When it comes to solo female artists, New Zealand has a tendency to push the introspective singer-songwriter stereotype to the top of the charts. Bic Runga, Anika Moa, Brooke Fraser, they've all had number 1 albums and released some lovely songs over the past few years, but they suffer from being, well, a little bit boring. Fresh talent: Gin Wigmore Hailing from Auckland, 23 year old Gin Wigmore is here to break that stereotype and all in all, she does rather a good job of it. Gin has been knocking around the NZ music scene since 2008 when she released her EP Extended Play which featured the songs Hallelujah which won her the US-based International Songwriting Competition back in 2004 (beating 11,000 other entries); and Under My Skin which you will know from the Air New Zealand Nothing To Hide ad campaign. Earlier this year she featured on Smashproof's Brother which topped the NZ charts for 11 straight weeks. Just a couple of weeks ago she released her first full length album Holy Smoke. The album kicks off with first single Oh My, a pop-rock gem with a guitar intro not unlike some of the songs The Cardigans released back in the mid 90's. Brooke Fraser this certainly is not. Gin herself sounds like a throatier, huskier version of Duffy as she belts out "oh my god, I'm beaten in the game of love/ I've had two years in heaven but five weeks in hell". It's a great opener. Hey Ho follows on and is an irresistible slice of soulful rock with a great bass line and horns scattered throughout, topped off with a killer hook in the chorus. It wouldn't sound out of place on the soundtrack to a Tarantino movie. Don't Stop, led by an upbeat piano has a 60's feel to it, though less of the type that Amy Winehouse and Duffy have coined lately, and almost more of a Beatles type feel to it. I Do finds Gin exercising a wistful vulnerability and slowing it down with a summery Ukulele backed song. The lyrics have a sweet yearning to them as she sings "I can change babe, my bitter, cold and dark days, are staying away, when I see you". Too Late for Lovers is the albums second single and is a slight disappointment after the strength of her first. It's not a bad song however, another slow-rock offering that is saved from dreariness by some well orchestrated strings and the vocal performance from Gin herself. Therein lies the best thing about this album. Gin gives a solid performance throughout every song here. Where other female artists can sometimes tend to blend into the song production, Gin really stands out. She has a charisma to her voice that draws you in regardless of what she's actually singing. From the playful warning that she gives in Mr Freakshow "I don't ever, wanna, ever, ever be a lady", to the almost country lilt it takes on One Last Look, to the delightfully casual way she delivers the line "I'm gonna come along/ I'm gonna shoot you down/ now you go six feet underground" on Hey Ho. The whole album is a great example of a true vocal talent. It is fantastic to see some fresh New Zealand talent emerging and bringing something a little different to the table. Gin has put out a solid debut that promises a bright future. As a bonus, you can currently get a limited edition copy of her album with her EP included, worth getting now just to get your hands on Under My Skin which was alas left off the album. The video for Gin Wigmore's track Oh My appears below. Andrew Grear - 14th November 2009