Singer-songwriter Michael Clifford of 5 Seconds of Summer releases his debut solo single, “cool” along with accompanying official video via Hopeless Records. The release coincides with the announcement of his solo debut album release, ‘SIDEQUEST’, coming soon.
Co-produced by Michael alongside JT Daly (Demi Lovato, Benson Boone, Alex Warren) and Andrew Goldstein (Tate McRae, Machine Gun Kelly, Travis Barker), and also co-written with his 5SOS bandmate and best man Calum Hood, “cool” marks the beginning of Michael’s solo career as he steps out on his own and reintroduces himself to the world as an artist with his own unique sound and point of view.
“cool” is an exploration into self-doubt and the often uncomfortable process of navigating insecurity. The track captures the uncertainty of trying to fit in, questioning whether you belong, and feeling out of place in unfamiliar spaces.
Of today’s release and announcement, Michael shared, “This song speaks for itself, and my hope is that when fans hear the lyrics, they’ll understand me and hopefully themselves a little better. I’ve been deliberating on this music long enough, so I can’t wait for everybody to hear it— and ‘cool’ is just the beginning of what’s to come. I want this project to make people smile. I’m just out here doing a bunch of sidequests. Now that I’m a dad, everything other than that feels like a sidequest!”
Michael has also shared the accompanying music video for “cool”. Watch here. Directed by Bobby Hanaford, the video sees Michael sport an assortment of looks as he faces cameras and lights while pondering whether or not he’s, as the chorus says, “cool enough”.
Michael Clifford – “cool” (Official Music Video)
On working with Michael, Hanaford shared, “It’s rare you get to work with an artist who is willing to play a bit of the fool and turn a mirror on themselves. The moment I heard ‘cool’, I realized Michael was already there and really letting his guard down. He was using the critic in his head to take us on this journey of insecurity that every person can relate to.
It was a quick process seeing a video that matched it and it was a great collaboration with Michael going deeper into that idea and bringing it to life. The whole project is a breath of fresh air, especially in an industry that is often more concerned with looking ‘cool’ than being authentic.”
With its playful pop-punk energy, “cool” highlights Michael’s fresh new sound, marking an exciting evolution in his music.
Stream “cool” here: ffm.to/amicoolenough
Watch the official music video here
