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Tag: 5 seconds of summer

  • Music Rewind 2025: 5SOS Is Our ‘No. 1 Obsession’

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    There are only a few days left of 2025. We can’t help but feel nostalgic for the fantastic year we had for music. If you are a fan of 5 Seconds of Summer like us at The Honey Pop, we can agree that this year was for the books. When you think that 5SOS cannot step up their game, out of nowhere, they release two solo albums and their sixth studio album. If we had a time machine and could say to ourselves that 5SOS did all of that in 2025, we simply wouldn’t believe it. We can’t time-travel, but don’t worry about it! The Honey Pop is going to tell you what happened with 5SOS in 2025! Grab a snack, put on your headphones, and get ready to read all about your favorite boy band. This is 5SOS 2025 Music Rewind!

    Michael’s Sidequest From The Band

    The first solo project of 2025 by a 5SOS member began on March 27, when Michael Clifford announced a brand new song called ‘Cool.’ 5SOS solo projects are an essential part of the band’s essence. With these, the band has the opportunity to experiment with their own musical persona and offer fans four distinct musical experiences. If Luke is alternative and Ashton is rock, then Michael went back to 5SOS roots because he is all about punk rock/punk pop. ‘Cool’ was only the tip of the iceberg, since Michael later announced his first solo album titled SIDEQUEST. The name, of course, is also an internal joke of the 5SOS fandom. While 5SOS were on a break, Michael was doing all sorts of side quests!

    One of the most important sidequests from Michael’s solo era was on May 22, with the release of ‘Give Me a Break’ featuring Waterparks. The song is a pop-punk track that showcases how well Michael’s and Awsten’s voices sound together. However, the best part was the music video, which took us back to our fanfiction days. Who hasn’t written a fanfic thinking they were the next Jane Austen? Also, the duo launched a contest with Wattpad. In this, fans had to write crazy, alternative-universe fanfics about Michael and Awsten. Now that’s what we call a good promo!

    “The knife of my back is the least of my worries”

    But June and July were the crucial months for Michael. On June 25, he released another collaboration, this time with Porter Robinson, called ‘Kill Me For Always.’ This song is the first track of the album. Michael said to Music Feeds that the song is like the beginning of a story. After months of waiting, the story really began on July 25, when SIDEQUEST was released, giving us 10 songs that are 100% Michael Clifford.

    There Are ‘Endless Ways’ To Describe Calum’s Solo Album…

    If Michael is all about pop punk, then Calum could be defined as alternative pop. We have to say that this genre of music fits Calum like a glove, and hearing him experiment with the lowest tones of his voice is a highlight of our year. But let’s get to the beginning of it all. On April 10, Calum Hood released his first solo song called ‘Don’t Forget You Love Me.’ This was the lead single of his first solo project, ORDER Chaos ORDER. The song really set the tone of the album. It’s also allowed us to glimpse how vulnerable and honest Calum was going to be.

    If you like early-2010s alternative pop music, this album is for you, especially ‘Call Me When You Know Better.’ Let us tell you, this song would’ve done numbers on Tumblr. The track was released on May 8 as the second single of the album. This is a more energetic song than ‘Don’t Forget You Love Me.’ What we love about it is how nostalgic it feels, but also fresh and new for Calum.

    Finally, the day we all waited for. On June 13, ORDER Chaos ORDER saw the light of day. If the singles were good, we weren’t ready for the other tracks. However, we have to talk about the absolute smash hit that ‘Streetwise’ is. The track, as Calum said on Apple Music, is inspired by a 1984 documentary called Streetwise. This follows the lives of homeless youth in Seattle as they try to survive on the streets. The song is an upbeat track with lyrics about youth and the ups and downs of that phase of life.

    Our ‘No. 1 Obsession’ is Back

    When we thought that 5SOS wasn’t going to release an album this year, in September, after three years of 5SOS5, posters started to appear around the world saying that our favorite boy band is coming back. Of course, the fans started speculating if there was any chance it was 5SOS. After all, we spent years saying that they weren’t a boy band. However, we were wrong for good, because indeed the posters were announcing 5SOS’s comeback. On September 23, ‘NOT OK,’ a song with early Gorillaz influences, was released. This was a 180-degree change from the band’s usual sound. Also, it was the beginning of the EVERYONE’S A STAR! era. Among the release of the single and the announcement of the album, they performed in West Hollywood the brand-new songs ‘Boyband,’ ‘Everyone’s a Star!’, ‘No. 1 Obsession,’ ‘Telephone Busy,’ and, of course, ‘NOT OK!’

