It's only the beginning of Michael Clifford's Sidequest

By Izzy Hollyhead

​This is the second song that Michael Clifford has released, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing down! His second single ‘give me a break!’, featuring the band Waterparks, has a 2000s pop-punk vibe about it that pairs very well with Clifford's own style and interests. The fun and upbeat chorus makes the song very catchy, proving it to be an unforgettable release.

The music video pairs well with the song, setting the scene of a young girl in her bedroom surrounded by band posters, whilst writing in her diary. It acts as a story as it plays out what the girl's attempting to write — which we soon figure out is fanfiction. This plays a large role in almost every fanbase, so using it in a positive way and recognising its significance within the music scene is a great way to gain more traction. The story that the girl is writing is very wattpad-esque, which is something that I’ve never seen be recognised and used in a positive way by artists themselves, proving Clifford to be very creative and keeping fans anticipated for what we are going to see next.

After being in the band 5 Seconds of Summer for over 10 years, this gives Michael a chance to create the music he wants with no compromise, as well as giving him a chance to be more creative and push even more boundaries when it comes to music — an extra ounce of freedom compared to working in a band. Although 5SOS is still together, and they have no plans of going anywhere, they are exploring their own ideas, giving the guys another outlet to show their talents to the world.

Following the release of his first single ‘cool’, ‘give me a break!’ is the first collaboration Clifford has taken on for his solo career, and Waterparks were definitely the perfect band to do it with! They’ve been in the alternative, pop-punk scene for many years now, and have seemed to perfect the genre that Michael is clearly steering towards -- as well as introducing their dedicated fanbase to Michael to widen his community of listeners.

With over 700k streams in less than two weeks, fans are definitely loving the song and are anticipating more hits on Michael Clifford's upcoming album SIDEQUEST, out on 26th of July -- just in time to become the soundtrack to your summer!

About the artists

Michael Clifford is best known as the lead guitarist and a founding member of the chart-topping pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS). Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Michael’s signature sound—marked by driving riffs, anthemic hooks, and an unapologetic edge—has been a cornerstone of 5SOS’s evolution from teenage pop-punk breakouts to genre-blending hitmakers. Beyond his work with the band, Michael is a multi-talented songwriter and producer with a keen ear for pushing creative boundaries while staying true to his punk-influenced roots.

​Waterparks is an American pop-rock band known for their hyperactive blend of pop-punk hooks, electro-pop twists, and genre-defying ambition. Fronted by the charismatic Awsten Knight, alongside bandmates Geoff Wigington and Otto Wood, Waterparks made their mark with anthems that pair tongue-in-cheek humor with deeply personal confessions. Their albums, including Double Dare, Entertainment, FANDOM, and Intellectual Property, showcase a fearless approach to bending sounds and expectations—mixing glitchy electronics, catchy melodies, and pop culture references into something unmistakably their own.