5 Seconds of Summer: ‘Boyband Label Was Restrictive, We Had to Break Free to Grow’

A decade after their rise to fame, Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) have released a new album that challenges the “boyband” label once forced upon them. The group, now in their twenties, reflect on their journey, fangirls, and how a love for partying shaped their new record. In an interview with Hannah Ewens, they discuss growing up in the spotlight and their mission to redefine themselves.

Fans have followed 5SOS since their early days as the support act for One Direction, and they’re still very much present today. Outside London’s Nomad hotel, a crowd eagerly awaits the band’s arrival, tracking their every move. For some fans, the excitement is still palpable, a testament to the enduring relationship between the band and their followers. Amy, Kate, and Max, who flew in from Ireland that morning, tell me they’ve stuck with the band through thick and thin. “Every time they release a new album, they’ve grown with us,” says Amy.

Inside, 5SOS members Ashton Irwin, Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, and Calum Hood are dressed in bold, colourful outfits, embodying the playful, ironic spirit of their new album Everyone’s a Star!. The record, a self-aware pop-rock exploration, turns the boyband concept on its head, with cheeky tracks like “Boyband” and “Imaginary Boyfriend” poking fun at the very label that once felt limiting.

When they first moved to the UK as teenagers in 2013, they were reluctant to be associated with One Direction, fearing it would hinder their desire to be a “hardcore pop-punk” act. But, as Ashton recalls, they soon realised the benefit of learning from One Direction’s success. “They were our mentors in how to handle fame gracefully,” he says, reflecting on the lessons that helped them survive in the music industry.

Despite their early fears of being labelled a “boyband,” the group eventually embraced it, albeit on their own terms. “The label felt emasculating,” Ashton confesses. “How were we ever going to grow up? It’s the curse of Peter Pan—you want to be taken seriously, but it’s hard when people only see you as a boyband.”

By 2015, they were on the cover of Rolling Stone, labelled “The World’s Hottest Band.” At the time, their wild partying and sexualised image distanced them from their younger fanbase, but the band insists there was no intention to dismiss their core audience. “We never meant to alienate our fangirls,” says Luke. “It was more about growing the fanbase to include everyone, not just for the girls.”

In their latest release, Everyone’s a Star!, 5SOS have embraced the “boyband” label with irony. They’ve channeled their experiences and frustrations into punchy, catchy songs, with lyrics that reflect their journey from heartthrobs to seasoned musicians. Tracks like “No 1 Obsession” and the title track offer a raw, self-aware look at fame, objectification, and their own struggles with growing up in the public eye.

Ashton explains, “We wanted to glorify the label and say, ‘Yes, we’re a boyband, but we’ve been at this for 15 years, and we’ve got the songwriting chops to prove it.’ We’re not just a manufactured act—we’ve got depth.”

The band’s diverse personal lives also inform their music. While Luke and Michael are now married with children, Ashton and Calum are both single, offering different perspectives in the band’s writing process. “It’s a collision of ideas and experiences,” says Ashton. “It’s where we’re at right now, and it’s what makes the album so interesting.”

In a few hours, 5SOS will participate in a promotional stunt in central London, where they will be placed in perspex boxes, a playful nod to their earlier image as a packaged, marketable product. But this time, it’s all about fun, freedom, and celebrating the band’s evolution.

Everyone’s a Star! is out now on Republic Records.