Not OK (5 Seconds of Summer song)

Last updated
"Not OK"
Single by 5 Seconds of Summer
from the album Everyone's a Star!
Released24 September 2025
Genre
Length3:27
Label Republic
Songwriters
Producers
  • Evigan
  • Schick
5 Seconds of Summer singles chronology
"Lighter"
(2024)
"Not OK"
(2025)

"Not OK" (stylised in all caps) is a song by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. It was released on 24 September 2025 independently in partnership with Republic Records, as the lead single from their upcoming sixth studio album, Everyone's a Star! (2025).

Contents

Background

In September 2025, cryptic posts began popping up with a message "Your Favorite Boy Band Is Coming Back," which was revealed to be from 5 Seconds of Summer. [1] They soon announced a new album titled Everyone's a Star and released "Not OK" as the lead single on 24 September. [2] It is their first release under Republic Records. [3] Drummer Ashton Irwin spoke about the song in an interview with Rolling Stone , stating, "We can kill our depression together, and we can experience these elevated feelings together. You want people feeling free. When you hit rock bottom, you need a best friend to shake off the pessimism." [1]

Composition

Written by Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin, JHart, Sarah Hudson, Jason Evigan and Mark Schick, Hemmings described the lyrics as "darker" and was a "nod" to the band itself. [4] It was produced by Jason Evigan and Mark Schick. [5] Musically, it is described as alternative rock and electronic, featuring "hyper-charged beats, cymbals accent, a buoyant bassline, and a hummable guitar solo," with its sound inspired by The Prodigy and N.E.R.D.. [6] [7] [8]

Personnel

Credits for "Not OK" adapted from digital liner notes. [5]


Charts

Chart performance for "Not OK"
Chart (2025)Peak
position
Australian Artist Singles (ARIA) [9] 9
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ) [10] 12

References

  1. 1 2 Larisha Paul (24 September 2025). "Call 5 Seconds of Summer a Boy Band All You Want, But Don't Call This a Comeback". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  2. Neil Griffiths (25 September 2025). "5 Seconds of Summer Return with New Single and Album Announce". Rolling Stone Australia . Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  3. Wilson-Taylor, James (24 September 2025). "5 Seconds Of Summer Announce New Album 'Everyone's a Star!'". Rock Sound . Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  4. Sam Taylor (24 September 2025). "5 Seconds of Summer are back with a new single 'NOT OK' and a new album". Dork . Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  5. 1 2 Not OK (digital liner notes). 5 Seconds of Summer. Columbia Records. 2025.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. Kelia (2 October 2025). "5 Seconds of Summer Return with First New Single in Three Years, 'NOT OK'". Out Now. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  7. "5 Seconds of Summer Launch 'NOT OK', Their First Single in Three Years, Ahead of Sixth Album". Noise11. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  8. Max Persad (24 September 2025). "5 Seconds of Summer release new single NOT OK and announce sixth studio album". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  9. "ARIA Top 20 Australian Singles Chart 6 October 2025". Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  10. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.