Virginia Claire Wigmore (born 6 June 1986^[2]) is a singer and songwriter from New Zealand. Featured on the Smashproof single 'Brother' in 2009, Wigmore went on to release four albums Holy Smoke (2009), Gravel & Wine (2011), Blood to Bone (2015) and Ivory (2018), with the first three having been chart-toppers on the New Zealand Albums Chart. She is known for her high pitched and raspy voice.^[3][4][5]

• 1Career
• 4Discography
  • 4.3Singles

Career[edit]

International Songwriting Competition[edit]

Inspired by David Gray's album White Ladder, Wigmore wrote her first song, 'Angelfire', at the age of 14. Two years later her father died of cancer and Wigmore stopped writing and playing music. She went to Argentina on an exchange program to teach at a kindergarten. On her return to New Zealand, she wrote 'Hallelujah', a tribute to her father.^[6] Her sister entered the song in the US-based International Songwriting Competition in 2004,^[7] and Wigmore beat 11,000 songwriting aspirants from 77 countries to become the youngest and only unsigned Grand Prize winner in the history of the competition.^[6] She also won the Teen category with 'Angelfire'.^[7]

Hallelujah was my way of telling my family I had dealt with dad's passing and honestly, I didn't want to share these feelings with anyone else. I wanted the moment for myself and my family.

— Gin Wigmore^[8]

Extended Play[edit]

Extended Play was Wigmore's first EP. It was produced by Tony Buchen (Blue King Brown, The Whitlams, Macromantics, Kid Confucius) and contains the tracks 'Hallelujah', 'These Roses', 'SOS', 'Under My Skin', and 'Easy Come Easy Go'. Australian musician John Butler played ukulele on song 'SOS'.^[8] Released in 2008, the EP peaked at number ten in the New Zealand charts. It was certified Platinum in New Zealand on 2 May 2010, selling over 15,000 copies.^[9]

Extended Play was released in Australia on 2 August 2008 by Island Records. Wigmore was the first artist signed with Island Records, a partner company with Universal Music Group, Australia.^[8] She toured with Australian artist Pete Murray on his national tour in August/September 2008. Wigmore toured in 2008, including at the Cross Town Revue in Auckland, and in December 2008, toured with musicians John Mellencamp and Sheryl Crow in New Zealand. Her hit single 'Under My Skin' was featured on an Air New Zealand advertising campaign, Nothing to Hide.

Wigmore featured in the 2009 song and video of 'Brother' by new group Smashproof, also from Auckland.

Holy Smoke[edit]

In 2009, Wigmore released her debut full-length album Holy Smoke, recorded with The Cardinals of Ryan Adams & the Cardinals fame.^[10] The first single from the album, 'Oh My', debuted on the New Zealand Singles Chart at number twenty-one on 24 August 2009, moving to number seven the following week. It peaked at number four.

Three other singles were released during 2010, 'I Do' charted at no. 14 on the Official New Zealand Singles Chart, while third single 'Hey Ho' missed out on a top 20 position by charting just outside at no. 21. The fourth single taken from Holy Smoke was 'Too Late For Lovers', and despite hitting no. 3 on the NZ40 Airplay chart, the single failed to crack the national Top 40. During the week of 30 May 2010, all four of Wigmore's singles from Holy Smoke appeared on the NZ40 Airplay Chart^[11] 'Too Late For Lovers' #7, 'Oh My' #23, 'Hey Ho' #24, 'I Do' #37

The single 'Oh My' is the theme track for the series The Almighty Johnsons. Wigmore's single 'Hey Ho' appeared during the closing scenes of the Weeds Season 6 Finale. In September 2011, Home Improvement Retailer Lowe's began a new brand campaign featuring Wigmore's single 'Don't Stop'.^[12] Her song 'Stealing Happiness' appeared in the TV movie 'Tangiwai'.

