At 16, I was pretending to care about my GCSEs, going to the park and just generally being not very productive. Declan Mckenna is 16 and he’s already getting spot plays on Radio 1. I definitely need to try harder. When good music is produced by young adults and teenagers, the general reaction is of surprise, although I’m not sure why. Musical ability is never judged by age, proved by child prodigies all over the world playing Mozart sonatas on piano at age 5. Old people can make bad music and young people can make great music – and that’s what Mckenna has done with his new single ‘Brazil’.
Mckenna’s “swirly indie pop” vibes are fun and lively, a refreshing and light-hearted track reflective of his youth. Cheery guitar melodies with hints of reverb fly through the song’s sweet melody and are showcased with style by the great production on this track. Mckenna’s distinctive vocal is passionate and fits his style perfectly, his cool and collected lyrics showing subtle hidden emotions – “talks like an angel but he looks like me”. ‘Brazil’ is simply a 4 minute demonstration of the young multi-instrumentalist’s talent. Watch out for Declan Mckenna in the next few years, he could go far.
Get your hands on ‘Brazil’ at McKenna’s Bandcamp.
Elli Brazzill
@littlelionelli
Photo Credit: David Belton
Elli Brazzill
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