She's been sequestered in London writing her new album but now award-winning singer Megan Washington is thrilled to be back in Australia and ready to help the nation celebrate Australia Day.
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Washington will join the line-up for this year's Australia Celebrates Live concert on the lawns of Parliament House on January 25.
She will perform as part of both the Australian of the Year awards and the concert afterwards, which includes Lior and Matt Corby.
''I just think it's a wonderful celebration. I'm a sucker for an award,'' Washington said.
''I have a small idea who the Australian of the Year is going to be because of the song I've been asked to do. I'm not going to tell you,'' she said.
Washington had been in London since February writing with expat musician Sam Dixon, who has also worked with Adele and Sia Furler. Washington's new album, There, There, was completed in Sydney last month and is likely to be released midyear.
Although she spent a lot of the time listening to 1980s new romantic bands the new album would not necessarily sound new romantic, she said.
''The thing that I missed most was playing shows and having that daily experience of singing and connecting with humans. Now the album's done I can focus on what I want the shows to be like, what the band's going to do, what I'm going to wear.
''It's only been three years since [debut album] I Believe You Liar but it feels like 30. So I'm very, very ready to do it.''
Washington said she had missed Australia.
''I loved being in London but it's just so nice to be home and plugged into something bigger than myself,'' she said.
Washington, who turned 28 last week, spent her birthday with her parents in Sydney and visited her dog, still in quarantine since her return from London.
National Australia Day Council chief executive Jeremy Lasek said the entertainment for the January 25 concert reflected the high quality of the nation's musicians.
''We are incredibly excited that we were able to secure some of Australia's most revered singer-songwriters and popular entertainers for this year's event and thrilled with the inclusion of Megan Washington,'' Mr Lasek said.
''We are in for a night of incredible performances from our great home-grown Australian talent.''
The event will start at 5pm, with a one-hour tribute to the outgoing Australians of the Year. The site will be open to the public from 3pm.