Gravel & Wine[edit]

Wigmore travelled for two months in Mississippi and Alabama to get a Southern United States inspiration for her second album which would be recorded in California under producer Butch Walker.^[13] In September 2011, Wigmore revealed the title and release of her new album Gravel & Wine on her official Facebook page.^[14] Lead single was slated 'Black Sheep' was released 26 September 2011, debuting at #13 in the Official New Zealand Music Chart.^[15] The album was released on 7 November 2011. It debuted atop the New Zealand charts, and at #29 on the Australian Albums Chart.^[16] Wigmore also released music videos for 'Man Like That' and 'If Only'.

'Black Sheep' appeared in episode 12, season 8 of television series Grey's Anatomy, in episode 2, season 2 of Teen Wolf, and in episode 5, season 5 of The Good Wife. She appeared singing it on Gift of Revenge, a segment of ABC's television show Revenge (TV series) season 2, episode 7. The song was also used in television commercials for Guinness Black Lager and Nissan Rogue Midnight Edition (2017) in the United States.

'Kill of the Night' was also featured during season 2 of Teen Wolf, along with the series Pretty Little Liars and 666 Park Avenue, and AMC during its annual airing of Halloween movies and shows titled FearFest.
The track was also the theme song to the 2016 E4 and Netflix mini series called Crazyhead – about a pair of demon hunting girls and a slightly inept and awkward guy.
Commercials with the song include Alfa Romeo in Australia, Nationwide Insurance in the United States, and a worldwide short by Johnnie Walker.^[17]

Wigmore was featured in a Skyfall tie-in commercial from Heineken performing the song 'Man Like That', which also featured James Bond portrayer Daniel Craig and Bond girlBérénice Marlohe.^[18]

Gravel & Wine was released in the U.S. on 2 April 2013, and Wigmore appeared on the entire 2013 Vans Warped Tour.^[19][20]

Blood to Bone[edit]

On 14 August 2014, Wigmore had confirmed she had begun studio production on her third LP. Throughout 15 to 22 August, Wigmore had worked in West Hollywood. But on 25 August 2014, Wigmore posted a picture of the beginning of her thirteen-day studio work at Blakeslee Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California. Stephen Rusch is engineering the album. On 29 January 2015, Wigmore posted the album cover and title of her the third LP, Blood to Bone, which was scheduled for release by Island Records on 26 June 2015.^[21] It was Wigmore's third straight chart-topper in New Zealand, and also debuted at #13 at the ARIA Charts, her biggest Australian performance.^[22] In the United States, Blood to Bone came out in August,^[23] and entered the BillboardAlternative Albums chart the following month.^[24]Her song 'New Rush' was featured on the soundtrack of FIFA 16. On 6 June 2015, she released a new promotional single entitled 'Willing To Die' featuring the American rapper Logic & the Australian rapper Suffa of The Hilltop Hoods. The song samples the Alan Lomax recording 'Rosie', which David Guetta also sampled on his track 'Hey Mama', released in March 2015.

Ivory[edit]

On 2 September 2016, Wigmore announced on Facebook she had begun work on her fourth studio album. Later on 3 November, Wigmore dropped 'Dirty Mercy', the lead single from her upcoming fourth album, which she expects to release in 2017.^[25] Wigmore said that she started working in May, and soon came up with ten new songs, while described the album as 'a very eclectic mash of styles as I seem to struggle at settling for one particular genre of music with my albums.' Also in November, Wigmore started another North American tour, beginning at the Corona Capital festival in Mexico City,^[26][27] and extending to cities in the United States up until December.^[28]

In 2017, she was a presenter at TEDxScottBase, filmed in New Zealand's Antarctic research facility.^[29] There Wigmore revealed another new song, 'Thoughts of You'.^[30]

On 26 June, Wigmore released the album's second single 'Hallow Fate'. The song was inspired by an artist's individuality in the music industry. Later in the summer she released the promotional single, 'Beatnik Trip'

On 16 November, Wigmore released the promotional single 'Cabrona', along with the announcement that her fourth album was titled Ivory. Released on April 2018, the album was named after Wigmore's son, even if all the songs were written prior to his birth.^[31]

Others[edit]

In addition, Gin has collaborated with Air New Zealand, with songs such as Tomorrow on the 'Where to Next' ad campaign; her hit single, 'Under My Skin', for 'Nothing to Hide'; and, most recently, her rendition of My Little Corner of the World on the 'a Fantastical Journey' flight safety video in 2017.