    And if September was a great month for the band, then October marks a milestone in their career. The band was honored as one of the first musicians to be inducted into the Sydney Walk of Fame.

    “Livin’ in the glitter, baby, I don’t feel a thing“

    With a pink limousine, a brand-new aesthetic for each member, and a breathtaking promo, the expectations we had for the album were through the roof. Also, after hearing the songs, we couldn’t wait to experience the whole album. In each album 5SOS has released, we have seen how they have evolved as musicians and artists. But, with EVERYONE’S A STAR!, it’s like we have a brand new 5 Seconds of Summer.

    On November 13, the band released the music video for ‘Telephone Busy,’ starring the bobbleheads of the album cover. But that wasn’t the highlight of that week. After years of waiting, 5SOS’s sixth album, EVERYONE’S A STAR!, came out on November 14. The album could be defined as 5SOS experimenting and creating music that will redefine not only this era, but their entire career. These days, pop music in general tends to feel repetitive, which is not bad if that’s what you like. However, we think, 5SOS made something unique in the way that they created it by following their own rules and not the music industry rules.

    Our favorites, even though there’s no skip in the album, are ‘Start Over,’ or as we like to call it, ‘Kill My Time’ long lost sister; ‘Evolve;’ ‘istillfeelthesame,’ especially Michael’s verse, which is engraved in our minds; and ‘No. 1 Obsession.’

    A few days after the release of the album, the band performed on a historic night at Times Square in New York City. A “we made it” moment for the band. And the triumphs didn’t stop there. The album went #1 on the UK and Australian charts and #6 on the Billboard 200! This makes 5SOS one of the only bands to have all of their albums debut in the top 10 of the American charts!

    Now That’s What We Call A Year!

    In 2026, 5SOS is getting back on the road with the Everyone’s A Star world tour. This era is far from over. We can’t wait to see all the milestones 5SOS will reach in this brand-new chapter. Who knows, maybe even more solo projects… No pressure though! If this were a 5SOS 2025 music rewind, our 2026 version would leave us in shock!

    Do you have a favorite song from the new album? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER:
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    Camila Holguin

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  • The 25 Best Pop Songs Of 2025: Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean, & More!

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    2025 was truly the best year in pop music we’ve had in a while! It seems like artists are simply locking back into what makes a true pop song and mastering that art. Narrowing this list down to simply 25 songs was quite the challenge, but we think this list is the best of the best throughout all facets of pop music! From Olivia Dean and Chappell Roan to Greyson Chance and so many more, let’s jump in!

    Taylor Swift – ‘The Fate of Ophelia’

    There is no way to talk about the great pop resurgence of 2025 without highlighting The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift. For us, the entire album is full of examples of a true-to-form pop song, but we had to choose to highlight ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ due to it being inescapable since its release. This song is pure ear candy, and will get stuck in your head for hours even after just hearing a few seconds.

    Olivia Dean – ‘Man I Need’

    Olivia Dean is taking the pop music world by storm with ‘Man I Need,’ and to us that makes perfect sense. In anyone else’s discography, ‘Man I Need’ would be an easy career highlight, and yet, it’s one of many songs on Olivia’s most recent album, The Art of Loving, that blew us away upon the first listen and could have easily taken this spot.

    Sabrina Carpenter – ‘House Tour’

    Man’s Best Friend is stacked top to bottom with pop gold, but after listening back through the album, ‘House Tour’ had to be our choice! Everything from that infectious chorus to the “my house is on pretty girl avenue” line made this one of those songs that will soundtrack nights out for us through the foreseeable future.

