Ashton Irwin

It was back at the beginning of lockdown in February 2020, as Ashton Irwin saw his touring schedule empty and no recording planned, with his band that the spark to make a solo album was lit. As a member of the Australian pop-rock quartet 5 Seconds of Summer, Irwin has enjoyed a phenomenally successful career. Formed in late 2011, his band have now sold over 10 million albums and become worldwide superstars. He had definitely earned a period of rest and relaxation but Irwin is not made that way. “I couldn’t just sit here and wait for someone to give me permission to get back in the studio with 5 Seconds of Summer,” he says. “I work hard to continue forward motion.” His debut solo record ‘Superbloom’ is the result of that continued artistic advancement. Made in his LA home with his producer housemate Matt Pauling, it’s a record that draws from the broad collection of artists he loves – including but not limited to Foo Fighters, Nick Drake, Helmet, Silverchair, Stone Temple Pilots, My Bloody Valentine, Curve – with lyrics that touch on every aspect of his life. It’s filled with the sort of poignant, profound songwriting that only comes about from an artist fully handing himself over. These are songs about Irwin’s childhood, about alcoholism, depression, body dysmorphia, death, addiction, despair and hope. “I had to reach a certain level of lyrical maturity in order to write about something I actually cared about,” he explains. For an artist who has predominantly worked within the collaborative dynamic of a band, this was a chance to go off-grid. “It was really freeing and inspiring to me,” he says. “The songs I’ve written for this record couldn’t be sung by anyone else but me.” Superbloom will be released October 2020.