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Michael Clifford, who serves as the lead guitarist for the Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, has officially embarked on his solo career with the release of his debut single titled “Cool.” This marks a new chapter in Clifford’s musical journey.
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“Cool” embodies the signature polished rock sound that fans have come to associate with Clifford, marked by its deeper, introspective lyrics. This exploration into his own thoughts and feelings demonstrates a natural progression in his artistry.
In a statement, Clifford expressed, “This song speaks for itself, and my hope is that when fans hear the lyrics, they’ll understand me and hopefully themselves a little better. I’ve been deliberating on this music long enough, so I can’t wait for everybody to hear it— and ‘cool’ is just the beginning of what’s to come.”
He further added, “I want this project to make people smile. I’m just out here doing a bunch of sidequests. Now that I’m a dad, everything other than that feels like a sidequest!”
Released under the pop-punk label Hopeless Records, “Cool” serves as a preview of Clifford’s upcoming debut album, SIDEQUEST, which is expected to be elaborated on in the near future. The single was co-penned by Clifford and his bandmate Calum Hood, with production assistance from notable artists JT Daly and Andrew Goldstein. A music video directed by Bobby Hanaford accompanies the release, adding a visual element to Clifford’s new work, which can be viewed here.
5 Seconds of Summer originated in Sydney, Australia in 2011, debuting with a self-titled album in 2014. The group has consistently topped the Australian ARIA charts with all five of their albums. Although the albums Calm (2020) and 5SOS5 (2022) reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200, they maintained strong performances overall.
The band, awarded six ARIA Awards, has seen its members step into solo projects following the release of Calm. Drummer Ashton Irwin kicked off his solo career with the album Superbloom in 2020 and is set to release his second album, Blood on the Drums, in July 2024.
Following Irwin, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Luke Hemmings launched his own solo career in 2021 with the album When Facing the Things We Turn Away From, followed by the Boy EP in April 2024. As of now, bassist Calum Hood remains the sole member who has not released solo work, though he continues to be involved in songwriting and production activities.
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www.billboard.com