Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ashton Irwin, best known for his role in Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, has announced his second solo album, titled BLOOD ON THE DRUMS.
You can listen to the album’s lead single, “Straight to Your Heart”, which is out now.
The track, described as an ’80s new wave-influenced alt-pop anthem, was co-written and produced by Irwin in collaboration with John Feldmann, known for his work with various artists including 5SOS, blink-182, and Avril Lavigne.
The music video for “Straight to Your Heart”, shot by Ryan Fleming and co-directed by Irwin, was filmed in the California desert, showcasing Irwin’s recent motorcycle license and archery skills (watch below).
BLOOD ON THE DRUMS serves as a follow-up to 2020’s Superbloom, with Irwin describing the title as “a metaphor for how much I’ve given my music.” Unlike Superbloom, which was created during the pandemic and focused on personal reflection, BLOOD ON THE DRUMS takes a more outward perspective.
“I was thinking about the people I left behind, the people I miss, the family that I had to leave when I was young,” explains Irwin. “Thinking about the addictions I’ve been through. The way I evolved as a young man who never had a father. Thinking about my personal strength and knowing that generally speaking no one else has my back but me and becoming someone that I have to be for the rest of my life.”
BLOOD ON THE DRUMS will be released in two parts: The Thorns (Side 1), including the first eight tracks with lead single “Straight to Your Heart,” arrives on June 12th, followed by The Roses (Side 2) on July 17th.
“I love to make full length albums but also the idea of the listener digesting it in two parts initially, forming their own interpretation. It’s important to me as a fan of music to have a comprehensive body of work to fully dig into the artists perspective,” Irwin shares.
As a founding member of the Sydney quartet for nearly a decade, Irwin has been a significant presence in the music scene, both locally and globally. BLOOD ON THE DRUMS marks his continued evolution as a lead vocalist, songwriter, and dynamic drummer, following the recent solo release by 5SOS frontman Luke Hemmings.
Ashton Irwin’s “Straight to Your Heart” is out now. BLOOD ON THE DRUMS is out July 17th (pre-orders available now).
