Michael Clifford of 5 Seconds of Summer has released his debut solo single ‘cool’ via Hopeless Records, alongside announcing his forthcoming solo album ‘SIDEQUEST’.
The track, co-produced by Clifford alongside JT Daly and Andrew Goldstein, features co-writing contributions from his 5 Seconds of Summer bandmate Calum Hood. The song explores themes of self-doubt and navigating insecurity, examining the uncertainty of trying to fit in and questioning one’s place in unfamiliar situations.
“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,” Clifford says. “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. 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!”
The single arrives with an accompanying music video directed by Bobby Hanaford. “It’s rare you get to work with an artist who is willing to play a bit of the fool and turn a mirror on themselves,” Hanaford explains. “The funny thing is, that this type of vulnerability is what resonates most with the audience. The moment I heard ‘cool’ I realized Michael was already there and really letting his guard down. He was using the critic in his head to take us on this journey of insecurity that every person can relate to.”
Clifford’s debut solo album ‘SIDEQUEST’ is set to follow through Hopeless Records.
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