After Miller-Heidke released three albums on Sony Music, she decided to leave the record company. She described the record company as a "corporate juggernaut". She explained in an interview that she didn't like the team she had and she felt like she needed to be in total control. To create her fourth album, Miller-Heidke used Pledge Music. Pledge Music uses crowdfunding by providing fans with items that would elsewhere be unavailable. For example, Miller-Heidke's Pledge Music page featured items such as being on the guest list of every one of Kate Miller-Heidke's concert or having Miller-Heidke call you on your birthday. Miller-Heidke's Pledge Funding venture was highly successful with Miller-Heidke breaking crowd-funding records. As of 4 February 2014, Miller-Heidke has received 209% of her set goal. With every purchase on her Pledge Music page, fans receive a download of the album on the release date as well as an exclusive live album recorded on her Heavenly Sounds tour, which includes several live versions of tracks on the album. With every purchase, Miller-Heidke stated that a portion would go to protecting the Great Barrier Reef. O Vertigo! is the fastest selling crowd funded project in Australian history. Miller-Heidke recorded the album from October to November 2013 with producer/engineer John Castle and mixer Cenzo Townshend in Melbourne. After recording the album, Miller-Heidke signed a distribution deal with independent labelCooking Vinyl to release the album in Australia, Europe, and Asia. Miller-Heidke self-released the album in North America.
Critical reception
O Vertigo! was well received by Australian online and print music commentators. Most reviews recognised that it was a successful musical statement taking Kate Miller-Heidke in a new direction. The Cairns Post 's Jacqueline Le described the album as a "fitting description of the 32-year-old’s musical journey." themusic.com.au's Daniel Cribb praised the album, saying "Anyone who pledged to the Oh, Vertigo! crowd-funding campaign can rest assured that their money was put to good use as, with a clear headspace and support from fans, Miller-Heidke has found a healthy blend of the quirky elements of 2008's Curiouser and more serious nature of 2012's Nightflight." Other reviews stated: "It’s a stunning collection that demonstrates exactly why she’s one of our most exciting musicians." "O Vertigo! delivers everything we have come to expect from a Kate Miller-Heidke album: impressive vocals, unique style and a willingness to push the musical boundaries to create a fun and quirky album." "Kate Miller-Heidke is an example of true success... Kate outdid herself with this album and we cannot wait to see where she goes from here." "There are so many things to like about this record. Even if you’re a little put off by the impressive but admittedly still kinda dorky soprano gymnastics, Kate Miller-Heidke has covered such an expansive surface area of the current pop landscape on O Vertigo! that without any pandering, there’s something for everyone. Her flawless delivery and world-weathered yet unbreakable confidence shine on this collection with a vision that we may never have seen come to fruition at Sony. She took a big risk, but O Vertigo! is in itself the even bigger reward she richly deserves."
