Posted on 16 March 2010.
With the upcoming release of this soul diva‘s new album, Hollie Smith feels confident about the future ahead. Seated outside Ponsonby Road’s Conch, we caught up with the much-loved musician to talk about ‘The Humour and Misfortune of Others’, and what went on behind the scenes of making the new album.
CRACCUM: After taking a bit of time out from music, how do you feel about the release of the new album?
HS: I had a few distractions that held me from getting a new album out. I’ve sort of been in limbo, so I haven’t necessarily been taking time off. Basically I’m just getting back into it again.
How do you think that your song writing has developed in this album compared to your previous album Long Player? What would you say makes it different?
HS: In the last album, I wrote songs based on the music – arranging all the music, and then the melody and song aspect almost came last. This time around, because I was so out of touch with writing, this became a lot more ‘song orientated’. The lyrics came first, then it kind of moved on from there. I had a lot of different people working on it. Riki Gooch came on board and added a lot to the musical direction of it, while everyone arranged their own parts, so the music was a lot more collaborative. The songs are a lot more simpler, a lot more basic in shape. It came together a lot differently.
So despite the input from others, this album remains personal?
HS: This album’s a lot more personal. The lyrical content is drawn from how I got through the last few years, going through a few hardships, dealing with a bunch of stuff, while feeling reasonably helpless. All of the lyrical content is written in hindsight and a lot more positively.
Who came on board to help record the album?
HS: We recorded it down at Revolver studios, which is a farm in Waiuku. We were in the studio with the main band, it was all recorded live over two weeks at this farm. Then we had to overdub and everything. The band consists of Darren Matthiassen (Drums) Tyson Smith (Guitar), Crete Haami (Bass), and Riki Gooch (Eru Dangerspiel) produced it. They’ve pretty much been on board since day one with me. But we’ve been wanting to try make it a ‘Hollie Smith and The…’ situation, but we never get around to finding a name. But we’ll get there!
You’ve already released the video for ‘Mamma’, I hear it has a few cameos and some action scenes?
HS: We’ve got Oliver Driver (who’s a big assed clown), Helena Calpine (C4), Shavaughan Ruakere (What Now/C4), Danielle Cormack (C4), and a little, bald guy called Gavin. The scenario is that, I’m an assassin, and I kill lots of people. It was directed by Preston McNeil and Kimberley Brown, under their husband-wife run company, Mo Fresh. They did a really awesome job. We shot it at Sale Street and Hotel DeBrett over two days.
Who would you say are your core influences?
HS: All sorts actually – obviously there are the fundamental people such as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and Billie Holiday. But these days, it can be everything from Nick Cave, to Radiohead. It’s even the people I know who inspire me.
How do you view the New Zealand soul-blues ‘niche market’?
HS: There’s heaps of underground stuff that a lot of people don’t really notice. The Electric Wire Hustles are an amazing soul band, who have just come out with their debut album. Pacific Heights, who is my friend, Devon from Shapeshifter, is another one. Their album is sweet. There’s a lot under the radar that doesn’t get noticed, which is the beauty of it really; there’s a lot going on.
What’s your ‘Philosophy of Soul’?
HS: That’s a bloody good question. The soul encompasses your instincts, morals, ethics, your education, and your culture. Soul for me, encompasses who you are in your centre. The philosophy of soul is to stay true to that. Keep your mind open enough to understand and educate yourself about different parts of life and different understandings. And that you’re the centre of your universe, not the centre of THE universe.
By Anna Loveys
Keep an eye out for Hollie Smith and her band who will be setting off on tour to promote ‘The Humour and Misfortune of Others’ at some point during April/May. Album in stores, 15th March.
For updates, check out her websites:
www.holliesmith.co.nz
www.myspace.com/holliesmithmusic
http://www.last.fm/music/Hollie+Smith