    Jonas Brothers – ‘Love Me To Heaven’

    The Jonas Brothers have been experts at the pop music game since Nick first uttered the words ‘red dress’ back in 2008, so it’s no surprise to us that they are only getting better and better 17 years later. Their newest record, Greetings From Your Hometown, had an obvious stand-out to us the first time we listened, and that was ‘Love Me To Heaven.’

    Audrey Hobert – ‘Phoebe’

    Who’s The Clown? by Audrey Hobert was truly on an endless loop here at THP! Upon first listen, it was automatically clear that we were witnessing the artistic birth of someone who had a crystal clear understanding of how to bring themselves through in the music, be specific while staying relatable, and develop a sound that was particularly hers. We could have easily put any song from the album here, but ‘Phoebe’ is a forever favorite of ours!

    Greyson Chance – ‘Waiting Outside The Lines ‘25’

    No, we are not trying to transport you back to 2011, but there is so much beauty in taking a certified nostalgia-packed hit and reimagining it with years of life lived and heightened vocal ability to back it up. We can’t help but have a permanent smile on our face listening to this track and diving into Greyson’s current catalog (which everyone should do themselves the favor of doing)!

    Jensen McRae – ‘Novelty’

    If you asked us what album impacted us the most this year, one of the easiest answers would be I Don’t Know How But They Found Me! Anyone who has dived into Jensen’s discography knows what a savant she is. Her relationship to her pen is one of one, and this album may be the best example of that in her discography so far. ‘Novelty’ is the song that immediately jumps out at us as a must-listen.

    Lady Gaga – ‘How Bad Do U Want Me’

    Lady Gaga is synonymous with pop music at this point. She has always had the skill on lock, and in many ways, has influenced so much of what the modern genre looks like. MAYHEM was a true return to form for Lady Gaga, and showed that her knowledge and talent with the pop music world has never faltered. ‘How Bad Do U Want Me’ is an instant smash and is still on repeat.

    5 Seconds of Summer – ‘NOT OK’

    We will forever preach our love for 5 Seconds of Summer and how they get better with every release! (If you didn’t know, this band is literally why THP exists!) EVERYONE’S A STAR came out just over a month ago and is the band’s most ambitious, larger-than-life project yet. But of course, every element was nailed perfectly. Each of the guys has so many standout moments, but there are even more moments when it is so clear why they continue to make music together: everything flows seamlessly.

    Sadie Jean – ‘She’s Dating My Boyfriend’

    Sadie Jean is the exact singer-songwriter your playlist is in need of, and we had to highlight a track off her debut album, Early Twenties Torture! Every song on this record feels like Sadie had a insider’s look at our deepest thoughts and struggles, was able to turn them poetic, and then put them to music. That skill of relatability is rare. ‘She’s Dating My Boyfriend’ is our favorite example of that peek inside our minds.

    Laufey – ‘Lover Girl’

    Laufey has seamlessly blended the worlds of pop and jazz music and made a fusion that leaves us regularly at a loss for words. A Matter of Time is Laufey’s most recent album. And upon our first listen, it was clear that this is a generational album, one of those records where anyone who gives it a chance will fall in love with it. ‘Lover Girl’ is our favorite song off the record, so we had to highlight it!

    Amber Mark – ‘Let Me Love You’

    Amber Mark is the pop star you’ve been looking to add to your playlists! If you’re a fan of artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Dean, Amber’s album, Pretty Idea, and specifically our favorite track, ‘Let Me Love You,’ is going to be right up your alley! We are predicting that 2026 is going to be a huge year for Amber! And with music of this quality, it makes complete sense!

    Justin Bieber – ‘Yukon’

    ‘Yukon’ was one of our most-streamed songs of the year; it’s that serious to us! SWAG, for us, felt like Justin coming back into his own, making the music that feels true to form. With ‘Yukon,’ that infectious chorus we’ve come to know and love from Justin Bieber is the shining star, which definitely adds to why we are constantly playing this track on a loop.

    Lydia Night – ‘The Bomb’

    You may know Lydia Night from her time with the band The Regrettes, but trust us when we say she has turned into a full-blown solo pop star. Lydia released her debut album, Parody of Pleasure, back in August, and all thirteen songs are expertly crafted! ‘The Bomb’ has been a standout since we first dove into this album. The song is playful and reminiscent of early 2000s pop.

