Merging ’90s R&B and neo-soul with her indie-rock roots, Caroline Smith‘s new music has settled comfortably into a new backdrop as she takes a step from girl to woman. Half About Being a Woman is a record about self-acceptance and growing into yourself; it’s about going back to the roots of ‘feel-good’ music.
While some might be surprised by the transition, the truth is that Caroline has never stopped evolving. From folky beginnings and an indie rock second album, she has been consistently pushing herself to new heights. With soaring vocals and catchy melodies at the heart of all three albums, Caroline is settling into a sound that feels more like home.
Caroline is heading to Eddie’s Attic on February 25 and we got to catch up with her during the tour. Check it out!
How did you get started playing music?
I grew up in a very musical family. My parents are divorced but both households revolved around music. My dad played music and taught me how to play guitar and write songs, but my mom loved to dance and introduced me to timeless artists that developed the taste in music that I still have today.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
I love women artists. Really, most women that are confident and gracious and can command an entire stage and audience, no matter the size. The women that reigned during 90’s R&B pop are my biggest influences; artists like Mariah Carey, TLC, Natalie Merchant, Erykah Badu.
When writing a song, how does the process usually begin?
The most important thing is that I am always writing. I like to believe in the genius as something that is separate from me and that it chooses to come when it pleases, so when it decides to come to me and deliver a song, I best have my pen on that paper already or a piano at my finger tips. I’m not a huge spiritual person, but imagining it this way helps take some of the pressure off of me.
What kind of impact do you feel that streaming music services such as Spotify have had on artists?
You know, this is a tricky one. On one hand, it has really helped the awareness of my music but on a broader scope, I think it promotes a voracious consumption of music that I don’t think is healthy for an artist. Instead of fans going to the store and buying one CD at a time, creating a relationship with it, and really paying attention to it’s nuances subtleties, fans can just rip through records on a first-listen basis. It really forces a musician to think more about the strategy to get people to like their music on that first-listen basis instead of just writing unadulterated. I try to use Spotify sparingly; like it’s a guilty pleasure like Netflix or gummy bears.
What is your opinion on vinyl’s increase in popularity?
I love it because of the reason stated above. It forces the listener to pay attention and promotes a deeper connection with the album they’re listening to. Vinyl isn’t something you can let run in the background because you have to get up every 15 minutes to flip it. My roommate has every Serge Gainsbourg record on vinyl and I tell you, it’s probably my favorite way to spend a Saturday morning: smoking cigarettes and pretending like I’m Brigitte Bardot while Serge coos in my ears. *melting*
How do you approach social media as an artist?
The reality is that it is very important to the modern independent artist and I respect it as such. Social media sites are the single most integral tool when it comes to getting people out to your show. I’ve watched so many talented artists struggle in their careers because they refuse to use social media for personal reasons. I’m not saying it’s not sad, it is a total bummer that that has to be a concern, but it doesn’t make it any less true. Sure I’d love to be Bob Dylan and ride a motorcycle and write songs with The Band rather than tweet about my concert on Saturday, but that’s just not the reality today.
Grab your tickets to spend the night at Atlanta’s favorite listening room with Caroline Smith!
