Track Review: Champagne / That’s Life // Declan McKenna

Declan McKenna has just released a brilliant double A-side consisting of two new tracks, ‘Champagne / That’s Life’ under his new independent label.

McKenna gave us a week to prepare ourselves with an announcement via social media where he shared the retro-style cover for the singles. The singer sits pensively, suited up, wired microphone in hand under a crystal chandelier.

The accompanying caption read:

“Champagne/That’s Life”. My first independent release, double A-side of the year, arrives next Friday, 25th October”

To have two new singles released whilst he’s spent most of the year touring is impressive. He’s now working under his own label, Miniature Ponies. He announced the move with a casual boast, “indie king goes indie”, on 17^th October, the day before he announced the latest tracks. He’d previously been signed to Columbia Records since he was 15 following the success of his breakout single, ‘Brazil’.

With ‘Champagne’, McKenna proves yet again his affinity for making fun yet sophisticated songs.

It begins with “Not again! This is just wrong…” before the 25 year old admits “Of course I didn’t mean what I said I just wanted them to laugh”. McKenna is feeling a little self-reflective and resonates with listeners in a world where success increasingly seems to come from relatable PR rather than the merit of releasing excellent music. Pair those thoughtful lyrics with a groovy bass and we have yet another catchy tune from him.

The track then descends into a starry, trance-like sequence where the indie-pop-rocker echoes, “You can’t celebrate without Champagne…”. Throughout, McKenna’s vocals still sound so raw over the immaculate, glittery production.

‘That’s Life’ exhibits the cynical side of the “indie king”, making the track an accepting yet unruffled shrug of the shoulders when paired with those cheery piano chords.

“Before I turn you into Angel Delight / Mix it up and call it dessert”. Only McKenna could equate life’s disappointments to expecting a lovely cake after dinner and staring, bleakly as Angel Delight is put in front of you instead.

Is this a worldwide experience or is it very much a British thing? Regardless, it was clearly the last straw for McKenna.

As he moves into his new, independent era, it sounds like McKenna is going in prepared to face whatever lies ahead, although this excellent release suggests he has nothing to stress about.

Both tracks have hints of psych-pop which were also evident throughout his last album What Happened to The Beach? (released in February) through songs like ‘Breath of Light’.

What seems apparent is that McKenna is continuing in the direction he started with his last album, which tore away from the sound of his first two albums. He recently said that his decision to become an independent artist was spurred by his desire to “streamline the decision making process” and to “work freely”.

It’s exciting to follow the ‘Beautiful Faces’ singer through such a period of exploration and anticipate what might come next.

McKenna also released a music video for ‘Champagne’ which features a chaotic night in a classic American-style diner which sees McKenna slip and spill an entire champagne chandelier (gutting). It’s cool that ‘Champagne’ came as a complete song and video package which could easily be overlooked due to the likes of TikTok making anything more than a swift, addictive soundbite of a song seem silly.

McKenna is currently running a tight schedule in the US as he embarks on his own tour and supports Sabrina Carpenter on 11 of her Short n’ Sweet tour dates.

Words by Kai Palmer

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