Calum Hood steps into the spotlight with ‘ORDER chaos ORDER’
After almost 14 years of anchoring 5 Seconds of Summer with his smooth basslines and rich vocals, Calum Hood steps into the spotlight with his ten-track debut solo album, ‘ORDER chaos ORDER.’ The third member of the band to release a full solo project, Hood trades the energetic pop-rock sound of 5SOS for something more introspective and freeform. Working closely with producer Jackson Phillips (Day Wave), Hood channels nostalgia, love, and yearning into a distinct soundscape that feels both restless and dreamy. Upon the album’s release, he shared, “This is my sincerest take on what it is like to feel alive and to have experienced a spectrum of deeply coloured emotions throughout it all.” With influences ranging from The Magnetic Fields and The Radio Dept. to Sufjan Stevens and Elliott Smith, ‘ORDER chaos ORDER’ presents Hood and his creative process in a more intimate and honest way than fans have ever seen him.
The album opens with “Don’t Forget You Love Me,” the first song Hood released as a solo artist. His deep vocals cut through stark synths as he pleads with his younger self, a former lover, or even his family, to still be loved despite all the mistakes he’s made. He confesses, “And I know that it's hard to see every version of me, but it's not the same as everything you ever thought I ever could but never would be.” It's a vulnerable introduction to the album and one that clearly leans toward chaos rather than order.
Hood describes the second single, “Call Me When You Know Better” as a “love letter in the form of an apology.” There’s a heavy dose of self-blame woven into the lyrics, cushioned by dreamy electronics and sharp guitar work. The upbeat melody and whirring production contrast with the regret and sadness of the lyrics, a juxtaposition that recurs throughout the album. Ultimately, the song is about the messiness of loving and letting people down, and the hope that time will eventually ease that hurt.
Despite its dreamy pop sound, “Sweetdreams” paints a lonely picture of driving through the night, crashing, and watching the world keep moving without you. The song is about addiction, not just to substances, but to emotions and people as well. There’s a strange comfort in the soft, dream-like lull of the chorus, which intentionally distracts from the darker lyrics and echoes the familiar, compulsive allure of addiction.
“I Wanted to Stay” is Hood’s ode to his late dog, Duke. He describes the melody and lyrics as almost a gift from Duke himself, arriving just when he needed them. The track is about missing someone who offered unconditional love as he sings, “The night keeps swallowing anothеr day / I love my baby, but I'm fading away / I wanted to stay, I wanted to stay.” Although this was the longest song to complete, it was written in the early stages of the album’s creation and, for Hood, set the mood and production style that would define the rest of the record.
Next is “Sunsetter,” an atmospheric track laced with nostalgic summer vibes, featuring layered vocals and reverberant guitars that create a floating sensation. In the lyrics, Hood clings to fleeting moments of happiness, fully aware of how quickly they can slip away. This feeling is mirrored by the bridge, which suddenly spirals into chaos.
The oldest song on the record, “All My Affection,” dates back to demos from 2022. Hood layers his vocals to create a hazy, dreamlike effect that reflects the song’s theme of surrendering yourself completely to someone or something you love. The gentle, textured production echo the likes of Sufjan Stevens and Elliott Smith, both of whom Hood said he was listening to while writing the track.
“Endless Ways” is one of the more lighthearted tracks on the album, opening with ethereal instrumentation. It’s about discovering yourself through someone else, and the ways love can help you see parts of yourself that were there all along. It’s one of the few moments on the album where things finally feel like they’re falling into order.
“Streetwise” is inspired by a 1984 documentary of the same name about street kids in Seattle. Despite being the only track not based on Hood’s own life, it sonically fits right in the album. The song has a warm, coming-of-age feeling with a comforting energy that captures the freedom of living and loving without hesitation.
In “Dark Circles,” Hood imagines an alternate reality where 5 Seconds of Summer never existed, but it’s ultimately a love letter to the band that shaped him. Written from a place of both gratitude and fear, the track acknowledges how empty and lost he would be without the band as he sings, “Life is so lonely without you / I don't feel myself when you're not around.” Hood has said that having solo creative outlets outside the band has allowed each member to stay grounded, but it’s clear that their continuous, unwavering support for each other is what allows them to thrive both individually and as a band.
The final track, “Three of Swords,” is mesmerizing and devastatingly graceful, a standout even as the last song on the album. Named after the tarot card of pain, sorrow, and grief, it fits the track’s theme perfectly, and it’s a nod to Hood’s passion for tarot. He sings about his childhood, the passing of time, and the ways nostalgia can be both comforting and dangerous: “Did you imagine when we were younger / I wouldn't see you for what felt like a thousand years? / We put an expiration date on forever / Drifted into a mile-high of-inbetweens.” The song unfolds into a spoken word outro where his deep vocals blend gorgeously into the crescendoing production. It brings the record to a close that feels open-ended, healing, and ultimately hopeful.
A stunning debut with lush vocals and sweeping melodies, ‘ORDER chaos ORDER’ reveals Hood at his most authentic. The basslines are, of course, strong throughout, but this album also gives him space to lean into more personal storytelling and to let his voice take center stage in a way that’s entirely his own. Hood offers both the best and worst parts of himself in these songs, finding a delicate balance between order and chaos. For longtime fans and new listeners alike, this album is a chance to see Calum Hood in full colour, creating some of his most beautiful and moving work yet.