Personal life[edit]

Virginia Wigmore, more commonly known as Gin Wigmore, was born in Auckland, New Zealand to Peter and Adrienne Wigmore. Wigmore has two older siblings: brother Olly and sister Lucy Wigmore, a professional actress known for starring as Justine Jones in the long-running New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and a role in Underbelly: Razor. She married Jason Butler, Ex lead singer of the band Letlive now Lead singer of the Band Fever 333, during a private ceremony in Hawaii in September 2014.^[32] The couple's first child, Ivory Nashoba Butler, was born on 7 September 2017.^[33]

Night school 2018 full movie. She is vegetarian and, in 2015, was shortlisted for SAFE's 'New Zealand's Hottest Vegetarians' award.^[34][35]

Tours[edit]

• Tour with Jimmy Barnes (2009)
• Holy Smoke Tour (2010)
• The Grave Train National Tour (2010)
• Gin Wigmore (2011)
• The Winery Tour (2012)
• Vans Warped Tour – United States (2013)
• Homegrown Festival NZ (2014)
• New Rush NZ Tour (2015)
• Blood to Bone Tour (2015)
• Willing to Die U.S. Tour (2016)
• Let it Ride U.S. Tour (2016)

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Extended plays[edit]

'—' denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles[edit]

Notes

1. ^'Hallow Fate' did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number eight on the NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart.^[50]

As featured artist[edit]

Music videos[edit]