    Role Model – ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’

    Obviously, ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’ has taken the world by storm this year, so there was no way we weren’t going to give Role Model his flowers. We haven’t heard a chorus quite as infectious as ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’ in quite a long time. It’s impossible not be in an instant good mood when it hits.

    Myles Smith – ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’

    If you were as obsessed with Myles Smith’s ‘Stargazing’ as we were, then ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ is the perfect addition to your playlists! Myles is someone who you continue to find new things about his artistry to dig into with each listen.

    Zara Larsson is a pop star in the truest sense of the word. Her entire album, Midnight Sun, is a pop masterclass, in which she’s the only person equipped to teach. When we first heard the title track ‘Midnight Sun,’ we knew that this was a whole new ball game in terms of pop music, and that we would take every opportunity to praise what Zara is doing with her artistry.

    HAIM – ‘Relationships’

    This song is pure ear candy and truly a discography highlight from one of our favorite trios! The chorus has serotonin woven into every line and lyric. And it makes us want to be out at night in the city with friends, dancing to every word. Their most recent album, i quit, is chock-full of tracks where you will see these themes.

    Conan Gray – ‘Vodka Cranberry’

    Conan Gray was born to make the exact music he’s making right now. He releases such infectious pop tracks with lyrics that both feel true to self for Conan and still connect deeply with his audience. ‘Vodka Cranberry’ blew up this year, and to us, it only makes perfect sense. This is a solidified hit.

    Tate McRae – ‘Sports Car’

    If you didn’t know, Tate McRae is a name that we have been screaming from the rooftops since we got to interview her years ago (which you can read here!). Tate blends musicality with dance seamlessly to draw people into who she is as a musician. ‘Sports Car’ and its visual components showcase exactly why Tate has quickly become a household name.

    Avery Cochrane – ‘Shapeshifting On A Saturday Night’

    Hailing from Seattle, Avery Cohrane is bound to be the name you can’t escape this next year in pop music! This year, she released her track, ‘Shapeshifting on a Saturday Night,’ and blew us away with the established pop sound she was crafting. If you’re a fan of artists like Chappell Roan or Olivia Rodrigo, we think you will love Avery!

    Addison Rae – ‘Headphones On’

    It’s no secret that Addison Rae has had a massive year. From the success of ‘Diet Pepsi’ and her tour to her debut album, Addison, everything about her career so far has been the beginning of a pop star who will be talked about and celebrated for years to come. For Addison, pop is a true work of performance art, following in the footsteps of the likes of Britney Spears. ‘Headphones On’ off her debut album summarizes everything we love most about Addison as an artist.

    Reneé Rapp – ‘I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone’

    We yell the chorus to ‘I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone’ at truly astronomical levels. Everything about this track resonates with us. Something that Reneé Rapp never fails to do is draw the listener in and weave her story in a way that feels relatable to others. On top of the lyrical content of the song, Reneé’s vocals are otherworldly here.

    Demi Lovato – ‘Joshua Tree’

    The 2025 version of Demi Lovato is the only artist who could craft an album like It’s Not That Deep. This record is a amalgamation of someone who has gone through it all. Someone who has experienced hardships and heartache and is in the complete opposite space now. And a lot of it is backtracked with songs you want to be in the club dancing to. That’s the duality of pop and of Demi, and it’s beautiful. To us, ‘Joshua Tree’ best represents the album as a whole.

    Chappell Roan – ‘The Subway’

    Ending our best 2025 pop songs with one that is still inescapable like ‘The Subway’ only felt right. Chappell Roan is a once-in-a-lifetime artist. She creates with such intention and really takes her time with each project, which comes through in the music. ‘The Subway’ will be looked at years from now as one of the great songs of the decade.

    Check out more of our end of year coverage here!

    We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite pop song of 2025? Is it something off the new Taylor Swift album? Maybe a Conan Gray song? Or an Olivia Dean song? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!

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    Hailey Hastings

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  • Everyone’s A Star! Because 5SOS Is Back With A New Album

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    After the success of 5SOS5 in 2022, 5 Seconds of Summer are finally back with a brand new song called ‘NOT OK,’ and let us tell you it’s a certified bop. The song will be part of 5SOS’s new album, EVERYONE’S A STAR!, and they even got a record deal with Republic Records.

