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\n\tDeclan McKenna<\/a> is in a transitional state. When Billboard<\/em> speaks to the British musician in early October, he\u2019s surrounded by boxes while he moves apartments in London. He\u2019s also packing his gear for a string of live headline dates in North America, which include a role as a special guest on Sabrina Carpenter<\/a>\u2019s Short n\u2019 Sweet<\/a><\/em> tour, his first-ever arena gigs. It\u2019s a period of fresh beginnings and new opportunities.<\/p>\n \n\tThen there\u2019s the biggest change: after a decade signed to Columbia Records, McKenna is going independent. McKenna signed with the label in 2015 aged 16 following the success of his viral single \u201cBrazil\u201d<\/a> and his victory in Glastonbury Festival\u2019<\/a>s Emerging Talent Competition. The indie-pop song was a riposte to soccer governing body FIFA and their decision to name Brazil as hosts for the 2014 World Cup without addressing deep-seated inequality and poverty. The track is approaching 675m streams on Spotify.<\/p>\n \n\tMcKenna released three LPs on Columbia, most recently What Happened To The Beach?<\/em> which charted at No.3 on the UK Albums Charts<\/a> in February. There were shades of Paul McCartney<\/a>\u2019s 1971 solo record Ram<\/em> and a looser West Coast feel to the record which was made in LA with producer Gianluca Buccellati, whose credits include Arlo Parks<\/a> and RAYE<\/a>. McKenna also played a 10,000 capacity headline show at London\u2019s Alexandra Palace to accompany its release.<\/p>\n \n\tAs the deal was approaching its end, McKenna started plotting a new path forward. Now, he\u2019s self-releasing his music via his label Miniature Ponies, a joint venture with ADA, a distribution company owned by Warner Music Group.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI did like the idea of being independent and not having to explain what you\u2019re doing and why you\u2019re doing it,\u201d McKenna says. \u201cI feel quite confident that I know how to do it, and it felt like the right time to try and get something else out.\u201d He\u2019s effusive with praise with some of his collaborators at the label, but says the relationship had met its natural end having fulfilled his obligations for three studio albums.<\/p>\n