We caught up with Ross and Rocky Lynch of The Driver Era during their European tour to talk all things music, live shows, and fan reactions. From new releases to memorable moments on stage, the brothers share insights into the ups and downs of life on the road and what keeps them going night after night. Enjoy our chat with Ross and Rocky as they take us behind the scenes of their latest journey!
Q: You’re currently on tour. How’s it going so far?
Rocky: The tour has been really solid. Like any tour, there are ups and downs. It’s a long run, and there’s always some personal stuff to figure out along the way. We’ve got about five shows left, and it’s that bittersweet feeling. Overall, it’s been a good tour.
Strife Magazine: Are you exhausted yet?
Rocky: I’ve been going to bed around 3 AM the entire tour, which helps keep things consistent. I’m not partying or anything, but just sticking to that same bedtime helps keep my energy decent. If I changed it up, like going to bed earlier one night, it could throw things off.
Strife Magazine: Were there any cities that stood out for you on this tour?
Rocky: Yeah, Prague is always beautiful, and Munich was amazing—definitely one of our best shows of the tour. We all came to the stage with this ‘let’s fucking go’ energy, and when everyone’s in that mindset, the show just flows really well.
Ross: I really like Prague. I think it’s a great city. I did a little roaming around, and it’s honestly a beautiful place. Amsterdam was one of the bigger shows of the tour, and we had a big power outage. I think it’s the first time we’ve ever had that happen during a show. It was kind of exciting, to be honest. It made things fresh and exciting. We like it when we’re forced to improvise. Spontaneity is something we’re good at, and we try to apply that to our shows.
Strife Magazine: Your recently released song, You Keep Me Up at Night. How’s the public response been?
Rocky: You Keep Me Up at Night has actually been one of our better-reacting songs recently. A lot of artists gauge how a track is doing by things like playlisting, and this one did well in that way. Both fans and friends have been into it, so it’s felt like a good drop overall. I’m already working on a few new tracks now, too.
Ross: Live, it’s been really fun. It’s at the beginning of our set right now, and it has a great, upbeat energy. It’s a good party starter, and people seem to be really digging it. The reaction has been good, both live and on streaming platforms, so we’re excited for more of that.
Strife Magazine: Is there more new music on the way?
Rocky: Yeah, we’re kinda always working on tracks. Like, that’s just how it goes. Before the tour, we spent a lot of time in the studio, just messing with the songs and trying to round out the album. It’s coming along well.
Ross: Yeah, lots. Hopefully, much, much more. It’s hard to finish a lot of music on tour because you start doing other things. There’s some time here and there, but you need breaks to keep it fresh and exciting. The tour itself is inspiring, and I’d like to tap into that more—I definitely have some ideas I’m excited to write about
Strife Magazine: I noticed that during your set, you sometimes include Disney songs. Why did you decide to do that?
Ross: We only play one song—On My Own from Teen Beach Movie—mostly because it’s a crowd pleaser. It’s not something we plan to do forever, so while people wanna hear it, we’ll play it for now. But it’s probably not gonna last much longer in the set.
Rocky: Honestly, we kinda go back and forth on it. It’s funny—like, do we wanna just play our own stuff and have that ‘we don’t care what people want’ energy? But then, people really love those little surprises, like pulling out a song and seeing them go, ‘oh, fuck yeah.’ It’s a balance between what we want and what the audience enjoys.
Strife Magazine: Do you guys have any pre-show rituals?
Ross: Yeah, we typically do vocal warm-ups to make sure we’re ready for the high notes. But honestly, it depends on the night. Most nights, we’re just kinda messing around—listening to music, maybe doing push-ups to get the blood pumping. Sometimes it’s nice to forget we’re about to play, and then someone comes in and goes, ‘Alright, it’s showtime,’ and we just run out there. It keeps things spontaneous and fresh.
Strife Magazine: Do you still get nervous before shows?
Ross: Not really. There are some shows where it feels like the stakes are high—like in a certain city or with certain people in the audience, you just wanna kick ass. It’s less about nerves and more about setting a high standard. We kinda approach it like athletes, using sports analogies to get in the game.
Strife Magazine: I’ve seen a lot of TikTok videos about you, with fans complimenting your looks. How do you feel about all that attention?
Ross: Honestly, I don’t pay much attention to those videos. I have a TikTok and post sometimes, but I’m usually focused on other things. It’s flattering, but it’s not something I’m really seeking out.
Strife Magazine: What kinds of “bigger things” are you focusing on?
Ross: On meaningful stories, whether in cinema or in music. I’m pretty stoked to be a storyteller, and I want to do more of that.
Strife Magazine: Have you come across any inspiring art or movies lately?
Ross: Oh, for sure. This might sound funny, but I watched Iron Man recently, and I fucking love that movie. I think it’s the best Marvel movie, for sure. I love that movie. It’s so good.
Strife Magazine: Finally, is there a piece of advice that has stuck with you recently?
Ross: Recently, I saw a post from a child with cancer. She said it’s important to do your best, but not more than your best. I thought that was interesting because she was saying, if you try to do more, then you end up—you miss the joys of life, essentially. That really resonated with me.
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