She said her early collaborations with Trinity Roots were among the highlights of her career.
"We had so much fun writing, performing and just
enjoying our roadtrips, it was a very enlightening experience."
Water or Gold will be her third full length solo release.
The 11 songs that make up the album were written over the past couple of years, and span times of both joy and sadness.
She said a lot of that joy came from her helping to raise the son of a now ex-partner.
"It's definitely made me more of a positive person, and a lot happier. You know, learning how to sacrifice and not holding on to things, looking at the simpler things in life."
Her favourite song changes on a daily basis when certain lyrics are more relevant.
"There is no common thread, I have just written about my experiences, overcoming difficulties and letting go of the things I can't control."
Also included is Smith's heart-breaking tribute to her good friend and media personality, Helena McAlpine, who died in 2015 after a long battle with breast cancer.
Helena captures the strength of Hollie's vocals, as well as the strength of a long-standing friendship.
She has been listening to music since she was two-years-old and draws inspiration from James Brown, Neil Young, Cat Stevens, Billie Holiday, Kylie Minogue and about "10 million more."
Though she has opened for the likes of Bob Dylan, Coldplay and Simply Red, she considers her greatest success to be a happy healthy person making a living doing what she loves.
"I've worked very hard, now I just want to continue my career as long as possible."
Hollie Smith:
* Water Or Gold
* 7:30pm, Thursday, April 7
* Black Barn Vineyards, Havelock North
