Wagon is Hollie’s buddy
HOLLIE SMITH IS NOMINATED FOR BEST FEMALE ARTIST AND ALBUM OF THE YEAR AT THE 2016 VODAFONE MUSIC AWARDS ON NOVEMBER 17
What do you drive? A 2000 Volvo V40 manual station wagon. I bought this car 14 years ago from an old flatmate in Wellington. There was already panel damage to the majority of the car and he sold it to me for a stupidly cheap amount. Why did you choose a station wagon? Station wagons rule. It fits all my gear and equipment, I can sleep in it and it was cheap. And it was my only option. How does it fit your personality? It's already bung so can I hit stuff ( not criminally), scratch it and knock it around a bit. It's my little battering ram. I’m not precious about stuff. It’s done just under 200,000km and I also sometimes feel 200. Who else is allowed to drive your Volvo? Anyone. My car has kind of become the dog kennel of travel, so it's the road trip car. ( The dogs don't drive it, however, they're useless with the pedals.) How often do you clean it? It gets washed when it rains. Unless puppy spews in it. And what do you always have in your car? Blanket, shoes, Jandals, jumper, plastic bags, water bowl and approximately 600 grams of shedded dog fur from two dogs, one is mine and the other one’s a step- dog. What do you listen to when you are driving or on road trips? Radio New Zealand National mostly. If it's a long trip I sometimes switch to Newstalk ZB and talk to the radio, imagining I'm Oprah. Have your car and your road trips been the inspiration for songs? A few. from the new album was the most recent one, I wrote it while driving to Wellington to record the album. Wehad a jam on it when I got there and it seemed to work. First car you owned? Some tinny Toyota wagon thing, I can't remember. I'm not sure there's ever a reason for buying a first car that isn't about money and being easy to fix. Your dream car? I've always been pretty damn fond of the 65- 67 Ford Mustang Notchback, but the list goes on really. I love classics. Favourite car colour? That depends on the car. Who taught you to drive? My boyfriend Billy taught me when I was 16ish, around the North Shore, but he was older so we used to road trip a bit. Any tips for young drivers? At the risk of sounding parental, if you want a car without big jobs later … regular servicing. Do you prefer manual or automatic? I've never owned an automatic but even then I know I prefer them when I'm sitting in Auckland traffic. Most memorable road trip? There are so many. I had wonderful times when I was little, driving the whole country every year with my mumand sister in the Christmas holidays to visit family. So many now with just throwing everything in the back of the car and just driving. I do that most summers. And when you tour, do you drive or fly? It depends on the type of tour. The last acoustic tour we just finished, we drove, it was about 4000km at last count. I don't drive if I'm touring, so I just try to rest, watch a movie, or listen to music or do work, emails etc. Favourite car scene from a movie or TV show? heist. What irritates you most about other drivers? Wave! Smile! I stopped for yooouuuu! Wave! ( Not pointing at anyone in particular ... John St, Ponsonby.)