Hollie Smith: Putting the soul in Spark
Kiwi singer Hollie Smith had pearls of advice for Wintec students when she opened Spark this week.
As the opening speaker for Spark Media Arts Festival 2017, New Zealand musician Hollie Smith touched on her early immersion in music culture, before talking tips and tricks for emerging artists.
The singer-songwriter was just seven years old when she fell in love with soul, having discovered the genre’s ‘Godfather’ James Brown via videotape.
Smith recalls a conversation she had years on, as a teenager, which reshaped her understanding of it – and music in general – altogether.
She’d been busy belting out Billie Holiday’s God Bless the Child – one of her all-time favourite songs – when her stepfather, Steve, asked her if she knew what it represented.
He talked her though the song’s significance to African-American history, and encouraged her to try and delve beneath the exterior of music – a lesson she’s always held close.
“He taught me how to feel a song as opposed to make a song, to feel a song as opposed to hear a song, to feel a song as opposed to sing a song.”
Now, with close to two decades of industry experience under her belt Hollie’s well-equipped to share her own pearls of wisdom for those starting out.
“If you’re doing it as business – I’m more in the business side now, and the music bit I often forget to love – the main thing I can stress is finding the discipline in music. It gets easier and easier.
“If you’re finding it’s all a bit shit and you can’t find your way out of an overwhelming thought bubble, then literally just sit down with a bottle of wine and listen to music.”
Audience member and music production student Leonard Walker described Hollie’s music as being “from the heart”.
“She’s pretty unique with her soul style, and as she said, it broke new ground when she first came out with it.
“I liked hearing about her creative appreciation for the business side, and the struggles she’s gone through.”
Holly Russell, also in the audience, believes Smith’s voice, humour, stage presence and relatability are the four key factors that make her stand out as a musician in New Zealand.
“She’s really presented it in a way that’s eye-opening to the struggles of trying to make it globally from little old New Zealand – I respect her music.”
When asked if there was a piece of advice she would give herself if she could turn back time, Hollie answered with five simple words: “stop taking yourself so seriously.”
“It’s just fucking music. Everyone lives in that creative bubble – it’s not the end of the world if it’s not okay. Remember the simple things. Don’t take yourself so seriously.”
