Declan McKenna explores a new approach in his music genre with his recent album What Happened to the Beach.
English artist Declan McKenna’s 12-track album, What Happened to the Beach, marked his first album release in four years. McKenna’s musical career took off as early as 2014 with the release of his debut track: “Brazil.” Not long after, he gained recognition, leading to his win in The Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent Competition a year later. His single “Brazil” was quick to reach the charts and soon became known as the song of the summer. Since then, he has released two albums, with his third hitting the shelves on February 9, 2024.
McKenna began teasing the album back in the summer of 2023 when he released his single “Sympathy.” This upbeat song was the perfect way to introduce his new music, showing his new approach to songwriting and producing. McKenna had a particular style that stayed consistent throughout his first two albums, and while his vibrant indie genre is still maintained in What Happened to the Beach, he experimented far more with psychedelic rock sounds. The album takes his audience down a rabbit hole, transporting listeners back to the 60s and 70s. Furthermore, his influence from the Beatles shines through with his layered vocals and funky instrumentations.
Despite McKenna’s new style, he continued incorporating his use of storytelling through this album. What Happened to the Beach is a rollercoaster of both emotions and sounds. It begins with the song “Wobble,” which mentions the title in the lyrics while laying the groundwork for the rest of the album. It explores themes of self-discovery and creates the imagery of laying on a beach with the phrase “wait for the tide to appear.” The third track “I Write The News” dives deeper into issues in his community as he criticizes the media and makes a statement about the wealth and social classes in the city. “Mullholland’s Dinner and Wine” follows a similar aspect regarding possessions and affluence. The title itself refers to Mulholland’s Drive in California, a road known for its wealth and history in celebrities. The song follows themes of dissatisfaction, materialism, and “the little things in life.” The last track “4 More Years” repeats the phrase “four more years,” slowly fading away, until the words “it could be a cool end to-” suddenly cut through. The repetition of the phrase “four more years” could be a reference to political structures, yet the scarcity of lyrics leaves the interpretation up to viewers, ending the album on a cliffhanger.
Through addressing the social issues of the world, McKenna produced an album resembling the playful sounds of childhood and swimming outside on a warm summer day. With beats that will make anyone want to get up and dance, Declan McKenna has done it again. He has created an album that will redefine the summer of 2024.
Listen to What Happened to the Beach? by Declan McKenna on all major platforms.
I am a Dallas-based photographer who has an appreciation for both the arts and music! Besides photographing concerts, I also enjoy doing creative portraits and working in Photoshop. I spend my free time either playing the cello, guitar, or piano or collecting CDs and vinyls. I would say my top three favorite artists are Peter McPoland, The Beatles, and Harry Styles! I’m currently a senior in high school, but I plan to major in graphic design and one day turn concert photography into a career.
