When Facing the Things We Turn Away From

When Facing the Things We Turn Away From
Studio album by Luke Hemmings
Released	13 August 2021 (2021-08-13)
Studio	Solag (Los Angeles) Groove Masters (Los Angeles) Five Starr (Los Angeles) Rodeo (Los Angeles)
Length	43:35
Label	Sony Australia
Producer	Sammy Witte
Luke Hemmings chronology
When Facing the Things We Turn Away From (2021) Boy (2024)
Singles from When Facing the Things We Turn Away From
"Starting Line" Released: 30 June 2021 [1] "Motion" Released: 22 July 2021 [2] "Place in Me" Released: 6 August 2021 [3] "Baby Blue" Released: 13 August 2021 [4] [5]

When Facing the Things We Turn Away From is the debut solo studio album from Australian singer-songwriter Luke Hemmings, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. The album was preceded by three singles and released on 13 August 2021. ^[6]

The album was announced on 30 June 2021 alongside lead single "Starting Line". ^[7] The project was co-written and produced by Sammy Witte. Hemmings described the album as "a project that grew out of a year of enforced stillness", and described it as a place of reflection on the past ten years of his life spent working and touring with 5 Seconds of Summer. ^[8] The album sold nearly 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week. ^[9]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Clash	8/10 [10]

Tanyel Gumushan from Clash said "When Facing the Things We Turn Away From is self-assured and confident. It is built on the foundations of classic rock songs, written on acoustic guitars and keys and follows the fool-proof formulas that has an unstoppable emotional pull... It's as though his strings have been cut and as a musician, Luke is moving freely for the first time." ^[10]

Track listing

When Facing the Things We Turn Away From track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Starting Line"	Luke Hemmings Sammy Witte	4:30
2.	"Saigon"	Hemmings Witte	3:41
3.	"Motion"	Hemmings Witte	3:29
4.	"Place in Me"	Hemmings Witte	3:07
5.	"Baby Blue"	Hemmings Sierra Deaton Witte John Hill	3:43
6.	"Repeat"	Hemmings Witte	3:32
7.	"Mum"	Hemmings Witte	3:50
8.	"Slip Away"	Hemmings Witte	3:52
9.	"Diamonds"	Hemmings Witte Hill	3:58
10.	"A Beautiful Dream"	Hemmings	3:11
11.	"Bloodline"	Hemmings Deaton	2:04
12.	"Comedown"	Hemmings Witte	4:38
Total length:			43:35

Personnel

• Luke Hemmings – vocals, background vocals (all tracks); electric guitar (tracks 1–3, 5, 7, 9, 12), nylon guitar (1, 2), acoustic guitar (2–8, 12), slide guitar (2), piano (3, 6, 9), keyboards (3, 7, 10), 12-string guitar (5), Nashville guitar (7, 8), harmonium (9)
• Sammy Witte – programming (tracks 1–4, 6–8, 10, 12), piano (1–4, 7, 10, 11), keyboards (1–3, 5–10, 12), Moog bass (1, 3, 6–10, 12), background vocals (1, 7, 12), acoustic guitar (3–5), electric guitar (3, 9); percussion, xylophone (3); bass guitar (4, 12), Mellotron (4); Hammond organ, Wurlitzer piano (7); harmonium (9); drums, B3 organ, drum programming (12)
• Aaron Sterling – drums (tracks 1–3, 7, 9), percussion (7)
• Zachary Dawes – bass guitar (tracks 1–3, 7, 12), double bass (7)
• Sierra Deaton – background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 5, 10, 12)
• Rob Moose – strings (tracks 1, 6, 12)
• Gabriel Cabezas – cello (tracks 1, 6, 12)
• Jason Goldstein – piano (tracks 1, 8, 12), trumpet (12)
• John Hill – bass guitar, keyboards (tracks 5, 9); electric guitar (5), piano (9)
• François Comtois – drums (track 5)

Technical

• Sammy Witte – production, engineering
• John Hill – production (tracks 5, 9)
• Luke Hemmings – production (tracks 10, 11), engineering (10)
• Randy Merrill – mastering
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (tracks 1, 3–5, 9)
• Michael Freeman – mixing (tracks 2, 6–8, 10–12)
• Kevin Smith – engineering (tracks 1–3, 5, 7–9, 12)
• Rob Cohen – engineering (tracks 5, 9)
• Aaron Sterling – engineering (track 9)
• Rob Moose – string engineering, string arrangement (tracks 1, 6, 12)
• Matt Wolach – mixing assistance (tracks 1, 3–5, 9)
• Taylor Jackson – engineering assistance (tracks 1–3, 5, 7–9, 12)
• Kaushlesh "Garry" Purohit – engineering assistance (tracks 1–3, 7, 12)
• Chloe Poswillo – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 7)

Visuals

• Luke Hemmings – creative direction
• Vladimir Sepetov – creative direction, design, packaging
• Scottie Cameron – photography
• Elizabeth A. Miranda – photography

Charts

Chart performance for When Facing the Things We Turn Away From

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [11]	1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [12]	141
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [13]	64
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [14]	33
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [15]	16
Scottish Albums (OCC) [16]	13
UK Albums (OCC) [17]	51
US Billboard 200 [18]	124
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [19]	1
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [20]	10
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [21]	17

References

1. "Luke Hemmings Starts Solo Career With "Starting Line"". Billboard . 30 June 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
2. "5SOS' Luke Hemmings releases new psych-rock single "Motion"". NME Australia . 22 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
3. ""Place in Me" is the New Release from Luke Hemmings". totalntertainment. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
4. ""Baby Blue" Out Now. 💙". Facebook. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
5. "Singles to Radio Issue 1357". The Music Network. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
6. "When Facing the Things We Turn Away From CD". JB Hi-Fi . Retrieved 13 August 2021.
7. "Luke Hemmings – When Facing the Things We Turn Away From Lyrics and Tracklist". thewestnews.com. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
8. Triscari, Caleb (30 June 2021). "5 Seconds of Summer's Luke Hemmings announces debut solo album". NME Australia . Retrieved 13 August 2021.
9. Keith Caulfield (26 August 2021). "Jennifer Hudson's 'Respect' Soundtrack Debuts in Top 10 on Billboard's Top Album Sales Chart". Billboard . Retrieved 18 July 2022.
10. Gumushan, Tanyel (12 August 2021). "Luke Hemmings - When Facing The Things We Turn Away From". Clash . Retrieved 13 August 2021.
11. "Australiancharts.com – Luke Hemmings – When Facing the Things We Turn Away From". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
12. "Ultratop.be – Luke Hemmings – When Facing the Things We Turn Away From" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
13. "Dutchcharts.nl – Luke Hemmings – When Facing the Things We Turn Away From" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
14. "Charts.nz – Luke Hemmings – When Facing the Things We Turn Away From". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
15. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
16. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
17. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
18. "Luke Hemmings Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
19. "Luke Hemmings Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
20. "Luke Hemmings Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
21. "Luke Hemmings Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2021.