Album Review: Gin Wigmore – Beautiful Mess

A lot has happened in Gin Wigmore’s life in the last few years, and while Beautiful Mess doesn’t draw a line under them, it does offer a moment of pause.

Since the release of her last album, Ivory, back in 2018, the New Zealand music icon has got married, moved to America, had two children, and briefly explored life outside the music industry. Life has led her back to New Zealand, and now, to a new album, Beautiful Mess.

It has to be said upfront that the album is far from a mess, even as it was recorded in a week in the Palm Springs desert alongside long-time collaborators Dave Goodison and Steven Padin. Maybe it’s the chemistry between the three that allowed them to create a collection of beautiful and emotionally open songs that reflect all the challenges and uncertainty of life within such a uniform and cohesive musical palette in such a short time. I wager the album title is a reflection on the nature of life itself.

Her fourth solo studio album, Beautiful Mess is remarkably confessional, opening up her heart, its wounds, worries and remaining sense of wonder at the nature of love and life. As much as her life has changed, for good or bad, there is no sense of anger here, nor bitterness, though you can hear sadness at times that life has not always gone the way she had hoped. Maybe there has been grieving, but what you hear most often in the lyrics is acceptance.

What is a constant in the album is that Wigmore obviously loves the process of making music, and also loves life, no matter what it throws at her. It’s a brave album, as Wigmore gives us snapshots of her emotions over the last decade. But ultimately, it comes down to the music, because without that, the message is not as effective.

And there, Beautiful Mess is a wonderful triumph. Wigmore’s voice has never sounded better, with her smoky rock sensibility and concurrent honeyed country flavour finding a place to cohabit. Well, Well is one of the best examples of that, as she brings her similarities to Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks out in one, perfect performance.     

To mirror the title of the opening track, this is indeed a country diamond, but more in line with the headstrong and inventive expressiveness of the 70s West Coast scene than the polished sound of Nashville. That’s not to say that the album is rough: it is tight and remarkably warm, given that quite often, the arrangement sounds minimal but is made to sound maximal.

It’s not the end of a story, more the process of putting down on record events of the last ten years, not looking back or looking away, embracing her life for what it has been, and transforming that very personal story into something anyone can relate to, country fan or not.   

“I’m proud that I still let courage sit in the driver’s seat,” states Wigmore. “The courage to be me, the courage to raise my kids in a really authentic and transparent way, the courage to make music with vulnerability, the courage to try shit, the courage to let it pass me by when it no longer nourishes, the courage to be a good friend and show up.”

“I’m really proud that I haven’t let courage disappear. Not only have I not left it, I’ve let it drive. Courage is underrated – especially for how much of a necessary ingredient it is to embrace life to its fullest potential.”

Beautiful Mess was released on the 17th of July, 2026, and is streaming on all major music outlets, including Spotify and Apple Music. You can find out more about the album, and Gin Wigmore’s future music plans, by following her on Facebook and Instagram.