Recently we caught up with Nashville-raised, Richmond-based musician and visual artist Gin Wife, who has started to make waves with her fresh sound and witty charm, as with her newest single ‘Pro Golfers’. Previously part of the band Geez Louise, this now solo artist has been carving out her own lane, one where her self-aware, inventive and playful storytelling can come to life. For On The Record, we’re centering on the latest track release to introduce Gin Wife to you all. Inspired by a trip to the driving range after a bout of writer’s block, the song serves as a sharp-witted jab at toxic masculinity wrapped in an irresistible bass groove. We chat about everything from golf stereotypes and recording mishaps to the influence of visual art on songwriting and dream collaborations with post-punk heroes. With a clear voice and a love for offbeat melodies, Gin Wife is one to keep on your radar. Let’s dive into the conversation.
Welcome to Unrecorded! For those who aren’t already familiar with Gin Wife, can you introduce yourself?
Hey! I’m a musician and visual artist from Nashville, TN. I used to play in an outfit called Geez Louise, but just ventured into a bit more of solo territory and testing the waters.
Let’s talk about your new single ‘Pro Golfers’, which was the product of breaking writer’s block. How did approaching songwriting with humor help you get unstuck creatively?
Haha well…I was having a bad day so my step-dad, in a desperate attempt to get me out of the house, took me to the driving range. We had fun mocking the stereotypes that ruled the scene with cardigans tied around their necks and arrogant auras. As soon as I sat down to write, I think the memory was just fresh on my mind.
We especially love that quirky bass riff that you built the track around, what was it about that riff that sparked the whole song?
I had been going through a several month period of not being able to complete a whole song so I told myself that the next goofy bass line that I wrote, I would have to write (and complete) a song around. That initial riff that kicks off the song was the first thing I played and I thought, “Well, alright, I guess this is my assignment.”
Can you paint a picture of the day you recorded ‘Pro Golfers’?
The day that the actual track was recorded, one of my best friends Parker Forbes and I had gone down to his childhood home, where he used to record a lot of his tracks, and it started off comically bad what with me having a tremendous allergy attack right before cutting our first round of vocals. We medicated the malady with pricklebacks and tallboys.
How did working with Parker Forbes influence the vibe and energy of the track?
Parker has always had a great influence on the final outcome of my songs. I love bringing him a variety of different stages of a track, from bones of a song to a pretty fleshed out demo and watching the gears in his head turn. He has a crazy ear for production that still manages to keep the original spirit of the demo, but with a much more polished and involved final product. He’s also big on The Strokes and I think that shows through in a lovely way.
There’s a playful jab at toxic masculinity and golf culture in this song, what inspired that specific satirical approach?
I grew up going to a fairly preppy Christian academy from 8th to 12th grade so I think I already had an engrained bitterness towards a certain brand of preppy. Seeing it on the range though honestly sparked an admittedly irrational irritability in me.
You cite The Strokes, Stella Donnelly, Momma and Slow Pulp as influences, what is it about those bands that you find most inspiring?
The Strokes have stellar melodies and guitar movement, Stella Donnelly’s vocal style and lyricism rules, Momma as an entire package is an obsession of mine, and Slow Pulp’s variety while still maintaining a baseline of style is a goal I strive to achieve.
Where else do you find inspiration?
When I’m feeling especially low on inspiration, I turn to the stacks of assorted art magazines I keep on deck specifically for moments when I’m craving creative ideas. Visual art helps me when writing a song more than listening to other artists does. Seeing a picture visually, gives me way more of an idea of how to paint it sonically.
And who would be your dream collaboration? And why?
Probably Fontaines D.C. or DIIV. They’re my two absolute favorite projects (and have been for many years) that I just don’t see myself ever getting past being absolutely in love with. Both bands have inspired me endlessly throughout the years.
Following on from ‘Pro Golfers’, what’s next in your musical journey?
I’ll be playing some more shows in Nashville and hopefully even sooner in Richmond, Virginia, where I’ve just recently moved.
You can also listen to ‘Pro Golfers’ in our Shades of Pop playlist.
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