    We never imagined 5SOS would make a 2025 comeback. When 5SOS said “soon,” we thought they were joking, but this time, they meant it. After three years away, 5 Seconds Of Summer are back—and we are “NOT OK” about it.

    “It’s Official – The Greatest Boyband In History Are Returning!“

    It all started last week, when posters around the world stated that “our favorite back is back.” Of course, 5SOS got to work; days later, we got the announcement of a new era, including its colors, bright pink and orange. On Thursday, September 13, the band announced their upcoming album, called EVERYONE’S A STAR! With a cover of Calum, Michael, Luke, and Ashton with bubbly heads. The lead single, ‘NOT OK,’ was released on September 14, followed by a live gig, an ocean of pink shirts, and a pink limo! How cool is that?

    The song presents a completely new vibe for the band. Drawing influences from early 2000s Gorillaz and bands like NEED and The Prodigy, 5SOS made a song that felt authentic, bold, and challenging. Think 5SOS in 2014 but with steroids, a great hyped-up drumline, and the feeling of being pumped by energy. Of course, we have to talk about the aesthetics of the era, because they made Y2K meet Vivienne Westwood with their outfits!

    After hearing the song live, we are sure that this song is about to be great on tour with the fans on the pitch jumping. The band also performed a couple of songs that will be on the album. We at The Honey Pop are already the #1 fan of ‘Boyband.’

    12 Brand New Songs!

    The album will be released on November 14th under Republic Records. Also, it was produced by Jason Evigan, Julian Bunneta, and John Ryan, who you may know for working with Sabrina Carpenter! It promises to feature punk, pop, and rock songs with early 2000s vibes, and we already know how the first five songs sound. If you haven’t heard them, let us tell you, we love the new sound. Here is the track list of 5SOS’s new album EVERYONE’S A STAR! :

    Album cover courtesy of Republic Records

    1. ‘Everyone’s A Star!’
    2. ‘NOT OK’
    3. ‘Telephone Busy’
    4. ‘Boyband’
    5. ‘No. 1 Obsession’
    6. ‘I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep’
    7. ‘istillfeelthesame’
    8. ‘Ghost’
    9. ‘Sick of Myself’
    10. ‘Evolve’
    11. ‘The Rocks’
    12. ‘Jawbreaker’

    You can hear ‘NOT OK’ here and go ahead and pre-save the album here!

    Which track are you claiming? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram!

    TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER:
    FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

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    Camila Holguin

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  • 5SOS Go Full Rockstar Mode for Secret L.A. Show

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    The concert followed the Australian quartet’s announcement of a new forthcoming album

    Credit: Andy DeLuca

    As teen rockers, pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer never cared for being called a boyband. But just over a decade later — a string of No.1 albums, a slew of chart-topping tracks and solo projects under the belt — Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin are embracing the label.  

    On Sept. 24, the Aussie group officially reemerged with its first new music since 2022’s 5SOS5. Whispers of a return began the day before when the band’s Instagram was wiped clean, save for a carousel of images that began with “5SOS are breaking up?? Click here for proof.”  

    Equipped with a new look that lands somewhere between goth-punk and ‘90s boyband extravagance, 5 Seconds of Summer ignited its new album cycle with the release of “Not Ok,” an arena-ready track that puts instrumental showmanship and rockstar bravado front and center. The lead single gives a taste of what’s to come on the rest of the album, Everyone’s a Star!, out on Nov. 14 through Republic Records.  

    Credit: Andy DeLuca

    With its well-honed boyband powers, 5SOS ignited the fan bat signal and announced a free show in West Hollywood just a few hours before showtime. First come, first served, No RSVP. The girls (and some guys) came running, looping Olive Drive and down Sunset Boulevard with the hopes of being one of the lucky crowd members.  

    Credit: Andy DeLuca

    Just after 6 p.m., a baby pink limo rolled onto The Sun Rose West Hollywood’s checkered piazza, which had been transformed from valet zone to pop-up concert, complete with a circular hot pink stage emblazoned with a black star. All fans in attendance wore t-shirts (also hot pink and black) that proclaimed “Your Favorite Boy Band.”  

