Let us introduce you to Declan McKenna, the 17 year old British singer/songwriter who played his first NYC show at Rockwood Music Hall last night. While we may not know much about the yound lad on this side of the pond, he is quickly becoming a big deal in the U.K. after winning Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent Competition in 2015. After winning the coveted prize, many record companies sought after his talents but eventually signed with industry-titans, Columbia Records.
Declan McKenna
Declan McKenna
Packing a NYC room on a beautiful spring Wednesday at 7pm is no small feat, especially after the long winter we all endured; but the chance to see such a young talent drove people of all ages to witness his first show in the city. Clocking in at 30 minutes his set was quite short, but really showed us why he’s gaining so much momentum and dazzled us with his hit “Brazil,” which for many, was the highlight of the evening. If Declan ever gets sick of playing music, his quick wit and hilarious banter should serve him well as a comedian, as in-between songs he cracked us up with one-liners about airline food, and actually being 21 years old.
Declan McKenna
DM
DM
DM
His newer song “Bethlehem,” really showed us his remarkable ability to craft an impressive tune before our eyes by using his synth, keys, guitars and simple hand-claps with a looping machine. The results were astonishing and had the audience stunned until the end when they responded with a deafening applause. Another gem was “Paracetamol,” which is his newest video and can be seen here.
DM
DM
DM
Declan McKenna
Declan grabbing a fans cellphone for a group shot
Be on the lookout for our interview with Mr. McKenna with some in-depth conversation, and follow Declan on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
Article: Shayne Hanley
