Declan McKenna toasts independence with new singles ‘Champagne’ and ‘That’s Life’

Declan McKenna has announced the launch of his own independent label Miniature Ponies, via which he’s released two new singles - the bombastic ‘Champagne’ and its buoyant yet cynically self-aware accompaniment ‘That’s Life’. 

The pair of releases are his first as a freshly independent artist, having recently parted ways with his former label Columbia, and follow the arrival of his third album ‘What Happened To The Beach?’ in February this year.

”’Champagne’ and ‘That’s Life’ have come together in the last few months as the first finished tracks produced with my good friend Jules [Apollinaire],” Declan has shared. “They are old ideas that started to come to life while I was messing around with them in my new studio - ‘Champagne’ even has me playing live drums for the first time for a full track.”

Explaining more about his latest offerings, he continues: “‘Champagne’ took me to grander and more expanded ideas, more rooted in theatrics and performance - the lyrics are related to grandeur and what really happens next when someone reaches a benchmark of success. ‘That’s Life’ feels to me like a cycle, the song repeats in a way that reflects the themes. Slowly accepting that each turn life takes can feel cruel.”

It’s the beginning of a new era for the indie-pop favourite - one that will continue with his imminent turn supporting Sabrina Carpenter on her Short N’ Sweet North American tour, after which Declan’s heading down under for a run of Australian shows with Two Door Cinema Club. 

You can revisit our In Deep digital cover interview with Dec and listen to both ‘Champagne’ and ‘That’s Life’ below.