Hollie Smith: A Soulful Journey and the Heart Behind Her New Album

In an intimate chat, the powerhouse performer Hollie Smith opens up about her musical journey, her new album, and making peace with her past hits. Sharon Stephenson delves into the story behind the music.

The Song That Launched a Thousand Gigs

There was a time when Hollie Smith couldn’t bring herself to sing her massive hit, Bathe in the River. The song, featured in the Kiwi film No. 2, was the anthem of the mid-2000s, playing everywhere from cars to bars to weddings. While it opened doors for her, Hollie felt it overshadowed her work as a producer and songwriter.

“Bathe in the River was a double-edged sword,” Hollie admits. “It was a huge help, but I wanted to be known for my own music, not just that one song.” Fortunately, she’s made amends with the track that catapulted her to fame. “I love it now. I realize how special it is to people.”

Life in the Basement Studio

From the basement of her Auckland home, which doubles as a mini recording studio and art gallery, Hollie shares her world. The space is a creative hub where she writes, records, sings, and paints large, expressive oil paintings. “Sorry about the mess,” she laughs, her tattooed hands gesturing to the creative chaos behind her.

At 38, Hollie is a picture of relaxed charm, dressed in a denim shirt and thick jumper, her face free of makeup, her long hair swept up in an intricate top knot. She’s bright, friendly, and laughs often—a stark contrast to the serious persona one might expect from a past winner of the New Zealand Music Awards for Best Female Solo Artist.

A Labor of Love: The New Album

Hollie’s fourth solo album, Coming in From the Dark, has been five years in the making. “Turns out I’m really good at procrastination!” she jokes. “But really, a lot has happened—I moved to Auckland from Tauranga, and then Covid hit.”

Despite the delays, Hollie wasn’t idle. She spent the last few years writing and refining the 11 songs on the album, recording them in studios across Auckland, Wellington, and Hamilton. The album is deeply personal, with Hollie agreeing that it’s more autobiographical than her previous work.

The Heart and Soul of the Album

The album’s emotional core is perhaps best captured in the song Billy, named after Hollie’s first love. “We’ve always been close,” she shares. “But then Billy lost his son in a horrific accident, and last year, he was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma. I wrote this song the night he passed away. The lyrics and melody just poured out of me.”

Other songs on the album are equally charged with emotion, reflecting the tumultuous times we live in. “When I was writing these songs, Trump was running for re-election, and the Syrian refugee crisis was happening. I felt so overwhelmed,” Hollie recalls. The Twitter storms around Black Lives Matter and the #MeToo movement also influenced her writing. “Some people just didn’t get it. I wanted to say, ‘You’re missing the point! Go educate yourself!'”

Collaborating with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

Working with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra added a new dimension to the album, which Hollie also produced. “The orchestra approached me as they wanted to work with local artists. It was a challenge to keep things stripped back with 80 people involved, but it’s still the album I envisioned.”

Navigating the Pandemic

Like many artists, Hollie’s plans have been affected by the global pandemic. She’s excited about her upcoming tour of Aotearoa but remains cautious. “We’ve got contingency dates if things change,” she says. “I’ve missed performing and can’t wait to catch up with my band.”

Lockdown has taken a toll on her motivation. “It’s hard to create in this environment. I should be writing songs, but the motivation just isn’t there.” She’s grateful to have her partner, Chris Barton, working from home. “Chris is busy all day, but once he’s finished, I talk his head off because I’ve been so bored!”

Life with Dogs and Music

Hollie shares her North Shore home with Chris and their two dogs, Echo and Murphy. Echo is an eight-year-old Heading dog Hollie adopted from the SPCA, and Murphy is a black Labrador she inherited from her late friend, broadcaster Helena McAlpine.

Born and raised in Auckland, Hollie’s love for music was nurtured by her father, a blues and rock guitarist. She started gigging at 13, encouraged by her teachers and Northcote College’s renowned jazz band. She left school when she realized the music syllabus was mainly focused on theory, but not before landing one of the top marks in the country for music in Year 12.

Hospitality jobs paid the bills between gigs as Hollie found her groove as a songwriter and performer. She moved to Wellington at 16, following her mother, and started working with her stepfather, traditional folk musician and recording artist Steve McDonald. Their collaboration led to a Celtic-influenced album and a best female vocalist award at the 1999 National Jazz Festival.

For more information on Hollie Smith and her music, visit her official website here.