Hollie Smith

Britomart Country Club, George FM and NZ Music Month are proud to present: Hollie Smith
(with live band) with Support from Nick D.

"Time had crept by since Hollie Smith's voice was last seen wandering through the minds of her adoring New Zealand public. Those who had cherished Long Player but wanted more had started to ask where in the world she was hiding. Hollie Smith had been hiding, but also biding her time and searching for the inspiration to begin crafting the songs that would say the things that were floating around inside her head and her heart. Creating a new album would make up her next musical voyage, and she felt ready to do that.

March 15th sees the release of Hollie Smith's eagerly awaited second album: 'Humour And The Misfortune Of Others'. A twelve song journey into the realms of soul, funk, blues, psychedelia and even country, all led by a young woman's voice that careens between delicate beauty to spine-tingling power. It is an album Hollie is proud of, one that will stand the test of time, and one that shows she has grown as a composer and an artist since the release of her critically acclaimed debut album Long Player.

It wasn't a chance to unleash demons, but more the hope of a soulful and cathartic musical experience that led Hollie Smith and her band of misfits towards the forest to record at Revolver Studios in Waiuku. Egos were left at the door, the band enjoyed each other's company inside and outside the studio and slept where they fell at the end of long and productive days of recording. Having always respected Wellington multi instrumentalist, visionary and friend Riki Gooch, she knew she had found the producer of her album after seeing what Gooch had created with his multi instrumental orchestra Eru Dangerspiel live at the Auckland Town Hall in August '09. There was a mutual respect between the two and and open palate for her band to contribute towards arrangement of the pieces Hollie had created, where as on Long Player she arranged more of the bands parts and directed them in the playing.

The chemistry between Gooch, engineer Brett Stanton and Smith and the musical calibre of Hollie's band - Darren Mathiassen (drums), Tyson Smith (guitar), Crete Haami (bass) - meant that songs were played live and usually completed within 3 or 4 takes. Two songs 'Finding Home' and 'Will You Be The One' where Hollie has played on the grand piano are both captured with her singing live vocals and completed in one take with no editing on the final version. Two other tracks on the record were sung completely live with the band and completed with minimal takes. Hollie has always refused to use vocal doctoring such as auto tune on her voice and always minimal editing on her songs which are not recorded completely live. Humour And The Misfortune Of Others explores different musical sounds and styles throughout its twelve tracks and reiterates Hollie Smith's love for creating soulful music laden with groove.

The first single 'Mamma', to be released to radio in Feb '10, gives a sneak peak at the album, and its funk guitar and gospel-like harmonies combined with Hollie's voice make for a song that sounds like Janis Joplin singing an Outkast song. The music video due for release to TV also shows more artistic vision and features a variety of cameos from an all star cast.

Very limited tickets available from www.iticketexpress.co.nz and Real Groovy.

Event listed by BCC

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