No TrueBliss for Caitlin

Sunday News, News, by Lee Umbers The Popstars phenomenon hasn’t been true bliss for the woman who trained the Kiwi all-girl group. Tonight, the debut single by TrueBliss has gone gold in its first week and is expected to enter the New Zealand charts at No. 1. But the group’s vocal coach Caitlin Smith has been sacked by Popstars producer Jonathon Dowling. Sunday News understands Dowling fired Caitlin on-camera but decided against using the footage in the TV2 series. “Caitlin was traumatised,” a source said. “She’s very respected in the New Zealand music scene and was really worried about being dumped in front of a nationwide TV audience.” Blind-from-birth Caitlin, 27, is one of New Zealand’s most respected vocals coaches. She coached American super-star Courtney Love before her band Hole’s performance at last year’s Big Day Out concert. She coached the five TrueBliss members for six weeks in February and March before being sacked. Sunday News was told Dowling fired Caitlin after she advised the girls to seek legal advice before signing contracts. “Caitlin believed it was in her brief to advise the girls on all aspects of the music business but I think Jonathon thought she was undermining him,” the source said. “He confronted Caitlin on-camera and said there was no way he could continue working with her.” The source said the TrueBliss members now have a lawyer, who has given them contractual advice. Dowling said: “I’m not answering this rumour. Caitlin did a good job and then her job was over, that’s my take on it all.” Caitlin said: “I don’t want to talk about this but it’s all been resolved now and I wish the TrueBliss girls all the best.”