Ashton Irwin Debut Solo Album Explores Powerful Themes

Powerful themes of healing, recovery and strength are evident on the Superbloom, Ashton Irwin’s first solo album.

Irwin’s debut album, released Oct 23, is a break from his familiar boy-band appearance. As the drummer of Five Seconds of Summer, his audience is not used to seeing the serious side of him that is featured on the album.

While an album that goes over serious topics might not be ideal for some during the uncertain times that COVID is causing today, it is a needed album. Irwin has recommended that people listen to the album in order as he said in an Apple Music interview that there is a “story to be told.”

The first single released off the album, “Skinny Skinny” explores the first set of serious topics Irwin addressed—body image, which is evident when listening to the song but especially when watching the music video as well. The lyrics talk about how looking at his reflection brings him conflicted emotions. While he looks in the mirror and wants to do all of these activities that he has been dreaming about, the idea of his reflection stops him.

The music video, although it is a bit odd, reflects this ideology. Irwin is dancing in this room with a wall of mirrors, but when he turns around while dancing, he sees his reflection and appears to be conflicted. The idea of thinking about the future seems to be an important theme to Irwin as it is mentioned several times; he does not want to think about the future because of what it could hold if he does not live up to his unrealistic expectations.

This theme could be applied to today’s world as well, which is what makes this album extremely relatable. Although it is coming from a guy that has earned millions of dollars making music, Irwin has had his share of struggles just like normal people as well.

When diving further into the album and listening to the songs for more than just the lyrical value, it is evident that in the song “Greyhound” Irwin is discussing moving on beyond his past and into a world that has a better outlook for him.

The lyrics state that “mother always knew me the best, she always tried to push me beyond the rest” which leads into what one would assume to be the chorus where the words “run, greyhound, run” are repeated over and over again.

Listening to this song is almost more empowering than listening to the rest of the songs on the album. The lyrics have a certain degree of suspense and a thriller feeling to them with the way the instruments back up the lyrics. “Greyhound” paints the picture of someone running from their problems to lead them to a better life, a meaning that is not indicated by the title.

The last of the notable themes on the album, strength, is explored especially in the song “Drive” where the topic of leaving an unhealthy place is explored. The song states that “the futures not so clear”, but having someone there could be helpful in seeing that “there’s so much more to life”. It seems to be an anthem to those that might be living in uncertain situations where what may happen next is unclear that there is more to the world than just the current situation a person is in.

This theme is especially important when being related to the current time of the world, where much is unknown. COVID has made 2020 quite the unpredictable year, and this song seems to fit that idea. Although the song seems to imply that the only way to leave or change the situation is to simply “drive”, the theme’s main idea could be applied to the idea of simply just a change in surroundings.

Overall, Superbloom is an important album for this current time that explores relevant themes. It is not just an album made for the sake of making an album. Rather, it is clear that Irwin put time and thought into perfectly crafting this album.

Everything from the lyrics and the instruments being played to the music videos work together to create various themes on the album that are abundantly clear when listening to the songs.

One should not dismiss this album simply because Irwin is also a boyband member. This is an album that should be listened to for the various important and meaningful themes that the album offers, and not ignored simply because of who the artist is.