In 2021, mid-pandemic, Luke Hemmings found himself in a state of unfamiliar stillness. Having spent the last decade releasing four studio albums and touring the world as frontman of Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, spending an extended period at home was a foreign concept. Left to his own devices, Hemmings turned to one constant in his life: music.
This gave birth to his debut solo album When Facing the Things We Turn Away From, a vulnerable and emotionally mature record where he finally confronts all that he has repressed, attempting to make sense of a youth spent in the limelight.
Nearly three years later, we meet boy, a dreamy, intimate EP where he strikes the perfect balance between staying true to his roots and experimenting with his craft. Despite the world having opened back up and Hemmings insisting that “there’s lots of life living in between the songs”, one thing is clear: his childlike wonder and quest to find meaning amidst the turbulence lives on.
The record opens with ‘I’m Still Your Boy’, an acoustic ballad that builds to a soulful, atmospheric chorus. Hemmings reminisces on the beauty of all he has experienced, and the growing pains along the way. “Take it all apart and it’s not so bad / And I don’t know what’s worse, but I can’t go back,” he so wistfully sings, years of pressure evident in his voice.
Whether singing of grief, love, sadness or hope, Hemmings’ longing for human connection shines through. “I’d set myself on fire to keep you warm,” he declares in ‘Benny’, an ode to his brother back home in Australia, whilst in tender and introspective ‘Close Enough to Feel You’ he struggles to find peace and belonging: “I just wanna be close enough to feel you / but the pain is so familiar”.
A love letter to the people and places that make us feel most at home, ‘Garden Life’ is nostalgic in its chorus as Hemmings reflects on the moments he holds dearest. “The older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realised that sometimes the most beautiful and visceral memories in life are not the most grand and obvious ones, they can be simple and powerful,” he said of the track, a concept that is evidently reflected in its minimalist yet impactful production.
Lead single ‘Shakes’ is a stand-out. Equally as grandiose as ‘Starting Line’, the song that kicked off his solo career, it has a hazy, ethereal quality that is simply gorgeous. Cranking up the reverb and synths, Hemmings’ sweet voice floats above the instrumental as he once again seeks comfort amidst the chaos, yearning for his lover.
Although best known among fans for his hard-hitting lyricism, the instrumentals in boy are equally impressive. ‘Close My Eyes’ is a much-needed adrenaline kick among an EP filled with melancholic slow-burners, as the drums are brought to the forefront, creating a moodier, heavier feel. Hemmings admitted that he was caught up in the what-ifs: “I found myself unable to sleep because every time I tried; it was as if a film of my life was projected onto the back of my eyelids. The mistakes, successes, everything that could have been and everything that was.” The result is a stunning indie-rock anthem that shows just how versatile he truly is.
Hemmings finds closure in ‘Promises’, a delicate track about seeing the world in colour after falling in love. “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,” he confesses, seeing refuge in the compassion shown by his loved ones. A fitting end to the EP, the song is a testament to the power of hope, light at the end of the tunnel.
With so much musical experience under his belt, it’s only natural that Hemmings’ sophomore project holds so much wisdom and heart. Despite any assumptions that he must be accustomed to life in the public eye, Luke Hemmings insists that he is still a boy learning to navigate the world.
Editor-in-Chief.
Fourth year English and Creative Writing and Politics and International Relations student.
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