Caitlin Smith to release new album

24 March 2010
Caitlin Smith’s new album, due for release in May, was originally called Easier Said Than Done. The title, she says with a wry smile, was prophetic.

Extortion, a phone company erasing song “seeds”, drummer dramas and studio nightmares were just some of the obstacles that delayed the release, she says.

Now, however, she is looking forward to the launch of her second solo album, renamed You Have Reached Your Destination. A nationwide promotional tour is planned for 2010 and 2011. She also plans to reach an international audience by performing overseas at arts and music festivals.

A $15,000 New Work grant from Creative New Zealand supported the Auckland song poet and performer to record the 14 original songs on her new album. There are songs about alcoholism, co-dependency, love, loss and “blind faith”.
 
“I don’t really do romantic songs,” she says. “I write songs that give voice to stories other people want to tell, but sometimes can’t.”

Watching her perform, there is no indication that she’s partially sighted – except when she tells her audience. With 10 per cent vision in one eye, five per cent in the other, total colour-blindness and extreme light sensitivity, Smith builds rapport with her audience, and delights with her extraordinary voice, storytelling and musicianship.

Mentioning her vision impairment isn’t something she does to gain sympathy. She does it to raise awareness. “I don’t do music for entertainment. It’s very political for me and in almost every gig, I mention my sight. The more that disabled people explain how they see things, their view and their place in the world, the more people are able to understand and accept diversity and difference.”

Arts For All: opening doors to disabled people, published by Creative New Zealand in partnership with Arts Access Aotearoa in late 2009, features a photo of Caitlin Smith in full voice. Here, she talks about the importance of asking people what their access needs are rather than making assumptions.

For the full story, visit the Arts and Disability section of our website.