On the 26th of April 2024, Luke Hemmings, the lead singer of 5 Seconds of Summer, released his second musical project, an EP titled boy. The record consists of seven songs, two of which were released as singles earlier this year: ‘Shakes’ and ‘Close My Eyes’. Just like the singer’s previous songs, boy is a highly emotional listen that is sure to make the listener delve deeply into their feelings.
Upon the release of his EP, Hemmings wrote the following to his fans: “The majority of the songs for boy were written at a time in my life when I was a stranger to stillness. I was constantly surrounded by people, in bustling cities, yet remained wrought with loneliness. (…) These songs are a snapshot of my inner workings and the way I see the world. They’re not intended to be consumed as autobiographical facts, but as an overly dramatic, cathartic, poetic stream of my consciousness. As if you’ve opened my diary and can only read a line from each page.”
The poetic emotional journey begins with the first track, ‘I’m Still Your Boy’. In this song, Hemmings describes the ‘growing pains’ he experienced while becoming an adult, realising that growing up in the spotlight significantly marked this journey for him. The majority of the song features very soft instrumentals, symbolising the quietness of the process. “I’m sat in the driveway, but I can’t go in. The green fence is faded and it’s sinking in. I wish I was younger, so I knew the end.” However, the chorus brings in more intensity in the instrumentation, signifying a longing for the past when Hemmings sings “I’m still your boy” several times in a row, expressing a hope that people’s views of him don’t change too much.
‘Shakes’ is the second track on this EP, and was also the first single from boy to be released. This song embodies not thinking clearly because of intense emotions, affecting the way you act. Lyrics like “Is it better to feel this, or feel nothin’ at all?” and the quiet instrumentals of this song emphasise the intensity of the feelings, accompanied by loneliness. As the instruments gradually tone down, Hemmings repeats the chorus a few times. “Can’t shake this feelin’” is how the song ends, leaving the listener with a light feeling of emptiness.
This quiet, emotional song is followed by ‘Benny’, a slightly more upbeat song named after Hemmings’ brother, Ben. However, the song is not just about his brother, but about all his loved ones who he lives so far away from. “I can see you in photos, that’s where I wanna be. In the face of a stranger, the guilt is all I can see.” Through lyrics like these, Hemmings addresses the guilt and anxiety he feels about not being able to see his family and loved ones as much as he would like to, wondering if one day it will be too late. “What if I never knew you, Benny? (I keep losing touch).”
‘Close My Eyes’, the second single that was released from this EP, follows suit, a song with a strong 00s feel in terms of instrumentals and vocals. At the start, the sudden upbeat instruments might lead the listener to think that this song is slightly less of an emotional deep dive. However, they could not be more wrong, as the lyrics hit hard: “Now I don’t wanna close my eyes, see everythin’ I ever done. I never got to say goodbye, I won’t look back until it’s gone.” With this song, Hemmings acknowledges the anxiety surrounding becoming older, constantly replaying memories, both good and bad, in your head when you try to fall asleep.
The next song, ‘Garden Life’, addresses more positive emotions, encountering feelings of happiness and safety in the most simple and quiet moments of life. This is echoed in the song’s mellow and calm sound, and lyrics like “I feel most alive, staring out your window. It’s a garden life, you are the weeping willow.”
From this simple happiness, we dive right back into the deep end in the next song. The sixth track, ‘Close Enough To Feel You’, is another devastatingly beautiful one.. It describes the feelings that accompany losing someone who played a significant role in your life, and the moments you are reminded of that loss. “Now I’m falling apart again, I just wanna be close enough to feel you, but the pain is so familiar.” Often, it is the little things that people are so familiar with that can suddenly bring a flood of tears, the everyday reminders that the person we’ve lost is no longer with us.
The EP closes with ‘Promises’, a song that delves into Hemmings’ journey in battling depression and the intense pessimistic worldview that accompanied it until love brought colour back to his world. “I wasn’t always a cynic; it’s just I’ve been bought and sold. But you saw the beauty inside it, at twenty-seven years old.” The background vocals are sung by his wife, Sierra Deaton, which emphasises how her love made Hemmings finally feel a little better again.
After this journey, it is no understatement to say that boy is a beautiful emotional rollercoaster of a record. Hemmings’ release of this EP is just in time for his first solo tour through Europe, the US, and Australia. With a total discography that amounts to a little over an hour, fans who were lucky enough to score tickets can be sure to hear many, if not all, of their favourites. Check out the availability for shows near you here.
Written by: Nèri Cliteur
Edited by: Shanna Henselmans
