Ashton Irwin

As a member of one of Australia's biggest musical exports 5 Seconds of Summer, Ashton Irwin had already sold millions of albums and toured the world before branching out on his own, with the release of his debut album, 2020's Superbloom. Born in the Sydney suburb of Hornsby, Irwin had a difficult upbringing in his younger years, regularly moving home and helping with his mother's addictions. With music being a creative release, Irwin looked to his uncle and step-father, who both played drums in metal and punk bands, to teach him how to play. Graduating from high school in 2012, Irwin went on to study music at college before leaving to focus full-time on his band, 5 Seconds of Summer, which he'd joined in 2011 after teaming up with Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, and friend Michael Clifford. After signing a deal with Sony, the group went on to find international fame, releasing four albums -- 2014's 5 Seconds of Summer, 2015's Sounds Good Feels Good, 2018's Youngblood, and 2020's Calm -- and touring the world. Alongside his work with 5SOS, Irwin had also written for and played drums with the likes of Andy Black, Makeout, and the Faim before embarking on his own solo career. At the beginning of 2020 he released the first fruits of what would become his debut album, with the track "Skinny Skinny." Two more singles followed -- "Have You Found What Ur Looking For" and "Scar" -- before delivering his album, the contemporary pop/rock-sounding Superbloom in October. ~ Rich Wilson