"It took on a life of its own, which neither me or Don [McGlashan, songwriter] expected because both of us were working on our own stuff at the time as well," Smith said this week from her Auckland home.
"Obviously the opportunities it brought me were priceless, but I found it quite challenging because I hadn't released any of my music before and it felt like [Bathe in the River] wasn't up to scratch.
"It was always a bittersweet thing for me and I actually refused to do it for the first several tours I did because I was a session singer on the day and the emotional connection developed over time."
However, the double platinum selling singer-guitarist said this week she had now "got over myself" with Bathe in the River.
She will perform the anthemic song as part of her set in the Winehouse, Gibbston, on Sunday.
The 29-year-old said this week she tried to visit the Wakatipu as often as possible to see friends and go snowboarding.
There was a quiet release of Band of Brothers, her electronic collaboration with Mara TK, in August. It was out just before the Rugby World Cup and during "a year full of distractions for New Zealand", she said.
"I'm just sort of easing back into the year and we're going to try to do Australia at the end of April and a few North Island dates for a similar kind of show we're bringing down to Queenstown, which is just me and my guitarist Tyson Smith [no relation] doing an acoustic set.
"Normally when I travel the country I try and take the band with me and put on a proper show, but we never really did an official acoustic tour and we've both really grown to love it. We're both from jazz backgrounds so we feed off each other and the arrangements are slightly different and we're able to free ourselves up a bit more.
"It's a completely different vibe and very relaxed and intimate, which I think will be great for the winery. And hopefully everybody likes it."
See her
Hollie Smith, the Winehouse, Gibbston, on Sunday. Tickets cost $45 from Quest in Queenstown and Wanaka, the Arrowtown Information Centre, Eventfinder online and on the door, which opens at 5pm. The show starts at 6pm.
