Gin Wigmore
A New Zealand singer with a whiskey-soaked roar who carved a global path with her bluesy, anthemic rock and soul.
Born 1986 (age 40)·New Zealand singer·Birthday: June 6·Millennials
Biography
Gin Wigmore's voice is an instrument you feel in your bones—a raspy, powerful force that seems to carry the dust of a dirt road. She burst onto the scene not with a whisper, but with a roar, winning a US songwriting competition as a teenager. Her early feature on Smashproof's 'Brother' made her a household name in New Zealand, but her ambitions were larger. Her debut album, 'Holy Smoke', produced by the Black Keys' Patrick Carney, was a swaggering statement of intent, topping the charts back home. She built a loyal international following by grafting on the road, her live shows raw and energetic. Albums like 'Gravel & Wine' and 'Blood to Bone' refined her recipe of soul, blues, and stomping rock, creating a sound that was both timeless and distinctly her own, far removed from the pop mainstream.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Gin was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Gin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the International Songwriting Competition in 2004 at age 16 with her song 'Hallelujah'.
- Achieved three consecutive number-one albums on the New Zealand Albums Chart.
- Her song 'Black Sheep' was featured prominently in the television series 'Suits', gaining international exposure.
- Performed at major festivals worldwide, including Coachella and Lollapalooza.
Did You Know?
She is married to former Olympic snowboarder and musician Jason McMillan.
She initially pursued a career in photography before focusing fully on music.
Her song 'Man Like That' was used in a global advertising campaign for the video game 'Borderlands 2'.
She has a tattoo of a sparrow on her hand, a common sailor tattoo symbolizing a safe return home.
“I've always been drawn to the darker, grittier side of music. I like things that sound like they've lived a little.”
