Ama-zon-ing Marcia

Miss Marcia Hines is back with an amazing album, both by name and content! The Amazon in the title refers to Marcia’s promotional poster for the ‘Amazing’ tour which sees her dressed in a golden hue, looking every bit the amazon goddess!

Marcia is excited to back touring Tasmania after her last visit to Launceston in 2011. This time Marcia is happy to be visiting both Launceston and Hobart and says next time’ Burnie’!

Marcia has a history with Tasmania that goes further back than her holiday at Freycinet 2 years ago. Marcia lived here while performing’ Hair, at that time she was esconed at the casino and she developed a love for its surrounds and the suburb of Sandy Bay, especially appealing are the op shops. Reflecting on her time in Launceston she tells me it was a time when the monkeys were running free and the curator of the museum and his family took Marcia in to stay with them. Marcia still keeps in touch with the children.

Marcia will return to Tasmania with her new band ‘Weather Permitting’ perhaps a topical name forTasmania at the moment. Marcia smiles at this and reminds me that this doesn’t bother her as snow was common in her original home of Boston, a place she still regularly visits and is her’ other’ home together with Australia. Even though these are her homes Marcia says she is ‘A Child of the Universe’.

The new album ‘Amazing’ enlists the help of some musical friends, with’Diesel’ Mark Lizotte playing on the beautiful love song ‘Equals Three’ and Russell Crowe acting and singing in ‘Remedy. The collaboration eventuated after Marcia worked on Russell’s group ‘Ordinary Fear of God’ and the favour was returned with Russell insisting on directing ‘Remedy’ in a Sydney studio and the result is a cinematic rendering of a high energy song that highlights Marcia acting talent.

Marcia explains to me that she was keen to have an album where every track was a stand-alone winner, and in ‘Amazing’ including the title track she has done just that.

Talking of studios Marcia has now been given her own station by Foxtel, called ‘Smooth’. Marcia works with Cameron Daddo at ‘Smooth’ and tells me she feels very comfortable as a TV host of the eclectic musical presentation that also includes lots of humour and fun between the two hosts. Marcia says the presentation is ‘well put together’ and includes music from the 60s, 70s, 80’s and music relative to now.

Away from work Marcia is a keen textile artist and creates individual works for her friends although don’t be surprised that there may be a public exhibition sometime soon. Marcia is also as she calls it’keeping the grey matter massaged’ by thinking up ideas for telling stories, Marcia has already published a book on wisdom ‘Life: Things to Get You By’

In her Amazonian appearance Marcia is also taking time to address critics like those that recently attacked Kylie Minogue with derogatory remarks about her being too old to do sexy videos. Marcia says’who are they to decide and that’ if they want to say something like this then they should stand in front of a mirror ‘scantily clad’ themselves!’.

Audiences will be treated to a mix of Marcia’s ‘Amazing’ new album and all her hit songs on her tour of Tasmania.

You can see Marcia perform at the Launceston Country Club on Friday 5th of September and at Wrest Point Casino on Saturday 6th September.
Paula Xiberras