Pop - New Zealand-based singer and songwriter Hollie Smith is blessed with one of "those" voices, one that simply has a naturally distinctive and earthy soulfulness, one that once you hear it you know you're hearing something special. Her debut album "Long Player" debuted at #1 in New Zealand and quickly earned platinum status with its intensely dark, personal and rich R+B-meets-pop vibe.

"I like the ideas of adding in different tones and details; it’s like painting a picture. Blue is more mellow, red is loud, pink is bright. My studio in Wellington is a hole in the ground; the ceiling leaks, the toilet floods. It’s like being in a concrete cave but is actually quite spiritual, which I think why some of the music written there is slower and ballad-y."

Raised in a musical family, the 24-year-old has been singing as long as she can remember but it wasn't until last year when she began to turn heads. A song she sang called "Bathe In the Water" taken from a film soundtrack was one of the biggest hits down under where remained in the Top 10 for nearly 20 weeks.

For the scheduled U.S. release of "Long Player", Smith traveled to Philadelphia to record three new songs with acclaimed producer James Poyser (The Roots, Common). “He was amazing to work with, and these new songs have a bit more funk and groove,” says Smith. “Since they were newer tunes, I was more open to taking direction and collaborating with James.”

A signing with Blue Note appears to be on hold, but we'll keep out fingers crossed.

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