We asked 5 Seconds Of Summer 18 quick fire questions

Hello Ashton and Luke! Right, let's do this: what did you have for breakfast this morning?

Ashton: A massive omelette with spinach and bacon – no cheese. A proper omelette as well – I’m not scared of the full egg.

Luke: Smashed avocado with a poached egg.

Fancy! What’s each of your mood on a scale of 1 – 10 today?

Luke: Mine was terrible, but it’s gradually getting better after coffee.

Ashton: Mine’s gradually getting worse. It’s the jet lag - you never get used to it.

Eek okay, we'll make this quick then. Why is your new album called Sounds Good Feels Good?

Ashton: Luke was in the studio doing a vocal take and we were wrapping the album up, and he said to the producer, ‘yep – sounds good, feels good’. It was very James Brown! It was the most natural title we’ve come up with for anything.

Luke: I love it. How is it not an album title already, I’ll never know.

If Sounds Good Feels Good was an animal, what animal would it be? 

Ashton: Probably a white lion.

Luke: [Bursts out laughing] I’m actually going to agree because it’s a rare thing to have a pop band who does alternative/rock sounding stuff that they write themselves and is from the heart.

A white lion also sounds classy and majestic. Is the album classic and majestic?

Ashton: That’s just it – that’s what we’re going for, classy and majestic!

What things make you feel good?

Ashton: There’s a full 360-thing about music. It’s a way to make a living, you get to tour, make other people feel good through music and you get to create music yourself. It’s not just a day job, it’s a big thing.

Luke: Stretching in the morning feels good as well. I make really weird noises when I do it.   

And what sounds good?

Luke: I like the sound of the ocean. In fact, I like it so much we managed to include it on the album!

Ashton: It’s on a secret track on the album that isn’t that much of a secret because we want to make sure people actually hear it.

You’re Australian, so are we talking real ocean sounds or noises from a machine?

Luke: The real thing. It’s very soothing to sit on the beach – maybe that’s an Australian thing. We all love the beach so much.

Please give us three reasons why Sounds Good Feels Good is better than your debut.

Ashton: It’s more personal, it’s more mature, it’s more grown up. Wait those last two things mean the same thing…

Luke: We’ve grown up and become better songwriters, I think. We toured a lot after the first album and just become more experienced about what we do and don’t want to do.

Name one thing that's worse about this album compared to your last one.

Ashton: There’s nothing worse about this album at all.

Luke: Maybe people who didn’t like some of the deeper songs on the last album will like this one more. I think this one is better in all aspects.

Ashton: We didn’t force ourselves to do anything – the album just sort of came out of us. We love it, so hopefully the fans will too.

Our favourite song on the album at the moment is Permanent Vacation. Apart from home, where else in the world could you lay down roots for good?

Luke: We don’t really have homes these days!  I’d like to live in LA – I think there’s a lot going on there musically and it’s a big creative hub, so probably there.

What’s the best song on Sounds Good Feels Good?

Ashton: There’s a few songs that connect with different band members more than others. I think Outer Space/Carry On is my personal favourite.

Luke: Permanent Vacation is definitely a favourite of mine. I’m with you on that one. The song just flowed out of us and wasn’t difficult to put together – those are my favourite.

There’s lots of single-worthy songs on the album; which is next?

Ashton: She’s Kinda Hot is like the frame to the picture, the introduction to the concept of this album. A lot of the lyrics in that song are very visual. Hey Everybody!, I think, is one of the best songs we’ve ever done, so it had to be a single.

Which emojis best represent the album? You can name up to five.

Luke: 🎊😞🌚😃
Ashton: Aso this: 💪

Should Charlie Simpson get back with Busted?

Ashton: Probably not. He’s a great solo artist.

Luke: I think if he was that unhappy in Busted then he probably shouldn’t go back there. I’ve listened to his solo albums as well and they’re really good. If it makes him happy though, then do it! Don’t do it if it’s going to make you unhappy.

What’s the best or worst fan gift you’ve received?

Ashton: Getting a gift at all is awesome!

Luke: A fan once bought us a star called ADX65 or something.

Ashton: We got a certificate and everything – it was such an awesome present.

[Michael and Calum enter the room] Hello!

Who’s the best pop star in the world right now?

Michael: Dave Grohl.

Ashton: I’m really looking to hear more from Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars.

Luke: Frank Ocean, though he’s not really a popstar. Where is that album though?

Calum: I'm a bit out of the loop on that, but I love The Weeknd at the moment - he has an incredible voice.

Ashton: Honestly, there's nobody who inspires me too much at the moment. Pop is in a strange place at the moment. It’s not great out there at the moment – it’s worrying.

And who’s the best rock star in the world right now?

Michael: A bunch of cool bands are around at the moment; The 1975, Royal Blood are great UK acts. Biffy Clyro are awesome at the moment. The old bands are still amazing too – Green Day and The Foo Fighters. It’s the music we grew up on and what inspires our music today.

5 Seconds Of Summer release Sounds Good Feels Good on October 23.