5SOS frontman Luke Hemmings debuts at #1 on ARIA Albums Chart with solo release

5 Seconds of Summer frontman Luke Hemmings has claimed his first-ever solo #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart with his latest release When Facing The Things We Turn Away From.

The album beat new releases from The Killers (#6), Polish Club (#8) and Jungle (#10) to take out the top spot, and becomes the fifth ARIA #1 album of Hemmings’ career after scoring four #1s with 5 Seconds of Summer.

Hemmings is now the 12th Australian artist to achieve a #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart this year.

The album was recorded over the course of lockdown last year, and Hemmings said debuting at #1 meant more to him than he could ever express.

“Thank you so much to the fans for supporting When Facing the Things We Turn Away From, downloading, streaming, and buying it. Thank you to my friends, family, and my entire team for making this possible and being patient while I changed my mind a million times. Much love to you all,” he said.

ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd commended Hemmings on his latest chart achievement, celebrating him as “one of Australia’s most beloved, talented, and iconic performers”.

“All of us at ARIA congratulate Luke on taking his first step as a solo artist and going straight to number 1 with When Facing the Things We Turn Away From,” Herd said.

Elsewhere on the ARIA Charts, The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s ‘Stay’ has managed to retain its #1 position on the ARIA Singles Chart for the sixth week in a row, while other notable chart entries include Elton John and Dua Lipa’s ‘Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)’ (#7), Lizzo feat. Cardi B ‘Rumors’ (#16) and Jolyon Petch’s dance rework of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’ (#18).

Meanwhile, Adelaide-based dance producer Mell Hall has also become the first female artist to reach #1 on the ARIA Club Chart with a debut single in 13 years, with ‘Knock Knock (feat. Thandi Phoenix)’ rising from #5 to #1 over the past week.