What Happened to the Beach?

## ***What Happened to the Beach?***Studio album by Declan McKenna

* Standard
* Alternate
* Spotify Fans First
* Metal Detector Edition

## Singles

1. "Sympathy"
Released: 6 July 2023
2. "Nothing Works"
Released: 13 September 2023
3. "Elevator Hum"
Released: 30 November 2023
4. "Mulholland's Dinner and Wine"
Released: 18 January 2024

***What Happened to the Beach?*** is the upcoming fifth studio album and third major-label album by Declan McKenna. It will be released on 9 February 2024 by Columbia Records.

## Background

Shortly after the release of *Zeros*, Tara Richardson revealed in an interview with Music Week that Declan had already begun work on a follow-up album, and had sent her five demos. Columbia Records' director of marketing, Alex Eden-Smith, similarly told the publication that talks had begun about the album.

In an interview with NME at Reading Festival 2021, Declan discussed having spent the past 12 months honing his production skills for the album, prioritizing creative control. 10 months later, at Glastonbury 2022, Declan expressed wanting to release the album before the end of the year, stating that he was a "good way" into the album and had written many songs that he was happy with.

In 2022, Declan debuted two new songs live: "Don't You Fuck With Me David" and "Too Busy". The following year, he announced performances of new songs at The Big Return, which would also serve as the beginning of the new era. At the request of Columbia Records, the new songs performed were each given pseudonyms: "New Song I", "New Song II" and "New Song III". Alongside the tour announcement, it was confirmed that Declan had begun working on material with producer Gianluca Buccellati for the album.

On 22 June 2023, Declan announced an official Discord server, stating that users would be given early access to new material, including "New Song I". Six days later, Declan revealed the song's real title, "Sympathy", and announced that it would be released as the lead single.

The album was officially announced on 13 September 2023, alongside the release of the second single, "Nothing Works". Roughly sixteen hours before the announcement, some fans reported seeing the album artwork and title through a glitch when pre-saving the single on Apple Music. The leak went relatively unnoticed by the general public, due in part to members of the official Discord server agreeing not to share it.[ref needed]

From 22 November to 29 November 2023, a game titled The Beach was hosted on Discord. In the game, players dug for items on a beach-themed map, with the rarest items displaying the title and position of each track on the album. This culminated in the official tracklist reveal on 29 November.

## Tracklist

Adapted from Apple Music, and the liner notes. Tracks 1A, 6A, 7A and 12A only appear on physical editions of the album.

### Non-album

* "Don't You Fuck With Me David"
* "Forgiveness"
* "Tangerine Pints"
* "The Weight"
* "Too Busy"
* Unknown Sigrid collaboration

## Physical releases

As part of the album's rollout, a series of physical editions and merch items have been announced for pre-order on Declan's official shop and other webstores.

Eco Standard Vinyl LPSigned Eco Standard Vinyl LPSun Yellow Vinyl LP
(Indies Exclusive)Signed Sun Yellow Vinyl LP
(Indies Exclusive)Dark Green Vinyl LP
(hmv Exclusive)Deluxe Picture DiscSigned Deluxe Picture DiscAlt Cover Vinyl LPSpotify Fans First Vinyl LPMetal Detector Edition
(Blood Records Exclusive)Signed Sun Yellow Vinyl LP with Obi Strip
(Assai Records Exclusive)Eco Standard CDSigned Eco Standard CDEco Standard Alt Cover CDSlipmatBlack T-ShirtWhite T-ShirtTowelBeach Ball
## References

1. ↑ https://twitter.com/DeclanMcKenna/status/1674806546574761988
2. ↑ https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/declan-mckenna-already-at-work-on-follow-up-to-no-2-album/081190
3. ↑ https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/absolute-zeros-columbia-s-long-term-plans-for-phenomenal-declan-mckenna/081127
4. ↑ https://www.nme.com/festivals/reading/declan-mckenna-interview-reading-festival-3031608
5. ↑ https://www.nme.com/news/music/declan-mckenna-new-album-interview-glastonbury-sigrid-3257927
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/DeclanMcKenna/status/1633890651312930856
7. ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@declanmckenna/video/7247542364028357930/
8. ↑ https://celebrityaccess.com/2023/03/10/declan-mckenna-announces-the-big-return-tour-with-over-50-dates/
9. ↑ https://twitter.com/DeclanMcKenna/status/1671899444780957696
10. ↑ https://twitter.com/DeclanMcKenna/status/1674108645766725638
11. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/CxHIJ5ZMLC4/
12. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NDsP1pxdio
13. ↑ https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1112448949001916427/1151515725807235173/composers.PNG
14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYXXlvR\_\_5E