EXCLUSIVE: Why Ross’ Latest Instagram Post is so Important

“Realistically, we want new music to come out every nine months – or six months even.”

To anyone outside of the #R5Family, the above photo is simply an artist working on new music. But to us, it signals a dramatic change in the way R5 writes and records music. And here’s why:

Just three months ago, we had separate hour-long phone conversations with Ross, Rocky, Riker, Ellington and Rydel. We asked if they were most creative when they shut themselves off from the world and head into the studio (a la the Sometime Last Night garage sessions) or if they’re able to get into that headspace while on tour. “We’ve tried to write on the road,” said Rocky. “We made this little portable studio and got into a room to write, but we’d start getting in the zone and then 20 minutes later have to do an interview or soundcheck. I have all these ideas ready to be put down; I just can’t do it on the road.”

Riker echoed Rocky’s sentiments. “Writing songs on the road is nearly impossible for us,” he explained. “I’ve heard other artists say that, too. Just because it’s like you wake up, you gotta have soundcheck, and then it’s like ok let’s go write, but in two hours you have a meet and greet or something like that. When we’re in the studio, sometimes you’re there from 9 AM to 12 AM on a long day, but you need time to really get going because if you keep going in and out of a session, it’s impossible.”

But with Ross’ Instagram post, it appears that things may have changed dramatically on this current tour. It’s like the band is bursting with so many ideas, that they’re starting to lay down new tracks on the road for the first time since their formation nearly a decade ago. Could that mean new music sooner than we expected? Back in November, Ross said, “We realistically want new music to come out every nine months – or six months even. Just to keep the R5 evolution sonically growing.” Now that’s music to our ears – literally!