She’s written songs for Christina Aguilera and Adam Lambert, but it’s thanks to Daniel Bedingfield that Kiwi singer/songwriter Ginny Blackmore got her musical break.
Los Angeles-based Ginny (27) flew back to her Kiwi homeland to join judge Daniel on X Factor this week, and perform her hit track Bones. And like contestants on the show, Ginny knows it’s a long, hard journey to the top, taking years of hard work.
Discovering her passion early, Ginny dropped out of school at 16 to concentrate on music.
“My parents let me [leave school], but on the condition that I treat it like a nine-to-five job. I was allowed an hour lunch break. I’d watch Dr Phil, then when the time was up, Dad would turn off the TV and I’d have to go back in my room and write another song,” Ginny told Teen Vogue.
The dedication paid off. Four years later, Daniel spotted her talent and lent her money to buy recording equipment. She signed with his management company and moved to London to forge a career, eventually penning Sing For Me,
which features on Christina’s latest album, Lotus.
Christina and Ginny worked together on the song, changing the lyrics to suit the American. But Ginny soon discovered that giving up her own music was tough.
“I said [she could have it] because it’s Christina Aguilera. But I cried because it’s my favourite song that I’ve written… so to give it to her was a good idea, but it was still painful. Then I wrote Bones and I was like, ‘Yeah!’ So I held on to that one,” says Ginny.
The emotional song debuted in the top 20 on the New Zealand iTunes singles charts, and reached #31 in the US. And with an album out later this year, Ginny Blackmore is certainly one to watch.
Ginny performs on The X-Factor, TV3, Monday, 8pm.
