Pandemic has brought Ashton Irwin to explored more as an artist, stuck at home has forced him and his other bandmate, 5 Seconds of Summer to putting a halt in the promotion for their fourth album ‘Calm’.
Although, Irwin saw it as a perfect chance to make some solo music – that has been his dream since he was ten years old. Bunkered down in LA home, Irwin and Matt Pauling, his producer slash housemate spent four months pouring opportunity they had into the record.
“We found ourselves indoors and we found ourselves with nothing to do. And I was like, ‘well, that’s not me’. I’m a songwriter. I’m an artist. I could create something on my own and see if I could really push myself to write full songs,” He explains, NME (24/9/20).
The Aussie singer/drummer pushed his boundaries and went vulnerable through his debut solo album ‘Superbloom’. Its ten songs told different stories through body dysmorphia, depression, toxic masculinity, suicide and addiction.
On psychedelic, funky "Skinny Skinny", Irwin reflected his crippling experience with body dysmorphia, made an openness through his struggles with addiction and sobriety on the acoustic "Matter of Time", and pop anthem "Sunshine" to stay aware but also critical of what the news cycle feeds you.
“With this record, instead of playing characters and writing about things that I think people want to hear, I’m writing what I need to hear.” He says, NME (24/9/20).
Serving through different genre and lyrics, Irwin says “I don’t care if I’m a pop star, a rock star or whatever the it is, if I can impact people with my lyrics and music, then job done. I would rather just be a positive guiding light to people.”
(DEAS)
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