Music From Their Hearts: 5 Seconds of Summer

My youngest sister has done it yet again and has introduced to me another band-- but this is not just "another" band, it's 5 Seconds of Summer a.k.a. 5SOS!!!

If you're not already aware, 5 Seconds of Summer is a pop/rock band from Sydney, Australia! (I KNOW!!!!) The band consists if Michael Clifford (guitar/ vocals), Luke Hemmings (guitar/ vocals), Calum Hood (bass/ vocals), and last but absolutely not least, Ashton Irwin (drums/ vocals). These groups of guys became a band in 2011 posting videos on YouTube. Luke, Micheal, and Calum knew each other from high school and they met Ashton over Facebook and after their first gig, Calum purposed to Ashton to join the band-- true story (link at the end of post). Although, I may have mentioned the instruments that each member of the band plays, they are by far not limited to those instruments; these guys are multi-talented! They each play instruments other than the ones they play in the band and I think that so cool!

Sure, being a One Direction (1D) fan, I feel that I should have known 5SOS a lot sooner because they toured with 1D for two years (2013-14), but in my defense I did not become a fan of 1D until this past summer of 2015. So I sadly didn't get to see 5SOS perform live, but nonetheless, One Direction shouldn't be the main reason of why I should know this band exist. 5 Seconds of Summer have come a long way and have worked really hard. They really try their best to write music that have so much depth that many people can relate to, which I have been guilty of! Since my youngest sister is such a huge fan, she bought their new CD that came out on October 23, 2015, Sounds Good Feels Good, and I can't stop listening to it! I have fallen in love with their music!!

As I think you may have gathered, I have spent the last two weeks of my Christmas break watching YouTube videos of 5 Seconds of Summer and I have not only fallen in love with their music, but for who they are. Their passion for music and how much of an influence it has been in their lives is what they want to do for other people, as well. It is so inspiring that as I've gotten to listen to their music and get to know them (a little) from interviews, 5 Seconds of Summer is band that wants to make a difference in the world and without a doubt have continued to do so, if they know it or not.

I guess what sparked this blog post was a video I saw, which was a segment of 5SOS's live show, The Broken Scene. On October 21, 2015, they performed in Atlanta, Georgia and the drummer, Ashton, was talking to the audience before performing their next song, Jet Black Heart, one of my favorite songs on their new album. Ashton mentioned the music writing process and the kind of music they, as a band, wanted to make. As I was listening to Aston talk, I felt an extension of what they hoped to accomplish. 5 Seconds of summer is not just another band, they are so real and authentic that the music they write is completely and utterly them. Their songs are composed of their own experiences. real emotions, and obstacles that they have gone through, as real music should be. They are more than just a band! More than the teenage girls you hear gawk over them because of how they look or act, which may be true (I also have been guilty of this). 5SOS is a band that wants to mean something and it has always been about the music and fans to them. If I could meet them, I would look them each in the eye and tell them that they have and always will mean something to the people they have made such an impact on.

"I think if we could write music that's from our hearts for you, it doesn't matter if they're worldwide hits that's for sure-- we don't give a damn. As long as they mean something to every single one of you guys, that's all I care about... I want this band to mean something to you, instead of some pointless sh** on the radio. We want to mean something to you!" -Ashton Irwin

Thank you so much for reading!! I love these guys, so I've added the links to which you can check out their music and social media!! Just click on the colored text! I hope your new year has gone off to a great start!

Official Website
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
itunes

Obligatory 2015 Reflection Post

Now it may seem really cliche of me to write a blog post reflecting on 2015, but I can't help it! This year has been so good to me in so many ways! I have grown so much in finding out who I am and really letting God take over my life. As I reflect back on the what I have done, I know I want to work so much more harder. My school and social life seem to dominate how I've spent my year and it has been beautiful: the good and the bad-- especially the good.

A couple of weeks before the new year was approaching, I began reminiscing and reflection about what I did this past year and how I've change as an individual. On first impulse I felt that 2015 was a place holder; a year that only contained time and nothing significant had happened, which is not the case because I started thinking about the people I grew with this year. In the book of Genesis, there is only one time, God says "it is not good" and that is when he sees that Adam is alone, to which He makes Eve. This not only proves that are we meant for relationship with each other, but a relationship with Him. Growth in relationship has been such a significant contribution to how I've been able to live life that I hope and pray that continues to grow.

I fully believe the Lord puts me in certain situations so that I may learn from them, which has allowed me to see various aspects of how to deal with things and I cannot begin to describe the support I had in that. My friends and family continue to be my foundation of who I am and why I'm still sane (well, maybe not completely sane), but I have walked with a handful of very close friends, who have helped me to discern and pray about certain situations that have risen in my life and I am forever thankful.  

Not only have I grown, but I have also accomplished some really cool things, I finished my first semester of my Junior year in college and I am now going in my second semester as a Junior (in the Spring of 2016). The workload this past semester has been crazy and I cannot have done it with the constant support of my friends, to which I was able to do two all-nighters-- the first two of my college career. Before the Fall semester of my Junior year started, I saw my younger sister, who is a Marine, graduate in South Carolina from boot camp! I took summer classes in San Francisco, became a fan of One Direction, and went to see them in concert (to which I've left a link for you to read)!! I find myself in constant disbelief of the amount grace that the Lord has blessed me with. 

I look back at 2015, and I look to 2016 with new hope and a life constantly lived with the presence of God. I take with me all that I've experienced and embrace many more lessons, adventures, memories, difficulties, and friendships!  

I look at 2015 as if I were departing with a homie (nodding to each other with respect). Sure, I could have started a new goal/New Year Resolution for myself and start it the next day before the new year, but I think the New Year means so much more. The New Year allows for new beginnings and a fresh outlook, 2016 calls for so many new things! Just recently, I've become a 5 Seconds to Summer (5SOS) fan-- thanks to my youngest sister, again-- not that it was a bad thing, I really like 5SOS and they're really talented guys! But along with the new interests, I also have set goals for myself-- rather than new year resolutions, I've decided to call then goals-- that I am very keen on sticking with! I look forward to what 2016 brings and I depart from 2015 as equals. 

Happy New Year and here's to new beginnings! 

Thank you for reading!