On The Row: Caitlyn Smith Gives ‘Supernova’ Another Shot

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Acclaimed singer-songwriter Caitlyn Smith released her sophomore record, Supernova, on March 13. Within 24 hours of her record’s release, she was leaving Detroit where she was opening for Little Big Town. Since then, Smith has been splitting her time in Nashville and her home state of Minnesota, spending quarantine trying to remain creative and starting her Instagram conversation series ‘Lonely Together,’ where she’s brought Shane McAnally, Karen Fairchild, Brandy Clark, Lori McKenna, Tenille Townes, and many more on her Instagram live to chat.

In September, Smith released Supernova as a deluxe version via Monument Records. The deluxe version, which includes a collaboration with Old Dominion and a cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You,” gives Smith’s 12 songs that she delivered as the COVID-19 pandemic was impacting the United States another chance.

Smith recently visited with MusicRow Magazine staffers via Zoom, and offered a few songs against her spacey background, including her reimagined version of “I Can’t,” with Old Dominion.

Caitlyn Smith performs for MusicRow Staffers

“I’ve know a couple of those guys for a long while,” Smith said of Old Dominion. “Brad Tursi and I go way back to when I first moved to town like a decade ago. We did a tour with Willie Nelson; it was Willie Nelson’s Country Music Throwdown. It was like 17 acts, and Brad and I were part of the songwriter’s stage. So we got to know each other then. I was a big fan of him then, and when they formed Old Dominion, I just remember sitting in his truck, listening to the songs and being like ‘What the heck is this, this is amazing!’ We go way back, we’re big fans of each other so when the opportunity came to go this collaboration, I was like ‘Yes!'”

 

Like the members of Old Dominion, Smith is a well-established songwriter in her own right, having written songs for Meghan Trainor and John Legend, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, James Bay, Jason Aldean, Lady A and more.

“I’ve been here 10 years, I’ve loved Nashville from the second I came here. I’ve always wanted to do the artist thing, but I’ve had a chance to first focus on the songwriting part. I’ve had my songs recorded by a bunch of people and that’s been a total bonus level of life that I never knew was going to be a part of my story, but has been really, really fun. But it’s very fun to step into myself as an artist, it’s been fun getting to experiment. I’ve been having a blast these last couple of years, especially making this new record.”

Smith also played a swanky love song she wrote with Ashley Monroe, “Feel That Way,” that sounds like Patsy Cline meets Nora Jones. Smith’s gorgeous, emotional but controlled voice soars on the track.

“I sat down with a good friend of mine, Ashley Monroe. It was on Valentine’s Day. She’s one of my favorite humans and favorite voices in this town. We just smoked a joint and wrote a song about our husbands,” Smith quipped. “This is what happens with Ashley Monroe on Valentine’s Day.”

Pictured (L-R, top row): MusicRow‘s Sherod Robertson; Caitlyn Smith; MusicRow‘s LB Cantrell; (L-R, bottom row): MusicRow‘s Jessica Nicholson, Alex Parry

Smith wrote the songs for Supernova during a busy time in her life, when she was touring a lot and pregnant. “I joke that Supernova is extra emo because it’s just infused with all the pregnancy hormones.

“It’s been a really crazy year, but I’m really excited to release this deluxe record and kind of get a re-do on putting the album out. I’m just happy to get the music to folks. I hope that this record is a light to folks, especially in this super strange year.”

LB Cantrell
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