“She’s acquired the present of the gab”
Declan McKenna has spoken to NME about working with CMAT, in addition to his plans for Glastonbury and new materials.
The singer-songwriter and previous Glastonbury Rising Expertise Competitors winner was chatting with NME backstage finally week’s BBC Radio One Large Weekend, the place hailed fellow performer CMAT over the work they did collectively on her newest album, ‘Crazymad, For Me‘.
“We’ve acquired a track known as ‘Vincent Kompany’ that we wrote collectively and I helped her out with,” he mentioned. “Her mind works extremely rapidly while you’re working together with her.
“She’s acquired the present of the gab, which is a part of her songwriting capabilities, all the time arising with little quips. Plenty of enjoyable instances.”
He added that the pair have additionally “written a couple of different bits that might come to fruition”.
McKenna, who just lately introduced a UK headline tour, additionally spoke about his upcoming set at this 12 months’s Glastonbury competition.
“It is going to be my fifth time taking part in, and an even bigger present than I’ve had earlier than,” he mentioned. “It is going to be my first time there with full visuals and we’ve a reasonably late spot in contrast with those I’ve accomplished earlier than, so it feels just like the present can be a special vitality.”
McKenna additionally made headlines when he carried out on iconic children’ TV present Blue Peter earlier this 12 months.
“I don’t actually know the way that happened however it was actually cool,” he mentioned. “It was one thing that I grew up watching and I acquired my Blue Peter badge, which I’m completely satisfied with,” he mentioned.
“I like children TV and music and I really feel there’s one thing actually nice about all of the outdated Sesame Streets. Paul Simon performed on it and I actually like the concept of constructing music for that form of factor sooner or later as a result of there’s one thing nostalgic and pure about it.
He added: “I’m a giant fan of that entire style actually.”
Speaking in regards to the response to his third album ‘What Occurred to the Seaside?’, McKenna mentioned he was happy that followers had taken to it as “one thing totally different”.
“Individuals have taken every album in a different way, relying on what they need from it, however overwhelmingly it’s been very constructive,” he mentioned. “I’m actually pleased with it and, with every album, I’m attempting to do one thing that appears like I’m pushing myself into one thing else and never simply attempting to offer individuals the identical hit and kick.”
McKenna added that he had already began engaged on new music, however he’s nonetheless “determining which avenue to go down.
“I’ve stuff left over from the final challenge, after which there’s stuff that’s nearly the polar reverse as a result of I needed to do one thing a bit extra stripped again,” he mentioned. “It’s nearly deciding the path, however it’s good in a manner as a result of I feel, working the best way that I do, the place I set my sights on a challenge being one explicit manner, it actually sends you in a path.
“It’s like ‘subsequent time I’ve acquired to do the alternative as that’s the place I’m stuffed with concepts, the place I’ve drained this form of tank.”
He added that loads of the music he has been engaged on just lately is “fairly easy and primarily based round regular, traditional songwriting”.
“This album was very a lot primarily based across the grooves and the vibes and the sounds and issues simply feeling very nice,” he mentioned. “Clearly the lyrics got here with it, however there’s one thing the place now after I’m engaged on stuff, it feels very private and direct and easier – nearly writing good songs and recording them in a easy manner.”
He added that he “would possibly attempt to produce loads of it myself now, however we’ll see”.
McKenna’s full upcoming UK headline dates are under, with tickets obtainable here.
JULY
27 – Halifax, Victoria Theatre
28 – Bridlington, Spa
AUGUST
9 – Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion
11 – Nottingham, Rock Metropolis
12 – Edinburgh, Playhouse Theatre
In a four-star evaluate of McKenna’s newest document, NME wrote: “On ‘What Occurred To The Seaside?’, perfectionism is launched to create space to experience creativity, leading to a really joyful effort.”