Declan McKenna’s album What Happened to the Beach? marks a new chapter for the British songwriter, created after relocating to California and working with producer Gianluca Buccellati. Recorded under the sun with playful grooves and loose structures, the record reflects a lighter, freer approach, influenced by artists like St. Vincent and Unknown Mortal Orchestra. McKenna describes it as “weirder and wonkier,” an album full of color and energy that embraces instinct, joy, and experimentation, moving away from the pressures of his earlier work.
