A release and a rallying cry _{by Madelaine Empson}

Churning with “impressive songwriting” backed by “muscular guitar riffs” (Rolling Stone), Wellington-based indie rock artist Bianca Bailey – known as Wiri Donna – has just unleashed her new EP and is taking to the road with her full band to celebrate it.

“In My Chambers digs into the feelings that come with feminine rage – anger, frustration, and even humour in the absurdity of it all”, Bailey tells me of her sophomore EP. “It’s all about confronting the limitations we face, often imposed by society or by our own self-doubt. There’s raw, emotional grit here but also a sense of playfulness that speaks to the contradictions we all navigate. The music is meant to resonate with anyone who’s ever felt boxed in by expectations but still pushes forward. It’s a release and a rallying cry.”

In My Chambers feels like a natural progression from Bailey’s debut EP Being Alone (2022), which saw her first foray into fully, truly speaking her mind via music. And yet, in the years that ensued, something darker was in the works. 

“My debut had an introspective feel, more focused on personal discovery and growth. In My Chambers is fiercer, more direct. There’s a heaviness and grit to the sound that reflects the themes of anger and limitation. Musically, it’s bolder, but you can still find those melodic and emotional threads that tie both records together. I’d say it’s more unapologetic, which feels right for where I am now.” 

Audiences are in for a “wild, cathartic ride” when Wiri Donna brings everything she’s got and then some to San Fran on the 6^th of December.