Declan McKenna, Nambucca, London

After triumphing in Glastonbury’s emerging talent contest and sparking a label bidding war, Declan McKenna has taken the indie world by storm with a string of fun, energetic and poignant singles. Tonight, the seventeen year-old from Hertfordshire takes to the tiny stage at Nambucca, a small bar nestled in the heart of Holloway, greeted by a roar of encouragement.

Declan is frequently described as a ‘rough diamond’, but his live show here feels fully formed and his set list is diverse enough to ensure there’s never a dull moment. ‘Brazil’, a punchy, melodic critique of corruption in the 2014 World Cup, is performed with remarkable elegance. In contrast, latest single and set closer ‘Isombard’ is surely destined for indie-disco immortality and provides an explosion of energy.

The highlight, however, is ‘Paracetamol’ – a brooding, emotive anthem in which Declan recalls “a girl, fifteen, with her head in a noose”. The song offers a refreshing change of pace and provides a solitary moment of melancholy amidst a set rife with upbeat indie melodies.

It may be months until his eighteenth birthday, but tonight Declan McKenna shows little sign of inexperience. His crowd interaction is warm and genuinely funny, and performances of newer material showcase an artist still experimenting with his sound.
It’s hard to remember a solo artist this promising since Jamie T arrived on the scene almost ten years ago. Declan was earmarked as a rising star prior to tonight’s show, but now he feels like an artist the world can’t do without. Calling him one to watch already feels like an understatement.