These days happily Aotearoa-based, versatile Irish musician Dónal Gunning has been making waves in the Wellington music scene since moving from Dublin in 2022. He released an EP of his indie folk, tellingly titled ‘Born To Perform’ in 2023, but since then Dónal has been excavating more rock-based material, grafting hard and developing a new repertoire plus matching stage presence with his bandmates The Bucks.

Dropping in March this year, the Dónal Gunning single Your 1 announced the pending release of a new rock-focused EP, ‘Zero Bucks Given’. Second single Losing Weight followed in May, with the ‘Zero Bucks Given’ EP dropping at the end of August, and a national tour planned over the coming months. Introducing himself and music to NZM readers, Dónal talks here about his EP’s opening track, the fun rocking love song Gimme More.

Inspired by a chance encounter back in 2022,Gimme More sets out to grip you from the very first note. For myself and The Bucks it’s our go-to opener at live shows, so it makes sense for Gimme More to lead the charge as the opening track of my sophomore EP, ‘Zero Bucks Given’, dropping on August 29, 2025.

Gimme More was written on the rooftop of an apartment block in Lagos, Portugal, on a blistering hot Sunday afternoon. Don’t be fooled by the gnarly, gritty bass tone and piercing guitar riffs – this is actually a love song, cleverly disguised (I like to think) in hard rock. I was 27 when I wrote this song, and have been sitting on it for nearly three years… so releasing it now feels incredible.

In production I drew sonic inspiration from heavyweights like IDLES and Queens of the Stone Age. The distorted bass in this track makes its own statement – one that took three recording sessions and countless mixes to perfect. I still remember walking home from an open mic night in Welly, hearing the final mix for the first time. When that opening line, ‘Get out of my way and get into my new car,’ hit I couldn’t stop grinning!

Earlier this year, I released two singles, Losing Weight and Your 1, both of which received some glowing international reception. They landed radio play, got added to key playlists and pulled in high praise from critics, all helping push my online streams and monthly listeners to new highs. The EP marks a sonic evolution, a bold pivot from the indie folk sound of my first EP ‘Born to Perform’ into more nuanced, unapologetic rock.

Myself and my astute bandmates The Bucks (Stan Sheppard, Mason Williams, Felix Landon & Jake Bergstrom), will be hitting the road this Spring for a 14-date tour across Aotearoa, celebrating and promoting the ‘Zero Bucks Given’ EP. 

My journey as a muso has been anything but linear. In 2022, I left a full-time career in accountancy and moved to New Zealand to pursue music – a risky but rewarding move. Three years later, I’m preparing for a national tour, it still feels surreal. Touring isn’t financially easy to justify right now, but we see a certain valour in keeping rock music alive, it has a unique showmanship that’s missed in more popular music. We strive to bring that sort of showmanship and communication with audiences in our live performances. 

The music video for Gimme More is directed and produced by Finn Zemba, and was shot at the WWII bunkers in Miramar on a (thankfully) dry winter afternoon. The raw, rustic vibe of the setting mirrors the song’s tone perfectly. Brownie points if you can spot what piece of gear we forgot to bring to set… Hint: check out our drummer’s chops. Also, we’re evolving our wardrobe game, so keep an eye out for the sleek black fits – and the alarming lack of chest hair!

Looking ahead I’m hoping to release a debut full-length album in 2026. As an upcoming Irish musician in Aotearoa I’m beyond excited to share what’s been years in the making. Hold onto your hats and prepare to headbang. Sláinte!