Aart Smith Project

The Aart Smith Project involves recording a debut album of ten original songs written and sung by Neville Stewart.

Music has been a huge part of my life since family singalongs in the 60s. Training as a boy soprano I sang in both the church and school choirs, and joined my first band in 1975.

Why an album now?

My music life changed forever in October 2016 after attending a Freakin Awesome Song-Writing Workshop at the Dunedin Folk Club, when cohesion came to the galaxy of musical motifs, melodies, riffs and lyrical ideas I had gathered over the years.

Working steadily with my song writing mentor, stories evolved into music and songs, and in October 2017 a demo tape recording was made of six of my songs. I had no preconceived notion of how I could make an album but when the demo tape reached the ears of my friend Murray Burns, a music producer, songwriter and musician in Mi-Sex, he said 'people need to hear these songs'.

My songs tell heartfelt stories of the emotional and spiritual experience's we have every day with family and friends and feature many references to Aoteoroa's natural landscapes.

I am humbled and grateful to musicians who - when asked to be involved - have embraced wholeheartedly the project on hearing the songs, and have given their professional knowledge and time so generously.

Funding help

Your donation will go towards the costs of professionally producing the songs with session musician backing. A professionally produced album will ensure these songs are enjoyed by a much wider audience.

Please help me fund the Aart Smith project. You will love hearing the results!

Thank you so much

Neville Stewart

Click here to listen to Where You're At