    Scroll to continue reading

    Credit: Andy DeLuca

    Hemmings, Clifford, Hood and Irwin hopped out of the limo to stand on top of the stretched vehicle for a moment of glory, taking in the screams and applause before hitting the stage for the live debut of “Not Ok.” Performing through technical issues, the band showed their ever-present sense of humor and encouraged the crowd to chant “Refund! Refund! Refund!” Past the blip, 5SOS powered through “Teeth” from 2020’s Calm to the palpable excitement of fans — Hemmings hardly had to sing the chorus. 

    Credit: Andy DeLuca

    Much of the concert was dedicated to previewing the new album with more than half of the set dedicated to Everyone’s a Star! Closing with a redo of “Not Ok,” 5SOS also debuted the title track, “Boyband,” “Telephone Busy,” and “No. 1 Obsession.” But as any good boyband knows to do, the group played two other longtime favorites: pop punk breakthrough “She Looks So Perfect” and the infectious “Youngblood.”  

    Credit: Andy DeLuca
    Credit: Andy DeLuca
    Credit: Andy DeLuca

    After taking a group bow, 5SOS piled back into the limo for an especially stylish exit. Peeling out of The Sun Rose West Hollywood driveway, the vehicle moved out slowly, careful while driving past the dedicated fans that stayed for the concert on the sidewalk, even if only to listen.  

    5 Seconds of Summer Sept. 24, 2025Credit: Andy DeLuca

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    Haley Bosselman

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  • All About Ashton: Ashton Irwin On His Solo Career, His New Double Album, & More

    All About Ashton: Ashton Irwin On His Solo Career, His New Double Album, & More

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    Ashton Irwin bursts into our scheduled Zoom meeting like a ray of light. You can tell he’s every bit as happy-go-lucky as he seems, simply introducing himself in a lighthearted manner, “Hi, I’m Ashton!”

    Of course I already know who he is…I’m interviewing him today for his single, “Straight To Your Heart”, and subsequently his new double album, Blood On The Drums, out July 17. Not only that, but he’s the drummer for the ultra-successful band, 5 Seconds of Summer, who has hits like “Youngblood” and “She Looks So Perfect”. I had seen 5SOS when they opened for One Direction at Hershey Park (yes, I was that lucky) and couldn’t help but share this with him.

    Immediately, he remembers the scent of burnt cocoa wafting through the air that floats throughout Hershey Park thanks to the factory. He tells me I sent him back and laughs as he says, “Really crazy scent associations so thanks for that. Good times,” But, we aren’t here to reminisce…not really. We’re here to talk about his solo work, the new single, and much more. So we dive in.

    “Straight To Your Heart” is heavy on the synth, reminiscent of the 80’s where dance pop and electronic music became heavily popular. Funnily enough, when I ask Ashton of the inspiration behind the song…he confirms this. He’s been listening to a lot of “moody 80s, new wave dance classics” from artists like Echo and the Bunnymen, INXS, and, of course, The Smiths.

    But particularly, Ashton shouts out an Australian band, The Church, and their song “Under The Milky Way” that inspired the birth of his own, “Straight To Your Heart.” “Under The Milky Way” was the first song he learned how to play on the guitar, and when working with John Feldman, it helped lay the groundwork for the entirety of the album.

    While many artists go for an overall “vibe” or sound throughout their albums, “Straight To Your Heart” isn’t indicative of the rest of Blood On The Drums. In fact, Ashton reveals to me that he doesn’t like to keep the same sound throughout. He tells me,

    “I try not to make too many songs that sound like each other. Cause as a listener, I would get bored of that. So what I try to do these days is diversity and musical diversity is power, you know, like you need to look over your whole sphere of influence and get really creative with where you’re pulling from and try not to do the same thing over and over,”

    That’s exactly what Blood of the Drums is. A symphony of different sounds, with Ashton singing, contributing to guitar, and drums. He’s brimming with talent, and this album is his most cohesive body of work to date. It’s like he’s taken all of the prowess over his already illustrious career and bundled it into an almost sonically perfect album.

