HMLTD formed in London as Happy Meal Ltd. in early 2015. Singer Henry Chisholm goes under the pseudonym 'Henry Spychalski', and was born and raised in Torquay before moving to London. Spychalski met Duc, who had played in a band with Nico in Paris, at a bar in London which helped foster a friendship and the formation of the band. James originates from Ipswich and shared a house in Elephant and Castle with friends including Henry. Zac, from Bristol, met Duc through Reddit and "less vile corners" of 4chan, and Vincent from Hong Kong; when he returned home in late 2015 he was replaced by Achilleas, originally from Athens. Late in 2019, Zac left the band to focus on his education, he was replaced by black midi sideman Seth Evans, a friend of the band, who they met in London.
HMLTD has been criticised for allegedly appropriating queer and/or gender bender aesthetics as heterosexual men, including cross-dressing, make-up, and flamboyant performances. According to Spychalski, the band is "trying to challenge toxic masculinity and we’re doing that from the perspective we can do that from, as the human beings we were born into being, which is predominantly straight cis men. But I don’t think having that role should exclude or prohibit you from taking on that political perspective and from taking on what is probably the most violent, toxic, cruel force in our society. We’re learning from queer methods and we always try to express that indebtedness.”
Their image and sound can be seen as influenced by the Ziggy Stardust era of David Bowie and the New Romantic period in the 1980s. Their sound has been compared to a wide range of acts such as The Prodigy and Peaches. They have also been regarded as avant-garde for their infusion of EDM and experimental pop with their guitar-oriented sound.
On 20 July 2018, HMLTD released their debut EP, Hate Music Last Time Delete. Pictures Of You was written with Justin Tranter. On 7 February 2020, HMLTD released their debut studio album West of Eden. According to lead singer Henry Spychalski, the album took almost four years to create, due to the interspersed writing as every member was in university education. The album tour swiftly followed the release, spanning the length of the UK, as well as various European cities.
2023's The Worm would be released to critical acclaim.
Flex
HMLTD Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watch my body fall and watch my body rise
Flex it baby, keep me up all night
Like flex oh, like flex
Female body builders from Tijuana buy fake flowers
Fresh from artificial markets at the border
To comply with my strict orders
While simultaneously writing his regrets on paper
Film it on your camera-phone, Convert it straight to VHS
And post it to my home address by DH Hour, UPS
So I can sleep at night, smoke my cigarettes in peace
Instead of waking up from dreams and
Flexing arms and flexing knees (hit it)
I don't wanna flex for the fuck of it
If you want me for a toy don't count on it
All the boys wanna touch ya, touch ya
And flex, oh and flex
All I want for Christmas is some ice
Watch my body fall and watch my body rise
Flex it baby, keep me up all night
Like flex oh, like flex
I made a meal, especially for you
Take a bite, chew it up, spit it out and start anew
Hand the pulp to your hotel personnel then move to Moscow
Cut your hair and wear Chanel
I've got friends up in high places who can help
But
You don't ever wanna live like that
Baby do you wanna
Buy the Oxford guide to suicide, retreat inside your head
Buy a webcam and a single bed, so everyone can see you flex
I don't wanna flex for the fuck of it
If you want me for a toy don't count on it
All the boys wanna touch ya, touch ya and flex, ooh and flex
All I want for Christmas is some ice
Watch my body fall and watch my body rise
Flex it baby, keep me up all night
Like flex oh, like flex
Do I need a witness? Had an apparition and I saw god
Flexing muscles reached right through the sky
And I tried to flex for her, flex so, I flex, I flex
All I want for Christmas is some ice
Watch my body fall and watch my body rise
Flex it baby, keep me up all night
Like flex oh, like flex
I'm the fucking female Jesus Christ
Break my bones, I'll be reborn, I'll come back twice
Flex it baby, keep me up all night
Like flex oh, like flex
The song "Flex" by HMLTD is a surreal and enigmatic exploration of desire, power, and control. The lyrics are filled with paradoxical images and cryptic references, making it difficult to pin down a precise meaning, but some themes emerge. The opening lines, "All I want for Christmas is some ice/Watch my body fall and watch my body rise/Flex it baby, keep me up all night/Like flex oh, like flex," suggest a desire for extreme sensations, both physical and emotional. The word "flex" takes on different meanings throughout the song; sometimes it refers to showing off one's body or power, sometimes to experiencing intense pleasure or pain.
