In 2015, the album Sometime Last Night deeply impacted those of us who closely followed Ross Lynch's career and his projects at Disney. This album was different, much more mature, with an indie pop sound and more adult and profound lyrics. It even stood out from the other albums released by R5, the project formed by four of the Lynch siblings and Ellington Lee Ratliff on drums. A lot has happened in between: R5 transformed into The Driver Era, a duo consisting of Ross and Rocky Lynch. They changed labels, aesthetics, and sound. Obviously, they also grew. However, the essence of those early songs and the camaraderie among all the family members and the team around them remains intact. Looking ahead to their performance at Lollapalooza and their sideshow at Teatro Vorterix, we chatted with the brothers about their latest releases, their favorite albums, and what it meant for them to grow while making art.
"It was a very significant moment, a way to encapsulate and celebrate all the ways we grew and matured"
We started the conversation talking about 'Rumours,' a song that undoubtedly addresses a recurring theme in the life of anyone with such a level of exposure (recall the classic Fleetwood Mac album of the same name). "There were an impressive amount of rumors on the Internet, which obviously weren't true. So, we came up with a song about it. It's not even specifically about rumors about us; it's about the way rumors circulate and people engaging in stories that aren't based on facts," says Ross.
At the end of 2023, they released Live at the Greek, a live-recorded album that takes a look back at almost their entire discography as The Driver Era. It's a gift for those who have never seen them live, and at the same time, it serves as a turning point in their career, as they performed at the same venue over eight years ago as R5. "It was a very significant moment for us and for the fans, a way to encapsulate and celebrate all the ways we grew and matured," says Ross.
"The more I grow, the more emotional I become"
Emotionality is palpable, not only for their ability as a band to reinvent themselves and stay united but also for their confidence in the project: they continued to release increasingly better songs, and having that previous reference point to look back on allows them to close a chapter and focus on the future. "The mindset is to keep composing and keep releasing music," confesses Rocky about the reason behind this release. "If you're a creative person, there's always that illusion."
This reference point undoubtedly applies to them and to those of us facing the inevitable passage of time: we are not the same as eight years ago, and there's nothing to be done about it. The almost teenage illusion that accompanies the first decisions in any person's adult life can dissipate with time. However, Ross claims not to fully agree with the assertion that adulthood brings a decline in enthusiasm for creating and consuming art. "The more I grow, the more emotional I become; life becomes something more precious. You understand the depth of things that happen to you more intensely."
Live albums are always fun: the small inflections or changes made by the band, interactions with the audience, and the unity in one product of songs that are usually not together. Both shared their favorite live albums. For Ross, one from O.A.R at Madison Square Garden. "I listened to that album a lot. It was before streaming; I had that record on my iPod and listened to it all the time. I even fell asleep listening to it," he shares with laughter. Rocky also claims to be a big fan of O.A.R but adds one from the Australian band INXS: Live Baby Live (1991).
About their return to the country as part of Lollapalooza, they affirm that the show will be a lot of fun. "We like to experience the festival, see other artists perform, and feel alive," Ross shares. "We're very excited to go play there, bring your dancing shoes," he concludes.
You can get your tickets for The Driver Era's show at Teatro Vorterix on March 14 by clicking here.