NEW Zealand has never been a nation known for chart-climbing pop thrills, instead giving us the gentle melodies of Crowded House, Ladyhawke and Flight Of The Conchords.

Perhaps native Kiwi and Radio One DJ Zane Lowe and is about as cutting-edge as it gets.

Aiming to change all that is 26 year old Virginia Claire ‘Gin’ Wigmore.

You may recognise her single Man Like That, which was used to recently soundtrack the Heineken/James Bond 007 Skyfall TV Advert.

Gin Wigmore may be a newcomer in the UK, but the Auckland native is an established artist in New Zealand which includes a 5x platinum album called ‘Holy Smoke’ released 2009 which gripped the nation subsequently becoming album of the year, best pop album, highest-selling New Zealand Album as well as breakthrough artist of the year.

Gin first moved from Auckland to Sydney in search of a music career.

After initial slow progress, her second album, Gravel & Wine, has also become a platinum-selling smash hit in the Antipodes.

It melds soul to glam rock and fleeting bluesy moments, with Wigmore’s distinctive voice lying somewhere between the often raggedy, giddy but charming enunciation that carried Amy Winehouse and Cerys Matthews to the top of the charts.

It is heard at its soaring best on the stirring ballads If Only and Saturday Smile, but is less suited to the foot-stompers that make up quite a large proportion of the album.

Gravel & Wine is an album that was born from Gin travelling around the deep south of America, where she experienced sermons from Reverend Al Green and the 11 tracks bathe themselves in moments of lonesome blues. This is the sound of a singer with a point to prove and that is Kiwis can also do rock n roll swagger.