New Single ‘Gifted Discount’ Out 20th April
Instagram: @gregdunnmusic
Greg Dunn is an emerging singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Bristol, now based in North London. With a passion for British indie music and a sound best described as Bedroom Britpop, he is on the verge of releasing his debut solo project ‘Money for Teeth’.
Having previously fronted the band Beezley, Greg gained valuable experience performing at Standon Calling and playing sold-out shows at venues such as London Water Rats. Drawing inspiration from contemporary indie artists like Fontaines DC, The Big Moon and Willie J Healey, as well as iconic bands like The Beatles, Oasis and Supergrass, Greg combines nostalgic charm, modern sensibilities, and an unmistakable Britishness in his music.
‘Giftcard Discount’ is the first single from Greg Dunn’s debut five-song project – ‘Money For Teeth’. Hailing from the hookier side of his body of work it features infectious synth melodies and a chorus that perfectly balances melody and groove before descending into a transcendent refrain. It reaches audiences’ ears on the 20th April 2024.
1. For someone that is yet to discover ‘Gregg Dunn’ and how would you describe yourself ?
I would describe Greg Dunn as an artist with a flair for melody and lyricism that is reminiscent of classic British guitar music and its songwriting. A deviation from the rest of the modern indie rock scene with their explicit politics and vibe-based melodies.
2.What inspired you as an artist?
I was inspired by the gigs I went to in my mid-to-late teens in my home town of Bristol. I remember watching bands like Superfood, Drenge, Palma Violets and Peace and those artists having a powerful effect on me during my formative years. Venues in Bristol like The Exchange, The Louisiana, The Trinity Centre, Thekla and The Fleece need to be protected for the next generation.
3. What is your process for preparing to perform live? Do you have any Diva demands? Who’s the Mariah Carey of the group?
Do I have any diva demands? haha, I like to think I don’t, unless you count Irn-Bru and chocolate wafers.
4. Where do you feel you fit into the music landscape?
My music stands out in the indie-rock scene. There’s a lot of bands I love – like Sports Team, Home Counties and Feet’s first album – that all have a similar sound. Particularly their approach to melody or the half-spoken verses that’s dominating indie-rock at the moment and my music definitely isn’t the same. I try and have chorus-worthy melodies and hooks in every section.
5: What are your favourite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?
I have a very broad appreciation of music, I played jazz-saxophone and classical-piano as a kid and I listen to a lot of motown/soul/blues music as well as classic dad-rock. My absolute favourite has always been all the Britpop bands and British indie bands and I don’t shy away from that. The only things i really struggle with are very heavy metal or a very heavy scene-kid music.
6.Why, where id the name come from?
Think this is more a question for bands haha, but ‘Greg’ itself is my Glaswegian father’s attempt to pass on some Scottishness.
7 What would you say is your greatest strength as an Artist?
My greatest strength is the songs themselves. Played in my bedroom on a guitar, played by a band in a room, or on the record – I think they always stand up.
8. What would you say is your greatest weakness as an Artist?
My greatest weakness has to be the drums – I can play most things I need to but for some reason behind the kit I have all the musical nous of Phoebe Buffay. A lot of drum machines and MIDI goes into my music for an indie-rock artist haha
9. What can fans expect from your new EP ‘ Shades’
‘Giftcard Discount’ would be best described as ‘Indie-Party’. It starts with saw-synth melodies, has concise verses, a soaring chorus, and the literal instruction to ‘get down’ in a climatic refrain.
10. What music artiest would you say have influenced your work?
This single in particular is influenced by Blossoms, I don’t think that goes for the rest of the EP but definitely ‘Giftcard Discount’. Think ‘Charlemagne’
11. Who would you most like to collaborate with artistically?
An Artist I’d love to write with would be Willie J Healey. I’ve admired his stuff for years and he exists in a similar world musically. No doubt he’d have a couple of tricks to teach me. He’s a fellow Bristolian too so we already have common ground.
12. What was your worst performance?
My worst performance, I remember playing a barn-party type festival last year in the rain in Shropshire. The roof was slightly smaller than the stage, not only did we get wet along with our equipment but everything else that could’ve gone wrong, did. The drum pedal broke, which in-turn broke the kick-drum. The PA broke in the rain. The dance floor was a swamp. But actually, somehow, it remains a really enjoyable memory.
13: What was the most difficult obstacle you have ever faced and how did you overcome it?
Something that’s held me back over the years is a chronic shoulder problem. It’s hard to describe but essentially it can make reaching my arm around a guitar really uncomfortable but I’m on the mend now. I’ve been in physiotherapy at the Royal Free Hospital in North London for a few months now and I’m on the waiting list for surgery.
14: What is your creative process when making music. Do you work with others or is there just you?
My process is normally very self-contained. I have dozens of songs ready to go at any given point and find it hard to empathise with artists that go away for a month to write their album. The whole EP was recorded at my flat and mixed by Kirk Francis’s Josh Best-Shaw. All my music is written and performed by myself with only one exception on the upcoming EP – the bassline on the title track ‘Money For Teeth’, played by Dog Food’s Will Crane.
15: Where do you see your musical career in 10 years?
10 years is a long time in any industry. I could achieve anything I wanted in that time so I’m expecting the tours, albums and festival slots – and a dream appearance on Jools Holland.