The second verse introduces a new set of images, in which female bodybuilders from Tijuana are buying fake flowers to impress the Chinese premiere, who wants to see them flex. This section may be a commentary on the commodification of female bodies, as well as the ways in which people strive to meet the expectations of those in power. The lyric "film it on your camera-phone, convert it straight to VHS/And post it to my home address by DH Hour, UPS" implies a desire for control over others and a fascination with voyeurism.
Later in the song, the singer asserts, "I'm the fucking female Jesus Christ/Break my bones, I'll be reborn, I'll come back twice," echoing the theme of transcendence and transformation. The repeated refrain of "Flex it baby, keep me up all night/Like flex oh, like flex" takes on a new, almost desperate tone as the song progresses, suggesting a need for validation and attention.
Overall, "Flex" is a provocative and compelling work of art that invites multiple interpretations and engages with complex themes of power, desire, and identity.
Line by Line Meaning
All I want for Christmas is some ice
I desire diamonds at this moment
Watch my body fall and watch my body rise
Observe how my life fluctuates
Flex it baby, keep me up all night
Show off our body and make passionate love throughout the night
Like flex oh, like flex
Like how we showed off our bodies
Female body builders from Tijuana buy fake flowers
Strong women from Tijuana purchase imitation flowers
Fresh from artificial markets at the border
Just arrived from synthetic shops at the boundary
To comply with my strict orders
To honor my strict requests
To impress the Chinese premiere who wants to see them flex
To captivate the Chinese leader who wishes to see them show their muscles
While simultaneously writing his regrets on paper
While composing his remorse on a sheet
Film it on your camera-phone, Convert it straight to VHS
Record it on your mobile, transfer it immediately to VHS
And post it to my home address by DH Hour, UPS
And send it to my house using DH Hour, UPS
So I can sleep at night, smoke my cigarettes in peace
So I can have a peaceful sleep and smoke my cigs uninterrupted
Instead of waking up from dreams and
Rather than waking up to
Flexing arms and flexing knees (hit it)
Stretching arms and legs (rock it)
I don't wanna flex for the fuck of it
I don't want to flaunt my body aimlessly
If you want me for a toy don't count on it
You can't use me like a toy
All the boys wanna touch ya, touch ya
All the boys want to touch you
And flex, oh and flex
And flaunt their muscles
I made a meal, especially for you
I cooked a dish, exclusively for you
Take a bite, chew it up, spit it out and start anew
Take a bite, masticate, expel and begin again
Hand the pulp to your hotel personnel then move to Moscow
Give the debris to your hotel staff and relocate to Moscow
Cut your hair and wear Chanel
Crop your hair and put on Chanel clothing
I've got friends up in high places who can help
I have high-profile contacts who can assist
But
However
You don't ever wanna live like that
You don't want to live like that
Baby do you wanna
Do you want to
Buy the Oxford guide to suicide, retreat inside your head
Purchase the Oxford manual on suicide and isolate yourself in your thoughts
Buy a webcam and a single bed, so everyone can see you flex
Acquire a webcam and a solo bed, so everyone can view you demonstrate your muscles
I don't wanna flex for the fuck of it
I don't want to flaunt my body aimlessly
If you want me for a toy don't count on it
You can't use me like a toy
All the boys wanna touch ya, touch ya and flex, ooh and flex
All the boys want to touch you and show off their muscles
Do I need a witness? Had an apparition and I saw god
Do I need a witness? I had a vision and witnessed god
Flexing muscles reached right through the sky
Demonstrating muscles extended to the heavens
And I tried to flex for her, flex so, I flex, I flex
And I attempted to flaunt my muscles for her, showcasing, I flaunted, I flaunted
I'm the fucking female Jesus Christ
I'm an exceptional female figure
Break my bones, I'll be reborn, I'll come back twice
If you shatter my bones, I'll revive, I'll return two times
Flex it baby, keep me up all night
Flaunt it baby, let's make love throughout the night
Like flex oh, like flex
Like how we flaunted our bodies
Contributed by Sarah W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.