• Portuguese Translation

This is one of the first songs we wrote for [5SOS5], and was also the first song we released. Ashton asked, “What does everyone feel like writing?” and this is what came out. We recorded at Rancho V in Joshua Tree, fueled by cold brews and good vibes. This song was the first time in the writing process that the band really felt we got it right. We had found our sound and knew what we were aiming for. We’re really proud of that in this chorus, it all happened so quickly within an hour.

— Via Spotify

Obviously, over the last 10 years of us being a band, we’ve written a lot of songs, and this is the first one that’s just us four on the credits and Michael as a producer, and it feels really great. We went away a year and a half ago to Joshua Tree, and we just wanted to get isolated, come together as a band, and sort of see what happens with no pressure. We ended up making this song and it’s really set the tone for the rest of the writing on the album, and we’re really proud of it. We love what it says and the feeling of it.

Having written that song a year and a half ago, it was the first one that I think we got right. I remember Luke was like, “Guys, this is either gonna be the worst idea that I’ve ever had or this idea is going to be pretty good”, and then he sang the “Complete Mess” lyrics. Having that for so much time now and, still, every time that I listen to it, it feels like the first time.

It all came together so quickly, to be honest. Initially, it was about a romantic relationship and that simple, universal feeling of feeling a complete mess without someone, but feeling complete with them.

— 5SOS via an interview with extratv.