    Ashton IrwinRyan Fleming

    Plus, working with longtime producer and collaborators like John Feldman and Matthew Pauling helped tremendously. But Ashton’s dedication to switching things up and pulling from different creative areas paid off. Blood On The Drums consists of two installments: The Thorns, out now, and The Roses, out July 17, that reflect two different stages of life we all go through.

    From starting his career at around 18, Ashton shares that he stays inspired by pushing his limits. Whether it’s in the recording studio, or trying out new instruments, he’s not scared to dip his toes into new waters. But he’s also constantly traveling- he refers to his life as almost nomadic…bouncing from one place to another for touring, for living, for travel.

    “I love to walk into the studio and feel like it’s a new day. It’s a different day. And I’m not anchored or attached to yesterday…or whatever I made yesterday is already done, you know? So I keep inspired that way by creating diverse albums.”

    Conceptually, the two parts of the album are polar opposites. The Thorns is almost self-explanatory, a bit edgier and drum heavy. The Roses takes on a more folk sound, softer and more delicate than its counterpart. Again, something done totally on purpose thanks to Irwin.

    “You know, there’s a lyric on my album in a song called “Wild Things” and it says ‘I know your thorns protect your roses’ and I guess the thorns are the things and the concepts that protect me from failing, or they protect me from being too hard on myself, or they protect me…They help me have resilience in this world, and they help me as a creator and an artist.”

    I nod in agreement as he says this. The thorns in question are his defense mechanisms. To this, he wholeheartedly agrees with me. “Exactly.” He emphasizes. “The beautiful parts of ourselves need protecting. Not left unguarded.”

    And it’s within these two parts that the album becomes whole. You need one to have the other, just like you have good days and bad. The topic of his seniority in the music industry resurfaces, how each time he creates music it gets harder to create something new, something that feels different. “Blood On The Drums is really a testimony to continuing to create.” He muses.

    The albums cover a span of genres- effortlessly moving from pure rock and roll to dreamy art-pop tracks that get you dancing. Spanning heartbreak, love, loss, happiness, and more, Irwin pours his soul into both sides of Blood on the Drums. You can listen to The Thorns here:

    The time goes by quickly, and soon enough I’m warning Ashton that we don’t have much time left. I finish up with his three essential songs from the album, a tougher question than I thought:

    “Oh my gosh, okay, just, there’s so many but I’ll just give it to you like this: I think “Rebel at Heart”, “The Canyon”, “Breakup.””

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    Jai Phillips

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  • Luke Hemmings Confirms Sierra Deaton Sings on New EP

    Luke Hemmings Confirms Sierra Deaton Sings on New EP

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    “I caught the bug,” Luke Hemmings told host Mikey Piff on SiriusXM Hits 1 (Ch. 2) of making his own solo music outside of 5 Seconds of Summer.

    Don’t have SiriusXM yet? Start listening today! See Offer Details.

    Today (March 7), Luke released “Shakes,” the lead single off his just-announced solo EP, boy, which drops on April 26 — his first since his critically acclaimed debut project, When Facing the Things We Turn Away From (2021). The EP, Luke explained, explores the “desperate, emotional state of being lonely in a hotel room and wanting to go home.”

    As both the lead vocalist of 5 Seconds of Summer and a successful solo artist, Luke said he’s able to juggle both careers at the same time because the creative process takes so long. When one slows down, he can work on the other.

    “The breaks in between making albums are bigger for us now and longer,” he said of the band. “I think we all just want to be able to be free and do what we want, whether that’s mowing your lawn or making music.”

    Luke Hemmings at the SiriusXM Studios in New York City - SiriusXM Step and Repeat - March 2024

    Luke’s forthcoming boy EP was recorded in New York with GRAMMY-nominated producer Sammy Witte and influenced by acts like LCD Soundsystem, My Bloody Valentine, The Verve, and Cocteau Twins. According to Luke, the new music is “from the heart.” And although When Facing the Things We Turn Away From was created during and inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, boy “still has that lonely, isolated feel to it” as it was “written in pieces on the road.”

