Michael Clifford - SIDEQUEST
- Samuel Stevens
- Jul 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 4
For over a decade, Michael Clifford has been the kaleidoscopic heart of 5 Seconds of Summer—a band that bridged the gap between 2010s pop-punk nostalgia and global mainstream success. But with SIDEQUEST, out on July 25, 2025, via Hopeless Records, Clifford confidently steps out on his own, not to distance himself from the past, but to fully embrace the mess, magic, and meaning of the present.
SIDEQUEST is not just a debut—it’s a reintroduction.
Clifford’s solo project is expansive, genre-fluid, and emotionally lucid, diving headfirst into existential ponderings, personal growth, and fatherhood, all while cloaked in shimmering synths, twitchy electronic flourishes, and unorthodox alt-pop structures. At every turn, Clifford resists the easy road. There are no carbon copies of 5SOS hits here. Instead, he’s crafted a sound that’s unbound by trends or expectations—an album that’s both deeply intimate and joyously eccentric.
The opening track, “kill me for always,” featuring electronic auteur Porter Robinson, is a cinematic start to Clifford’s solo saga. Fusing Robinson’s ethereal atmosphere with Clifford’s yearning vocals, the track feels like standing in the middle of a digital storm—glitchy, vulnerable, and grandiose. The meticulous production mirrors the emotional tug-of-war within the lyrics, setting the tone for an album unafraid to feel everything at once.
Then there’s “cool”—a track that perfectly encapsulates the heart of SIDEQUEST. With glossy synths and a slacker-pop rhythm, it’s both sarcastic and sincere. Clifford’s lyricism shines as he delivers a self-aware take on image, insecurity, and trying to hold onto your sense of self in a world that demands performative perfection. It’s personal without being preachy and, above all, fun—one of the album’s defining traits.
That playfulness extends to the following track, “give me a break!” a hyper-charged, neon-lit collaboration with Awsten Knight, the vocalist of the pop-rock band Waterparks. The duo bounce off each other with bratty charisma, matching explosive guitars with jittery beats and cheeky lyricism. It’s the most chaotic cut on the album—and possibly the most cathartic.
Yet, SIDEQUEST isn't just kinetic energy. Tracks like “remember when” and “enough” slow the pace, revealing Clifford’s introspective side. On “remember when,” over a simple, melancholic chord progression, he quietly explores the impermanence of moments—lost friendships, missed chances, and the ache of nostalgia. While “enough” wrestles with impostor syndrome and self-worth, but never wallows. Even in his darkest lyrical turns, Clifford leaves the door open for healing.
One of the album’s most impressive strengths is how it balances joy and melancholy. “fashion” is sleek and tongue-in-cheek pop-punk number, riffing on trend-chasing and identity crises with a self-aware wink. “thirsty” is an unexpected left turn, driven by etheral acoustic guitars that conceals lyrics about emotional starvation and self-sabotage. “nosebleed” plays with sonic extremes, lurching from quiet reflection to jittery pop sensibilities, capturing the tension between calm and chaos.
On the tender, emo-inspired indie pop tune, “if i had a choice,” featuring rising indie artist Ryan Hall, Clifford strips back the digital layers for another organic, acoustic moment. Their voices blend beautifully over glistening guitar and subtle atmospherics, offering one of the record’s most earnest and vulnerable songs.
Clifford's debut solo album closes with the track “eclipse,” a fitting, yet brief finale that acts like the dawn after the storm. Clifford’s vocals soar over swelling synths and glitchy guitar textures, reflecting on growth, love, and everything still unknown. It’s hopeful, but not naïve—more a celebration of the journey than a declaration of having it all figured out.
Ultimately, SIDEQUEST is more than a sidequest for the famed musician—it’s a main storyline in Michael Clifford’s evolving creative life. It’s the work of an artist no longer trying to prove anything to anyone but himself. Unconventional in structure but cohesive in spirit, the album captures the chaotic beauty of becoming, of fatherhood, of letting go and beginning again.
In stepping out solo, Michael Clifford hasn’t left his fans behind—he’s invited them into his world like never before. SIDEQUEST is for the dreamers, the misfits, the parents who still feel like kids, and everyone in between. It’s not perfect, and that’s exactly why it resonates.