When the Queenstown Times called, Smith was still on a high from playing the cuckoo role in Birds of Paradise, an extravagant avant-garde burlesque cabaret show.
The role demanded the singer, composer and vocal coach perform in not much more than feathers, glitter and a G-string.
"It was a wonderful dip of the toe into a genre I hadn't experienced before, except as a spectator. It was very affirming in terms of being naked, to realise the whole of people's bodies are beautiful.
"I had to make the role my own as they were concentrating on choreography, and I kept referring to jazz because jazz is all about improvisation."
Smith said she could not wait to perform and teach at JazzFest for the first time as she had heard amazing things about it and enjoyed playing during the Queenstown Winter Festival.
"I didn't think I'd have a look-in, but I met Nicky [JazzFest trustee Nicola Lyndsay] at a songwriting class and she said it wasn't full up yet. I don't approach people, it was quite random."
Smith said the Skyline JazzFest Brunch audience could look forward to several tracks from her album The Story So Far, the follow-up to Aurere, which will be out early next year after four years of work.
Her four-piece jazz band will also interpret unusual choices, such as Love Will Tear Us Apart and Bathe In The River.
"The term jazz is a very loosely defined genre and it has to be. They've had all sorts of artists perform in European festivals that you wouldn't call jazz."
Smith said being partially sighted was not a hindrance when it came to expressing herself musically\
"Music for me isn't a fashion accessory or background noise, or to say I'm educated. To me, it's pretty much magic and everything I get from music I want to share with people."
The workaholic musician, who has coached Hollie Smith, Anika Moa, Ladi 6 and Opensouls' Bjorn Peterson, will do just that tomorrow when she hosts a three-hour vocal workshop for budding vocalists of all ages.
The workshop is designed to arm singers with a full arsenal of vocal tips, exercises and the benefits of constructive feedback.
"Even if you have the most incredible voice in the world, what if you're crippled by nerves? Even if you write amazing songs, you need to learn the means of controlling your voice."
• The Caitlin Smith vocals workshop, Queenstown Performing Arts Centre, Stanley St, Saturday, October 24, 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Tickets are $40 and available at Queenstown i-Site and Ticketdirect.
Caitlin Smith and band perform at the Skyline JazzFest Brunch, in the Skyline Restaurant, Sunday, October 25, 11am to 2pm. Tickets cost $49.50 and include entertainment, full buffet brunch and return gondola ride. They are available at Queenstown i-Site and Ticketdirect.
