The video was directed by Bunny Kinney and filmed in Barnet, North London. It features a range of teenagers who are all engaged, motivated and active in trying to make a difference for their collective futures. The video is interspersed with old stock footage of teenagers from past generations, equally as motivated to campaign and act for a better future. It’s a timely and inspiring watch.
Declan: “The video is about highlighting the genuine concerns of young people, and so in that light, it’s not all about convicting acting performances, but merely letting them talk. It’s something the human race has shied away from doing to its young people throughout history.”
‘The Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home’ will feature on his as-yet-untitled debut album, due for release this Spring through Columbia Records. The new track follows Declan’s inclusion on the BBC’s Sound of 2017 poll, a recent performance at Radio 1’s Future Festival, and a healthy trail of media support throughout 2016 including a show-stealing performance on Later… With Jools Holland.
In a very short period of time, the recently turned 18 years old Declan McKenna has become synonymous with wrapping his fizzing alt-pop songs in smart, engaged lyrical content. It’s been a timely arrival for this young British musician who doesn’t proclaim to have all the answers, but believes it his duty to at least pose a few pertinent questions. Crucially perhaps, none of the activist in Declan comes at the expense of his ear for a melody, and Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home is another tantalising taster to that debut album, due for announcement imminently.
Following the broad scope of issues raised in those early singles; Paracetamol, Bethlehem and Isombard, Kids… once again draws on experience, and positions Declan’s frustrations and thoughts front and centre. The song was inspired by a series of events that occurred over the span of 2015, and was still a work-in-progress until the attack that took place in Paris on the 13th of November left him with a very real sense of fear and vulnerability he had yet to experience. Upon leaving Paris in the early hours of the morning, Declan realised that he had just experienced first-hand what he’d tried to express before in the song – the powerlessness of a young person in today’s world, experiencing the shock and the terror, and helplessly watching those in positions of power cause so much uncertainty for the future.
Kids… is Declan’s rally against the widespread assumption that the younger generation are self-obsessed and merely glued to their mobile phones. In reality, Declan argues, he and his friends are more politically engaged than ever, and do care about things such as conflict, the economy, and climate change. The frustration that they were, until very recently, too young to vote on something that directly affects their futures. Despite those very real frustrations, The Kids Don’t Wanna Come Home is a song that elicits a feeling of hope, and how ultimately the youth want to positively fight for change through both art and conversation.
Declan McKenna Live – Tickets at www.declanmckenna.net:
23rd January – Waterfront Studio, Norwich SOLD OUT
24th January – The Cookie, Leicester SOLD OUT
25th January – Hare & Hounds, Birmingham SOLD OUT
26th January- Studio 2, Liverpool SOLD OUT
28th January – Think Tank?, Newcastle
29th January – Brudenell Club, Leeds
30th January – The Leadmill, Sheffield
31st January – Patterns, Brighton
21st March – O2 Academy 2, Oxford
22nd March – Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
23rd March – The Garage, London SOLD OU
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