Awards and nominations[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^Amplifier NZ – Gin Wigmore
2. ^Hunkin, Joanna (10 October 2009). 'Gin Wigmore: A free spirit'. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
3. ^'You Oughta Know Artist Gin Wigmore Kicks Up Grit, Excitement And Gravel & Wine In U.S.'VH1 News. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
4. ^'Gin Wigmore: The Culture Brats Interview – Culture Brats'. culturebrats.com. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
5. ^'Whisky, Wine & Gin'. Inked. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
6. ^ ^ab'Gin Wigmore'. Max Foundation for New Zealand Women. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
7. ^ ^ab'International Songwriting Competition – Winners 2004'. Archived from the original on 17 June 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
8. ^ ^abc'GIN WIGMORE'. ginwigmore.com.au. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
9. ^Radioscope: New Zealand Platinum CertificationArchived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
10. ^Lindsay, Andrew (27 July 2009). 'Gin Wigmore and the Cardinals'. Stereokill.net. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
11. ^[1]^{[dead link]}
12. ^'Lowe's Never Stop Improving Brand Spot'. TheStreet.com. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
13. ^Gin Wigmore up close and personal
14. ^'Gin Wigmore'. Facebook. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
15. ^'NZ Top 40 Singles Chart The Official New Zealand Music Chart'. Nztop40.co.nz. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
16. ^'australian-charts.com – Gravel & Wine – Gin Wigmore'. ARIA Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
17. ^'Gin Wigmore'. nativetongue.com.au. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
18. ^'Gin Wigmore sings for 007'. Stuff. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
19. ^'Gin Wigmore Announces April 2nd 2013 For 'Gravel & Wine' Us Album Release'. Contactmusic.com. 8 December 1980. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
20. ^'The 2013 Vans Warped Tour Lineup'. Punkmusic.about.com. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
21. ^Weiner, Natalie. 'Exclusive: Watch New Zealander Gin Wigmore Get a 'New Rush' on Latest Video'. Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
22. ^Fresh chart toppers for this week's ARIA Charts: Justin Bieber and The Weeknd both hit the heights on debut!
23. ^Blood to Bone at AllMusic. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
24. ^'Alternative Music: Top Alternative Albums Chart'.
25. ^'Gin Wigmore Looks Back on a Wild 2016'.
26. ^'Interview: Five Minutes with Gin Wigmore'.
27. ^'Gin Wigmore a la deriva'.
28. ^'Gin Wigmore is a Bad Babysitter, Righteous Role Model in 'Dirty Mercy' Video: Exclusive Premiere'.
29. ^'TEDx Scott Base – Speakers'. 22 January 2017.
30. ^'Gin Wigmore debuts new song with intimate Antarctic performance'.
31. ^george.fenwick@nzherald.co.nz, George Fenwick George Fenwick is an entertainment writer for The New Zealand Herald (5 April 2018). 'Gin Wigmore on motherhood, forming a Girl Gang, and her 'brighter' new album' – via www.nzherald.co.nz.
32. ^'Letlive. interview with Jason Aalon Butler: 'Rock music was birthed in heresy and rebellion''. Independent. May 2015.
33. ^'Kiwi singer Gin Wigmore gives birth to her first child'.
34. ^'NZ's hottest vegetarians crowned'. NZ Herald. 1 October 2015.
35. ^'VEGETARIAN is the new black!'. SAFE. 1 November 2012.
36. ^New Zealand Charts. Accessed 11 August 2013
37. ^Peaks in Australia:
    • All except noted: Australian Music Charts. Accessed 11 August 2013
    • Holy Smoke: 'Australian Charts: Kylie Minogue 'Golden' Debuts At No 1'. Noise11. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
    • Ivory: 'ARIA Chart Watch #468'. auspOp. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
38. ^Acharts.us World Charts. Accessed 11 August 2013
39. ^Swiss Music Charts. Accessed 11 August 2013
40. ^'Billboard 200'.Missing or empty url= (help)^{[full citation needed]}
41. ^ ^abcde'Latest Gold / Platinum Singles'. RadioScope. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
42. ^'NZ Top 40 Albums Chart'. Recorded Music NZ. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
43. ^ ^abc'Gin in New Zealand charts'. Hung Medien. charts.org.nz. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
    • 'Team, Ball, Player, Thing': 'charts.org.nz – #KiwisCureBatten – Team Ball Player Thing'. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
44. ^'Billboard Heatseeker'.Missing or empty url= (help)^{[full citation needed]}
45. ^Ryan, Gavin (21 November 2015). 'ARIA Singles: Adele 'Hello' Stays at No 1 For 4th Week'. Noise11. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
46. ^Hung, Steffen. 'charts.org.nz - Gin - Oh My'. charts.org.nz.
47. ^[2]Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
48. ^[3]Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
49. ^'Wild Child: Gin Wigmore announces pregnancy and a new project'. The New Zealand Herald. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
50. ^'NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart'. Recorded Music NZ. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
51. ^'Music Videos: These Roses – Gin Wigmore'. Special Problems. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
52. ^'Music Videos: Under My Skin – Gin Wigmore'. Special Problems. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
53. ^'Music Videos: SOS – Gin Wigmore'. The Physical TV Company. Archived from the original on 13 December 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
54. ^'Brother'. NZ On Screen. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
55. ^'Gin Wigmore – Oh My'. Vimeo. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
56. ^Hopkins, Steve (21 February 2010). 'Gin Wigmore's sexy new look a tonic'. Sunday News. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
57. ^'Too Late For Lovers – Gin Wigmore'. Vevo. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
58. ^Gottlieb, Steven (25 January 2010). 'BOOKED: Gin Wigmore – Moh Azima, director'. Video Static. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
59. ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
60. ^'WINNERS FOR THE VODAFONE NEW ZEALAND MUSIC AWARDS 2009 ' Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards'. Nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
61. ^'Vodafone People's Choice Award ' Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards'. Nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
62. ^'Best Female Solo Artist ' Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards'. Nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
63. ^'Vodafone Single of the Year ' Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards'. Nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
64. ^'THE EDGE Best Pop Album ' Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards'. Nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
65. ^'Russian Standard Vodka Album Of The Year ' Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards'. Nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
66. ^'Pacific Blue Breakthrough Artist of the Year ' Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards'. Nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
67. ^'Highest Selling NZ Album ' Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards'. Nzmusicawards.co.nz. Archived from the original on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
68. ^'Best Female Solo Artist 2015'. Nzmusicawards.co.nz. Retrieved 15 February 2012.

External links[edit]