5 Seconds of Summer "Telephone Busy": From Nashville to CLUBSOS
A ten-hour recording session in a Nashville living room marked the beginning of "Telephone Busy". Now, 5 Seconds of Summer revisit the song on CLUBSOS VOL. 1, giving the EVERYONE'S A STAR! track a new dance-focused arrangement. Its journey also includes an unexpected connection to Harry Styles and his concert audiences.
5 Seconds of Summer revisit "Telephone Busy"
Originally released as a single on October 24, 2025, "Telephone Busy" appeared ahead of 5 Seconds of Summer's sixth studio album, EVERYONE'S A STAR!, which followed on November 14, 2025.
On October 30, 2026, the Australian band brought the song back on CLUBSOS VOL. 1. The six-track EP features reworked versions of "Evolve," "Everyone's a Star!," "NOT OK," "Telephone Busy," "Boyband" and "I'm Scared I'll Never Sleep Again."
The project grew out of the band's CLUBSOS performances, where Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin explored their catalogue from behind DJ decks. Their Lollapalooza afterparty at Chicago's Salt Shed in July 2026 provided one of the first major showcases for the concept.
Ashton Irwin's unusual Nashville recording session
The story behind "Telephone Busy" is one of the more interesting details from the EVERYONE'S A STAR! sessions. Speaking to Official Charts, Calum Hood described the band's songwriting trip to Nashville, where they worked with writers and producers they admired.
Ashton Irwin set up a recording studio in the living room of the house where the group was staying. He then spent around ten hours working on the song before playing it to his bandmates.
Calum recalled being genuinely amazed by the result. His account offers a rare glimpse into the track's development and highlights how much of its initial creative work came from Ashton.
5 Seconds of Summer - "Telephone Busy CLUBSOS VOL. 1"
What do the lyrics of "Telephone Busy" describe?
In "Telephone Busy", 5 Seconds of Summer sing about trying to reach someone who remains unavailable. The repeated line "Call you, but your telephone busy" captures the frustration of unanswered calls, while
"Does my memory make you wanna kiss me?"
adds a more vulnerable question about lingering feelings.The lyrics move between longing, uncertainty and self-assurance. Lines such as
"I'll never change"
contrast with the desire to know whether the other person still feels the same.
The seven writers behind the original track
"Telephone Busy" credits seven songwriters: Ashton Irwin, Calum Hood, Jason Evigan, Leland, Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford and Simon Wilcox. Jason Evigan produced the original recording and also received a vocal production credit.
Lewis Pesacov handled additional production, Șerban Ghenea mixed the track and Nathan Dantzler was responsible for mastering. All four members of 5 Seconds of Summer contributed to the original recording. These credits relate to the 2025 version and should not automatically be attributed to the separate CLUBSOS arrangement.
"Telephone Busy" - The official music video (original song)
How Harry Styles became part of the song's story
An unexpected connection emerged through a mashup of "Telephone Busy" and Harry Styles' "Ready, Steady, Go!". The combination started as a fan-created mix before 5 Seconds of Summer incorporated it into their CLUBSOS DJ performance at Chicago's Salt Shed in July 2026.
Fans subsequently began singing the opening verse of "Telephone Busy" during the instrumental bridge of Styles' Madison Square Garden performances. Rolling Stone Australia reported on the phenomenon on October 7, 2026, tracing it back to the fan-made mix and the band's Chicago appearance.
It is an unusual addition to the history of a song that started out as an album track. The CLUBSOS release now gives "Telephone Busy" a new official arrangement, while the Harry Styles connection remains a separate part of its live story.
FAQs
When was "Telephone Busy (CLUBSOS VOL. 1)" released?
The CLUBSOS version was released on October 30, 2026, as the fourth track on the six-song EP.
Who wrote "Telephone Busy" by 5 Seconds of Summer?
The song was written by Ashton Irwin, Calum Hood, Jason Evigan, Leland, Luke Hemmings, Michael Clifford and Simon Wilcox.
Which album originally featured "Telephone Busy"?
The original recording appeared on EVERYONE'S A STAR!, released on November 14, 2025.
Further Reading