Over the past year, 17 year old British singer and songwriter Declan McKenna has leaped into our hearts. His poignant single “Brazil” criticizes FIFA and FIFA’s role in bringing the 2014 World Cup to Brazil without addressing the sever poverty of the country. We sat down with McKenna at this year’s SXSW to get deep into the mind and understand the creative force behind this young and extremely talented musician.
Vinyl Mag: How has the transition been going from the UK airwaves into the U.S. Your single “Brazil” is just blowing up. How has it been from your perspective?
Declan McKenna: It’s crazy! I mean it’s mad different from the UK like stuff over here has been a lot more crazy. There’s a lot more going on, so it’s pretty mad. But it’s my first time in the United States anyway so it’s quite a culture shock, but it’s amazing to be able to come out here and play a load of shows every night. I couldn’t really ask to do anything else.
VM: In coming over to the U.S., what’s been the biggest eye opening experience for you so far?
DM: I’ve only been here for a couple of days but it’s really cool. I don’t know. I love just coming to Austin and SX, it’s kind of crazy just being able to play it, a festival that everyone wants to play at and that’s just amazing for me. Just this whole experience.
VM: At SXSW is definitely a melting pot of performers. Have you experienced an audience singing your songs back to you back to you yet here?
DM: Yeah, I’ve had that, like I was in Florida, then I went to Atlanta and now I’m here so I have people who’ve known me like at all the gigs in America which is just beyond me. I didn’t expect that at all. It’s crazy for me, it’s crazy.
VM: Well when you’ve got something good people will love it. The song “Brazil” is very mature for someone your age, what did the creative process of this song look like for you and what was your driving source of energy?
DM: It started with a little guitar but I just sat at home, it’s weird it doesn’t normally happen like this, but I was just sitting at home playing guitar and I came up with a little neat guitar riff, and it kind of just stemmed from that really. The idea came pretty naturally, like it was kind of this World Cup thing that was all over the news and I wanted to write about the corruption that I’ve sort of seen and heard so much about all over the place. There’s kind of bits of it around the internet but there was no mainstream coverage so it was kind of just something I wanted to write about it. I mean I didn’t really have anyone listening to my songs, there was no pressure or no real reason to write about a kind of poignant, quote on quote topic. It just kind of happened pretty naturally for me and it turned out as “Brazil.”
VM: Well I think when something like this happens so naturally it just works.
DM: Yeah, I don’t try to have a time where I’m writing a song and focused. If I’m gonna write a song now, just starting doesn’t work for me. I always kind of have to get at it while I’m in the zone or whatever. I don’t know why, that’s just kind of how it works for me.
VM: Are you working on anything new at the moment?
DM: Oh yeah loads of stuff. I mean I’ve written a bunch of songs and kind of just working on them now trying to record finished products. I’ve kind of been recording bits so this summer I’m hopefully gonna have a period of a couple of weeks just to do all the songs and have a couple more to release I guess.
VM: Are they relatable to Brazil you would say, or are you experimenting with your sound?
DM: The songs are pretty diverse. I mean I don’t really feel the need to stick to one specific sound for this just because it’s just the early days for me. I guess being so young, I don’t want to restrict myself to anything. So I’m just kind of writing what I want to write and come out with quite a collective sound, I think. Which is pretty exciting for me. Cause it means I get to try out a bunch of stuff and I’m just playing a lot of shows, trying out songs, seeing what works. Taking my time with it.
VM: So this summer we should be anticipating more works from you.
DM: Well there’s gonna be more tunes throughout the year and then hopefully I’m gonna be able to release a full body of work around early next year. It’s just a guess but it all depends on how stuff is going on, how stuff goes. I guess around next year, but there will be stuff throughout the year that’s coming out. “Brazil” is still going pretty strong at the minute
VM: And it’s continuing to climb up the charts.
DM: Yeah, so it’s still growing at the minute. There will be more tunes though. Hopefully people like them and can kind of go from there I guess.
VM: Now, you have some tour dates coming up.
DM: Sort of, it’s mostly sort of radio based stuff. This whole American run I’m doing is just on my own. I have a band back home and then next time I’ll bring them, but yeah it’s just me for now sort of giving a little introduction to America. I haven’t been here before so I thought it’s pretty much the most natural way to do it on my own and yea its mad exciting. I’m here for like a month doing a load of stuff. Here [in Austin], and then NY and LA.
VM: Any city you’re particularly excited to go?
DM: LA probably looks, I mean I’m really excited for stuff there. Going to Disneyland. NY as well, obviously. Im excited for everywhere cause I’ve not really been anywhere here before, so everywhere is new to me. So it’s mad exciting.
VM: Are you looking to try any new foods while in the U.S.?
DM: Yeah! Apparently I’m being taken to the best vegan restaurant in New York when I get there so I’m excited.
VM: Are you a vegan?
DM: Yeah. As of quite recently. Trying to eat really good. I’ve tried out loads of new food. Americas really good at fake meat. Like veggie burgers that don’t actually taste like veggie burgers, they’re like imitating meat. It kind of tastes a little bit like meat but it’s kind of watered down. Its not bad though its pretty cool. They do a pretty good job of it out here. They don’t do a very good job back home.
VM: Do you have any rituals or anything to get you pumped up for playing live?
DM: I normally just shout a bunch before I go on stage just to get my voice ready because especially for “Brazil,” I have to really perform it. Like I was 15 when I wrote it. It’s only been two years but there’s a difference, I always have to be really prepared. I just do that sort of thing, like warm-ups. But when I play with my band, which I will do here in a couple of months, we do this thing called the clap which I saw, I can’t remember what band doing it but it’s just a really cool thing. You all have to clap at the same time and you won’t have any kind of count so I just stand there and you have to all clap at the same time so there’s not overlapping claps, it all has to be one clap. That’s the only ritual we have.
VM: I like it, it’s a great way to get excited and pumped up. Well just want to say congratulations. I’m sure it’s very exciting and it should be.
DM: Yeah, thanks! It’s crazy.
