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  • 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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  • 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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  • Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

    Your Weekend Playlist: New Music To Listen To This Friday

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    How are we halfway through June already? It actually seems illegal how fast the summer passes by, there’s so much I want to accomplish in no time whatsoever. But enough about me, the main point here is that we’re looking at the weekend once again.

    Whether this was the best or worst week of your life, there’s one thing we can all agree on: music will help any situation. Yes, there’s a song out there that will make you forget about everything else in life while it’s playing…you just have to find it.

    And you may be wondering: yeah, but why do you care? Well, dear reader, you’ve actually stumbled upon the place for new music released today. Every Friday, hundreds of new songs are released…and sure, you can comb through every New Music Friday playlist curated on your Spotify or Apple Music. But wouldn’t it be easier if one place made a playlist with the best-of-the-best on it?

    Yes. It would. And that’s why we’re all here: I make a weekly playlist with the best new songs released so you don’t have to do all that aimless searching and listening on your own. It’s okay to be lazy when you’re listening to my Weekend Playlists!

    This week, we have a bunch of fresh new tracks that can easily get you through the weekend. Without further ado, let’s get listening!

    R3HAB, Don Diablo, NEEKA- “Disco Marathon” 

    Welcome back to the 70’s…because it’s a disco summer! The EDM/house world is fully leaning into the club disco track, which is why R3HAB, Don Diablo, and NEEKA teamed up for “Disco Marathon.” If you want a feel good track that gets you and your friends dancing, this is a great start to your playlist.

    “Disco Marathon” is captivating from the very start- a sonic shift for both R3HAB and Don Diablo that blends their sounds perfectly.

    Ashton Irwin- “Straight To Your Heart” 

    We recently got the chance to sit down with Ashton ahead of his sophomore solo album release, Blood on the Drums. After speaking a bit about “Straight To Your Heart” I learned that Ashton was really inspired by the bands of the 80’s who leaned heavily into synths. Now, as he releases the first part of Blood on the Drums, “Straight To Your Heart” is here for the world.

    It’s a testament to his prowess as a songwriter and singer, a multi-instrumentalist who has years’ experience under his belt. “Straight To Your Heart” is pure fun all the way through.

    Jelly Roll- “I Am Not Okay” 

    Just in time for Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Jelly Roll releases “I Am Not Okay”- an introspective track about needing help but not wanting to talk about it. With lyrics like “I woke up today/I almost stayed in bed/Had the devil on my back”, it’s a prevalent reminder that although we all have our dark moments, have have to keep going.

    Jelly Roll has been a longtime advocate for mental health awareness through his music, and his mission continues by spreading the word in “I Am Not Okay.”

    Benjamin Ingrosso- “Look Who’s Laughing Now”

    Benjamin Ingrosso’s vocal ability shines through in his new single, “Look Who’s Laughing Now.” The song almost was made for live performances, with big sounds building to a crescendo throughout the entire song. It’s an easy listen, both uplifting and confident all in one. Ingrosso says,

    “Look who’s laughing now is about announcing to yourself and the world you can be whoever you want to be in all of your imperfections and still have the best time of your life and come out winning.”

    Tove Lo, SG Lewis- “HEAT”

    What makes a collaboration successful is the ability for both artists to blend their sounds in a way that makes sense, that makes people want to hear more from them. It doesn’t work every time, but with Tove Lo and SG Lewis, the four tracks that make their EP, HEAT, it works tremendously. The energy is palpable throughout each and every song, and you never want it to end.

    The four tracks- title track “HEAT”, “Let me go OH OH”, “Busy Girl”, and “Desire”- are equally exciting across the board. They find a way to combine sex appeal with synths and bass, and then you add in Tove Lo’s crooning vocals and you have yourself a hit collection of songs.

    Listen to our playlist on Spotify! 

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    Jai Phillips

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