from 2003 to 2009) and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007.
“When I was on Australian Idol, the band and I did a lot of touring, just not as extensive as this,” she said.
“But singing has always been a favourite thing for me to do and the songs that have given me success have been a dream.”
The past two weeks have seen Hines rehearsing for her show.
“I like the discipline of a recording studio but I love the madness that comes with touring,” she said.
“We have a brand new band and are reconfiguring the show and working out what will work for a songlist.
“It’s very exciting, the adrenaline junkie in me loves it.
“We might not be playing anywhere new but there is always a different audience.
“There will be old and new songs, you’ve always got to be that way.
“You should never forget where you come from or what songs are attached to you because they are a big part of some people’s lives.”