She lives life at break-neck speed, and Gin Wigmore thinks you should too.
If you had to choose a word to describe Gin Wigmore’s life right now, you would probably choose “new”. The singer-songwriter has just released a new single, Country Diamond, off her upcoming new album, Beautiful Mess, right in the midst of opening a new sandwich shop, Wigmore Deli, in Auckland’s Kingsland.
Launching a new business at the same time as releasing an album may sound like a lot, but Wigmore knows how to do change (she’s moved to LA and back, swerved from musician mode to running a hotel to renovating houses) and she likes to move fast, she tells The Spinoff.
People would be surprised to know this about me: I’m most proud of creating a vision and bringing it into reality quickly. No overthinking, no hesitation, just backing myself and seeing things through. I’m not really into talking about ideas for too long, I like to move them into reality and let the work speak for itself.
If I could have a do-over I’d change: Lying out in the sun without sunscreen on as a kid for way too long, thinking I was completely invincible and not realising the consequences at all. I definitely take better care of my skin now, but back then it was all beach, sun, and zero awareness.
This gets me really annoyed: Staining your clothes literally right after you wash them. You put something clean on, feel like you’ve got your life together for five seconds, and then somehow it’s tomato sauce or coffee or something equally ridiculous straight away. It’s just instantly humbling.
The great love of my life is: My dog Boogie, without question. He’s just always there in that uncomplicated, loyal way dogs are, and honestly he makes everything feel lighter even on the heavier days.
When I was 8 I wanted to be: I think I wanted to be an actress, or at least someone who was always performing in some way. I was pretty drawn to being in front of people and creating characters, even if I didn’t really know what that meant yet.
If I could reach back in time I’d give this advice to my teenage self: Boys will always let you down in some way, even the good ones, so don’t spend too long crying about it or making it mean something bigger than it is. Just feel it, move through it, and don’t let it take up more space than it deserves.
In 10 years, I hope to be: On a yacht somewhere going through the Tahitian islands, sun on my face, laying on the chest of my lover, good music playing, and life feeling a bit more open and slow in the best possible way. Just living a life that feels free and even more untethered.
The thing I really fear: Something life-alteringly bad happening to my children, that kind of deep, instinctive fear that sits underneath everything else no matter how much you try to stay relaxed. It’s the one thing that cuts through everything.
The last time I cried: This morning. Nothing dramatic about it, just one of those moments where it all catches up a bit and you let it come out instead of holding it in.
My controversial opinion is: Dogs shouldn’t be leashed. I know it’s a debate and people will have strong thoughts on it, but there’s something about animals just being completely free in their own space that sits right with me.
This brings me joy: Listening to music. Properly listening, not just having it on in the background – letting it take over a moment, shift your mood, or remind you of something you didn’t even know you’d forgotten.
I really shouldn’t do this, but… I smoke and drink when I’m sad. It’s not exactly a proud habit, more just something that creeps in when I’m in certain moods. Looking to change that habit 100%…!
My advice for life is: Live it at break-neck speed, but make sure you’re actually present while you’re doing it. Don’t sit too long on decisions or fear, just move, experience, and trust yourself as you go.
I recommend you read/watch/listen to: Read, watch, and listen to people intently, purposefully and thoughtfully. There’s so much information in how people speak, behave, and create, and if you actually pay attention to it, your life becomes a lot more layered and interesting.
