There’s a unique confidence that stems from navigating more than ten years in the demanding music industry, and 5 Seconds of Summer now wear it effortlessly, like a badge they’ve finally chosen to embrace. Once a group that firmly claimed they were not a boyband, this Australian quartet is now accepting that label on their own terms. With their sixth album, ‘EVERYONE’S A STAR!’, they’re not just taking back the term — they’re redefining it with extravagant flair.
The transformation is anything but subtle. It comes wrapped in sharp satire and vibrant aesthetics, featuring glamorous outfits, playful personas, and a pop-rock album that plays with the "boyband" mythology in a deliciously chaotic way. It’s intentionally exaggerated, a self-aware performance of stardom that allows them to chuckle at their own history while refining it simultaneously. “Depending on the location, some people may use the term boyband in a derogatory sense, while others may use it as a compliment,” begins guitarist/vocalist Michael Clifford. “It’s a complex term that for some time was aimed at us to diminish our worth,” he adds.
Clifford’s thoughts set the tone for how self-aware and playful 5SOS have become. They’re not just reclaiming the term; they’re questioning, reshaping it, and enjoying the process. “As our career has progressed and we’ve gained perspective, we've come to realize it doesn’t have to be seen as a dirty word,” he notes. “It can be empowering; it’s something we can celebrate,” he mentions. “You can’t insult us regarding what we choose to call ourselves,” he states. “Being a boyband doesn’t have to have negative connotations; it can be seen positively,” he adds. “We’re simply having fun with it! It’s something we do that not many other bands can pull off,” he explains. “We’re unique in the sense that we’re a rock band, a pop-punk band, a boyband, a pop band, and an alternative band. We embody a variety of genres, and at the end of the day, the label doesn’t truly matter.”
Lead vocalist/guitarist Luke Hemmings elaborates on how this perspective influences their latest album ‘EVERYONE’S A STAR!’: “With this album, more than any of our previous ones, it’s a dialogue with the audience rather than just our individual stories. A lot of these tracks represent our collective journey as a band. So, categorizing us feels a bit like poking fun in a way. We’re presenting ourselves in an exaggerated, glamorized manner as we unite as a band. This relates to the lyrics and the album’s concept – songs like ‘Boyband’ and ‘No.1 Obsession’ satirize ourselves and the industry, as well as how we've been viewed. We’re reexamining our entire career in a sense.”
By transforming their decade-long experiences, evolving identities, and humorous take on pop stardom into polished, genre-defying anthems, ‘EVERYONE’S A STAR!’ stands as not only a statement of purpose but also a testament to the band’s willingness to experiment, revisit genres they have explored before, and dive into themes that have simmered beneath the surface for years. The outcome is an album that’s both self-aware and adventurous, showcasing their progression as musicians while retaining the energy and irreverence that initially attracted fans. “Each album we’ve created perfectly encapsulates our lives at those specific moments, and now, after nearly 15 years as a band, this album discusses topics we haven’t tackled before,” remarks bassist/vocalist Calum Hood. “Currently, we’re able to express them in ways that honor each of us both as individuals and as a band. We’re discussing new themes, yet they’ve lingered in our shared consciousness for some time.”
Building on that, the band reflects on how those themes and experiences influenced the sound of ‘EVERYONE’S A STAR!’. Through focused writing sessions and a conscious blend of punk, pop, and electronic influences, 5SOS challenged themselves to explore unfamiliar territory while staying connected to the energy that initially defined them. “We gathered for concentrated writing sessions, and the first song to materialize was ‘No.1 Obsession’. It hearkened back to our first album but with wisdom and irony; that title really resonated with us,” Hemmings explains. “That set the standard for the entire album, and for the subsequent years, we strived to match that,” he continues. “Knowing what it takes to complete an album now, it demands a substantial commitment because it’s something we want to invest months into and tour for an entire year. Because of that, it had to excite all of us,” he adds. “We wanted to completely revamp our sound; it took some time to determine what that
There is a distinct type of confidence that arises from enduring more than ten years in the intense environment of the industry, and 5 Seconds of Summer carry it with ease.
