From the News Desk to the Honky Tonk: Gina Malcolm’s ‘First Rodeo’ is a Deeply Felt, Alt-Country Revelation
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
In the sprawling, often surprising landscape of New Zealand’s creative exports, few career shifts have been as radical—or as rewarding—as that of Leanne Malcolm. Known to a generation of Kiwis as the incisive radio and television journalist who anchored TV3’s Nightline in the 1990s, Malcolm has, since 2021, traded the bright lights of the newsroom for the melancholic glow of the recording studio. Under the moniker Gina Malcolm (using her middle name), she is finally fulfilling a musical dream that took root in her 20s.
️ Artist Background: A Long Road to the ‘Rodeo’
Music was never a sideline for Gina. Inspired by her mother’s piano and country passion and her father’s love for rock ‘n’ roll and blues, she picked up her first guitar at age 11. After moving to Queenstown in 2002, she cut her teeth singing in local covers bands. Yet, the leap to original songwriting and professional recording remained dormant until the global standstill of the pandemic provided the necessary push for courage.
This journey accelerated dramatically through collaboration. Early sessions at Sublime in Waitaki with alt-country stalwart Tom Maxwell and his band, Killergrams, proved infectious. Gina’s willingness to connect led her to musician and producer Matt Joe Gow, who became a pivotal figure, along with artists like Adam Hattaway and his band The Haunters. This network of talent, built through long-distance calls and shared demos, is precisely what gives First Rodeo its rich sonic texture and remarkable cohesiveness. The album is a testament to the power of shared passion overcoming geographical distance.
Album Review: ‘First Rodeo’
Gina Malcolm’s First Rodeo is far more than a vanity project; it is a profound and deeply personal document, showcasing a new artist with the emotional maturity and storytelling depth of a seasoned veteran. Across its 11 tracks, Gina delves into a vast emotional terrain, weaving together a tapestry of alt-country, Americana, and dark-tinged blues.
The Sound and Singles
The lead-in singles established the album’s broad palette. ‘Travellin’ Heart’ offers a pure shot of Americana, a track that found a warm reception on NZ and Australian airwaves, even gracing The International Americana Music Show. It possesses a retro, evocative feel—a classic Americana melancholy reminiscent of Van Morrison at his most reflective.
The most recent single, ‘Blood Left’, plunges into a different, darker sonic space. Described by Gina as “heavy, and packing a lot of attitude,” the song is a hypnotic, atmospheric piece of brooding, dark alt-country noir. It confronts themes of toxic relationships, loss, and the ultimate catharsis of release. The track is built on the spine of Matt Joe Gow’s beautiful, melancholic guitar line, which sets a mood that the surrounding instrumentation then shades into shadow.
Deep Cuts and Emotional Terrain
The album’s strength lies in its emotional honesty, offering listeners a window into Gina’s stock-taking of life’s journey.
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Tracks like ‘Outside of You’ explore the complexity of romantic connectivity, while ‘In the Night’ is a wash of nostalgia, recalling the tenderness of young love.
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The rawest moments are saved for introspection and grief. ‘Dark and Still’ directly addresses the anxiety and depression experienced during the isolation of the pandemic, a timely and relatable exploration of inner conflict.
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Perhaps most heartbreaking is ‘Shadows’, a raw and beautiful tribute to Gina’s late mother, a song that captures the deep, piercing pain of loss with unvarnished sincerity.
Musically, the album takes stylistic detours that keep the journey engaging. The extended, seven-minute laid-back groove of ‘Tumblin’ In’ evokes a classic 70s rock feel, demonstrating a smooth versatility. Conversely, the Iggy Pop-inspired ‘Traps’ injects a jolt of gritty attitude, while ‘Hopeful Moon’ delivers a moment of true country strumming.
The album closes with the raw and bluesy ‘Knee Deep’, a cathartic final act that embraces sadness, transforming the act of singing about pain into a genuine, cleansing release.
Conclusion: The Courage of a Second Act
Gina Malcolm views the creative process as transformative: “This is a very different Leanne Malcolm who used to read the news. I like being Gina, as it indicates my life has shifted in radical ways, and I’m not a one-trick pony.” First Rodeo is an album about the courage to engage one’s passion, regardless of the stage of life. It’s an album that sounds exactly like what it is: a rich, authentic culmination of decades of life experience finally poured into song.
The album’s sonic cohesiveness, achieved despite a remote and collaborative creation process, speaks volumes to Gina’s clear vision and the caliber of musicians she attracted. For those who appreciate the lyrical depth of alt-country and Americana, First Rodeo is not just an impressive debut—it’s a powerful statement that proves the best stories, and the best music, are often worth the wait.