When Facing the Things We Turn Away From Luke Hemmings

• 1Starting Line04:30
• 2Saigon03:42
• 3Motion03:30
• 4Place In Me03:12
• 5Baby Blue03:42
• 6Repeat03:33
• 7Mum03:53
• 8Slip Away03:53
• 9Diamonds03:57
• 10A Beautiful Dream03:08
• 11Bloodline02:05
• 12Comedown04:40
• Total Runtime43:45

Info for When Facing the Things We Turn Away From

After releasing his fourth studio album with multiplatinum pop rock phenomenon 5 Seconds of Summer last March and while much of the world was on hold, Luke Hemmings spent time in quarantine writing songs and, unknowingly at the time, working on new music that would become his forthcoming debut solo album When Facing The Things We Turn Away From. The debut solo single is "Starting Line," which showcases Luke's introspective and reflective songwriting alongside a driving beat and otherworldly guitar that takes hold as the track builds with production from Luke's collaborator and Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter Sammy Witte (Maggie Rogers, Jessie Ware).

“I’ve loved songwriting for my whole life. I’m in a constant pursuit of bettering myself in that department. My entire world revolves around music. By writing these lyrics, I learned about myself. A lot of the songs are about now, but some of them are written from the perspective of a 17-year-old kid in the thick of the industry. Those perspectives clash on this album. It was a challenge to create on my own for the first time rather than in the context of a group. I wrote out of need, because it’s what I love. After a couple of weeks, I thought, ‘What am I going to spend my time doing?’ I started exploring and doing my own production. It didn’t sound similar to the band, and I wanted to push myself. That was the genesis of it.” (Luke Hemmings)

With a strong Aussie accent, Hemmings is as warm and inviting as you’d expect someone from Down Under to be. But while the singer is bold and vibrant on stage, he’s more reserved in a casual setting. Though no less charming, sitting on a balcony in warm Hollywood air makes him feel a bit more human. Even though he’s more real guy than rock star while we chat, the traces of what makes him larger than life still linger — a bit of glitter dusting his cheeks from our four-hour photo shoot, his “casual” designer outfit, his nonchalant tales of a life on the road. But even though he’s lived a life that most of the population will never understand, it’s still easy for his fans to relate to him, especially when it comes to his music and being away from his family.

Luke Hemmings, vocals, guitar

Luke Hemmings
Best known as the lead vocalist of Australian pop rock outfit 5 Seconds Of Summer, Luke Hemmings has stepped away from the band to launch his solo career, beginning with the release this week of his new single Starting Line, produced by Sammy Witte. While work continues on new 5 Seconds Of Summer material, Hemmings has nevertheless taken the chance to release his own new work, with Starting Line – a powerful pop rock affair with a big chorus – the first release taken from his upcoming solo album When Facing Things We Turn Away From.

Writing on his official Facebook page about the new album, Hemmings said: “I couldn’t be prouder to introduce you to When Facing the Things We Turn Away From, a project that grew out of a year of enforced stillness. I’m so grateful for the journey this album has taken me on and I’m so thankful to have had this creative outlet during my time at home.

“Lyrically and sonically, this album has allowed me to decipher the last 10 years of my life and help me make sense of the person I am today and how I got here. It will be released everywhere August 13.” He added: “Thank you to my brothers in 5sos for your support and allowing me to pursue this project. Endless love to you.”

In another post on Facebook, Hemmings discussed his new track, saying: “Starting Line was written in one stream of thought at my friend Sammy’s house. The lyrics come from a reflection of 10 years of my life passing me by in what felt like forever but also in the blink of an eye. I have always had an obsession with time but it was elevated by staying at home after years of constant movement.”

Hemmings is not the only 5 Seconds Of Summer band member to release their own material away from the group. Last year drummer Ashton Irwin released his own solo album Superbloom, which was preceded by the single Skinny, Skinny.

This album contains no booklet.