IF 2025 PROVED DÓNAL GUNNING WASN’T HERE BY ACCIDENT, 2026 IS THE YEAR HE KICKS THE DOOR OFF ITS HINGES
The Irish songwriter, now firmly rooted in Aotearoa, returns on February 26 with Oven, a glossy, sun-soaked pop-rock anthem that signals the start of a bold new chapter. It’s the first taste of his highly anticipated debut album, and it arrives with the confidence of an artist who knows exactly where he’s heading.
Fresh off a massive year that included the release of his sophomore EP Zero Bucks Given, international radio play, and a triumphant 15-date New Zealand tour, Dónal has been quietly levelling up. The EP earned praise from Music NZ, calling it “some of the catchiest tunes ever heard”, high praise that captured just how far he’s come since his debut Born to Perform landed in May 2024.
Oven turns the page stylistically. Where Zero Bucks Given leaned into grit and unapologetic rock energy, this new single embraces polish without losing its edge. Built around a new-wave bassline, washed in ethereal guitar swells, and driven by a punchy, forward-moving drumbeat, the track feels tailor-made for open roads, rolled-down windows, and the last golden days of summer.
Lyrically, Dónal keeps things playful and sharp. Oven explores the haze of a translucent love interest through clever, satirical metaphors drawn from everyday household items—closets, eggs by the dozen, brownies, and yes… ovens. It’s quirky, self-aware, and disarmingly catchy, all anchored by Dónal’s unmistakably raw and earnest vocal delivery.
Recorded in Wellington and produced by Peter Jamieson, Oven is already shaping up to be a live favourite. Dónal himself calls it “undeniably the catchiest song I’ve ever written”, and judging by its built-in crowd participation energy, he’s probably right.
With Dónal and his band The Bucks set to hit the road again this autumn for a North Island tour, the momentum is real. His leap into music full-time is paying off, and the hype surrounding this next era is well earned.
Oven drops on Thursday, February 26, on all streaming platforms.
Indie at heart. Loud by nature. This is Dónal Gunning, and he’s only just getting started.