On 'High,' Caitlyn Smith elevates her sound

In March of 2020, Caitlyn Smith was poised to level up. After making her name writing hits for artists like Meghan Trainor, Miley Cyrus and Garth Brooks, she had released her triumphant debut album, 2018's Starfire: a confident, carefully crafted collection that proved Smith was just as potent a solo artist as a pen-for-hire. Then came her sophomore album, Supernova, which doubled down on her emotive, hook-laden pop-country sound and signaled that, while she would no doubt remain an in-demand songwriter, Smith's true calling was that of an artist.

came out March 13, 2020, and Smith had planned an extensive tour and press campaign that would bring her music to the masses. Then, of course, the pandemic happened, and Smith's plans — like those of many musicians — were dashed. Six months after releasing , Smith and her husband, the songwriter Rollie Gaalswyk, packed their belongings and moved to Minnesota, Smith's home state. While neither anticipated making that