    Throughout the creation process, Luke told Mikey he was inspired by lost-in-translation-type movies like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as well as New York City as a whole, where you can still feel alone despite being surrounded by people. He called out the lyric in “Shakes” that goes, “The city tends to move on all the same,” as meaning, “Life’s gonna keep moving with or without you.”

    He wrote the chorus for “Shakes” first and then spent the next year on the rest. “By the time I’m writing the verses, you have so much life under your belt, and you’re almost writing from a different perspective than you were … And a lot of the songs are like that, where there’s different pieces from different moments in time,” he said.

    Luke, who confirmed earlier this year that he married longtime girlfriend Sierra Deaton, also revealed that the female vocalist that can be heard harmonizing with him on the boy track “Close Enough to Feel You” is in fact his wife.

    “She’s in everything,” he said of Sierra’s influence on his music.

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    Jackie Kolgraf

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  • You, Too, Can Dress Like Taylor Swift

    You, Too, Can Dress Like Taylor Swift

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    I was in middle school during Tumblr’s prime era of influence. It was a simpler time, listening to Urban Outfitters records on an Urban Outfitters turntable and aspiring to be the most aesthetically pleasing version of yourself. We lived for artsy Instagram posts wearing chevron necklaces, reblogging edits of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, and pairing hi-low skirts with Doc Martens. I still have vivid nightmares of black-and-white angsty Tumblr posts captioned with Lorde lyrics.

    But, like any social media platform, there were different sides to Tumblr. There was the famed aesthetic side, ruled by angst and filters, but there was also the side ruled by fandoms.

    Let me take you way back to 2014 when 5 Seconds of Summer was opening for the hit boy band, One Direction. Your go-to outfit was Converse (or Keds, thanks to Taylor Swift), skinny jeans, and an “I <3 British Boys (and one Irish!)” shirt. The vibe was an inscrutable mix of bohemian, preppy, and a little grunge. Times may have been simpler, but they weren’t more stylish.

    But just like the angsty side of Tumblr, this side also considered Urban Outfitters and Free People their fashion meccas. Pretty much all sides of Tumblr were united by their devotion to these two stores. Urban had the band tees and vinyls, Free People had the free-spirited, whimsical pieces that emulated the Lana Del Rey vibe.

    And while I’ve grown out of a few of these habits (re: hi-low skirts, chevron), some things never change. I still listen to One Direction as my guilty pleasure (I’m no longer a Louis girl), and I still shop at Free People.

    What I love about Free People is that they create an idyllic fashion world of exciting prints, fabrics, and styles. Their clothing is versatile — good for date nights, work days, brunches, lounging, and working out. They’ve grown up with me, and their fashion is always precisely on-trend. They’ve also taught me that you can’t put a price on high-quality clothing.

    In the world of Girl Math, Free People gets you the best bang for your buck. I still have FP tank tops and jeans from middle school that have years left of wear. Their clothes even start trends of their own. For example, actress and model Kaia Gerber genuinely The Quilted Dolman Jacket in every color. And the Freya Set has been heavily duped across the fashion market.

    While Free People is iconic for the bohemian in you, it’s also famous due to the amount of celebrities who wear it. And these aren’t just brand deals. Celebs, they’re just like us: obsessed with the brand that keeps on giving.

    Taylor Swift In Free People 

    I went to a Free People event last month where they celebrated their winter boot collaboration with Sorel Footwear. They were gushing about how much Swift loved Free People, saying that whenever she goes on vacation, she shops there.

    And they’re not lying, thanks to the thousands of Instagram accounts dedicated to what Taylor is wearing in every public appearance. A ton of her clothes are indeed affordable Free People options, which makes her style pretty easy to replicate!

    Lately, we’ve been seeing more of Taylor since she’s extremely busy touring the world, dating NFL star Travis Kelce, re-recording her albums, and traversing around New York with her girl gang. This means we’ve gotten to see her in her Free People era and all its glory. Here are some of the best FP moments from Taylor herself:

    Melanie Tank

    We The Free Emmy Denim Skort

    The Heartbreaker Skort

    Quilted Dolman Jacket

    Daydreamer Shania Twain Tee

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    Jai Phillips

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