Hollie Smith

Hollie Smith is a cornerstone of the New Zealand soul and jazz scene, emerging in the late 1990s as a prodigiously talented vocalist. Her career arc is marked by a transition from Celtic and jazz foundations to a definitive soul-powerhouse identity.

She gained massive cultural traction through her collaboration with Don McGlashan on 'Bathe in the River,' which became an unofficial anthem in NZ. Her signing to Blue Note's Manhattan Records signaled her international caliber, though she remains most deeply rooted in the Aotearoa music community, frequently collaborating with acts like TrinityRoots and Fly My Pretties. Critically, she is lauded for her technical vocal control and the emotional honesty of her songwriting. Her work often bridges the gap between secular soul and gospel traditions, utilizing choral backing and crescendo-heavy structures to create a sense of catharsis. She occupies a similar cultural space to artists like Adele or Joss Stone but with a distinct South Pacific rhythmic and atmospheric influence.