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Gin is about the journey.
Gin Wigmore is a distinctive singer/songwriter, whose sound is driven by a startling voice; her delivery succinctly described by a critic as ‘whiskey and dry’ and whose self-penned songs provide a refreshing new take on life as a ’20-something’ and yet relate across the generations.
Geographically, Gin tracks from Auckland to Buenos Aires to Sydney. Vocally she runs from Macy Gray to Blondie to Edith Piaf. Musically she moves between Feist and Broken Social Scene to Neil Young and Fiona Apple, while lyrically she moves from sorrow to sunshine.
“My stories are simple because I want to reach people.” Gin says. “But at the same time I like to bring mystery. Sometimes we all need to ask: How? Why?”
Certainly, these questions also apply to Gin, and the high and low roads she has traveled to this point.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, a family tragedy forced Gin her to deal with her grief a world away in Argentina. When she returned home, Gin articulated, in a song, the pain of losing her father to cancer. She was 16.
One of those early penned songs, 'Hallelujah', won the US-based International Songwriting Contest in 2005, when she beat 11,000 songwriting aspirants from 77 countries to become the youngest and only unsigned Grand Prize winner in the history of the ISC.
“Hallelujah was my way of telling my family I had dealt with dad's passing,” Gin says. “And honestly, I didn't want to share these feelings with anyone else. I wanted the moment for myself and my family.” That moment is now the poignant and potent centrepiece of 'Extended Play' her five-track debut, set to be released by Island Records Australia on August 2nd, 2008.
'Extended Play', produced by Tony Buchen (Blue King Brown, The Whitlams, Macromantics, Kid Confucius), contains 'Hallelujah', 'These Roses', 'SOS', 'Under My Skin' and 'Easy Come Easy Go'.
'These Roses' (....I will stay addicted to you ...'') Harrowing pop through the eyes of a hunter. ....It was about a crush I once had,'' Gin explains. ....Luckily, it turned into an obsession and this song was born.''
'SOS' (“To fill my shoes and break my blues'') A rollicking vow to break the cycle of making mistakes. ....It's purely make believe,'' says Gin. ....But you never want to repeat a bad relationship.''
'Hallelujah' (....You followed the road for the angels ... and left me behind.'') A soulful prayer about loss and healing. ....This is a song for my father,'' Gin says. ....I learned to deal with his passing. But I still miss him every day.''
'Under My Skin' (....All these secrets we have shaded ...'') A cheery affirmation of love and lust. ....This song came together after a singalong at a party at 3am in the morning,'' Gin giggles. ....It's about being totally hooked in love.”
'Easy Come Easy Go' (....When my timing is numbered, count all the days til yesterday ...'') Wistful observations of seasons slowly passing. ....I love the sentiment of ‘whatever happens’,'' Gin says. ....You can make it apply to your own life.''
“Gin presents her songs with a voice of contradiction,'' notes Tony Buchen. “It is raspy yet delicate, forceful and fragile.’’ 'These Roses', the lead track from the EP best represents Gin’s remarkable voice. “I try not to think too much about where my voice comes from,” she says. “I'm channeling characters and emotion to come up with beautiful words that tell a story.”
Gin can count some pretty impressive artists as fans for a relatively unknown artist. John Butler plays ukulele on 'SOS' and Nick Littlemore of Pnau and Gin have plans to record together.
The journey has just begun.
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