Missy Higgins, 21, closes her eyes and sways with the her own music, letting herself get lost in her own lyrics.

"When I start singing, it's like I'm on an emotional roller coaster. And, it's like riding this wave of ecstasy, or bliss," Higgins said.

The Australian singer-songwriter has made the most of her first-ever trip to the South by Southwest Music Festival. From Ray's big birthday bash, eight hours later, she performed on KGSR-FM's Kevin and Kevin's Morning Show on Wednesday.

The intimate performance captivated the audience for the two-song set.

"When you can feel an audience really with you, you feel like you're breathing together. That helps you go deeper inside yourself," Higgins said.

She's already launched into stardom Down Under, where she's one the equivalent of a Grammy award in Australia. And, her album The Sound of White lingers at the top of the country's pop charts.

"It doesn't really feel like this is happening to me. It's just so great," she said.

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"Be able to reach as big an audience as possible," she said. "That sounds like I'm the Messiah or something."

Even in the past few days at SXSW buzz about Higgins just keeps getting louder.

Lines formed well before her Thursday night showcase at Maggie Maes. A packed house of adoring fans, and new ones as well.

As she massages the piano keys and dances with the foot pedal, she's doing what she loves doing the most: playing live music.

"I finish playing and I'm back to reality. And reality is a better place because of it."