Declan McKenna’s (“What Do You Think About The Car?”) newly released album is a breath of fresh air with the upcoming sunny weather. “What Happened to the Beach?” is a refreshing indie-pop album with the perfect vibes for driving with the windows down, watching the sunset and sitting by the pool. It has a similar feel to albums produced by other indie-pop artists such as Dayglow (“Harmony House”) and Wallows (“Tell Me That It’s Over”).

McKenna, whose song “Brazil” went viral on TikTok in 2022, has once again done it with this perfectly titled album. Although most people are understandably looking for a sequel to “What Do You Think About the Car?” this album is very different from the rest of McKenna’s discography. Throughout the album, you hear multi-layered vocals and savvy electronic instrumentals. A majority of the songs have a fast-paced beat with catchy relatable lyrics. 

McKenna expressed that this album was an opportunity to play around with his style and try exciting new methods in creating his music. As someone who has been in the public eye since he was 15, it is understandable that in his twenties he feels the need to branch out and explore.

The way the album is laid out feels as though McKenna is walking us through the different phases of a relationship, conveying a story. The album name “What Happened to the Beach?” implies a question of what happened in the relationship to bring it to its end. We see a shift in tone throughout the album starting with a hopeful youthful sound and ending with a desperate, gloomy feel.

The beginning of the album starts off with the song “WOBBLE” which is arguably able to be defined as lo-fi. As the album progresses, we see more upbeat songs such as “Mulholland’s Dinner and Wine” and “Breath of Light.” In “Mulholland’s Dinner and Wine,” we see McKenna play around with intriguing lyrics. “We’ll take the golf cart into town, drive it around/just think of all the things we can do.”

McKenna tends to cover up melancholic lyrics with a catchy rhythm. In the song “Nothing Works,” he sings, “I try to fix myself but nothing, nothing works,” over a cheerful background. In the concluding songs the mood changes. In the slower ballad “It’s an Act,” McKenna reflects on being transparent in relationships and the aftermath of a breakup in the lyric “And say it’s not like you to wear a friendly frown/the truth would like to see you cold dead and buried.” 

Overall, the album “What Happened to the Beach?” is very identifiable. It has a smooth flow throughout the whole album and McKenna’s emotions are clearly heard. It is a melodious album that can easily be labeled as coming of age and a relaxing listen that you can also dance to. It is inspiring to see McKenna’s new style of music and it is a wonder to see where it will take him.

Image from Drew de F Fawkes via Wikimedia Commons