Even though Ryan Adams has taken an indefinite hiatus from music following his marriage to Mandy Moore, it doesn’t mean his former bandmates have done the same. In fact, the four remaining members of The Cardinals recently embarked on a brand new endeavor, hitching up with New Zeleand singer/songwriter Gin Wigmore for her debut album and tour dates, reports TwentyFourBit.

If you haven’t heard of Wigmore, don’t worry, you will soon enough. In just four short years, the 20-year-old has already won the US-based  International Songwriting Contest (that occurred in 2005 when she beat 11,000 songwriting hopefuls from 77 countries to become the youngest and only unsigned Grand Prize winner in the history of the ISC), signed record contracts Island Records Australia and Universal Motown Records USA, and released her debut EP to critical acclaim.

What’s more, for her forthcoming debut full-length, titled Holy Smoke, Wigmore has not only teamed up with Ryan Adam’s old crew, but also well-known producers Joe Chiccarelli (The White Stripes‘ Icky Thump) and Mike Elizondo (Fiona Apple’s Extraordinary Machines).

Not a bad start, eh?

Wigmore’s native New Zealand will get first dibs on her debut album beginning September 25th. A North American release dates and tour dates have yet to be announced.

Gin Wigmore 2009 Tour Dates:
08/27 – Sydney, AU @ Notes
09/02 – Melbourne, AU @ The Toff in Town
09/03 – Brisbane, AU @ Troubadour
09/12 – Gosford, AU @ Coaster Festival