Why Don’t We: Meet this Generation’s Newest Boy Band
Sep 19, 2019 • Kyzia Maramara
American boy band Why Don’t We is this generation’s boy band. If the 60s had The Beatles, the 90s had N-Sync, The Backstreet Boys, and Westlife, and more recently we had One Direction, Gen Zs need a band to go nuts over. Five boys heeded the call, made a bunch of great music. They are now on their way to making their debut performance in the Philippines.
Their name was their first response upon the suggestion that they form a band, “Why don’t we?” They officially formed on September 27, 2016 and three years later, we look back at their achievements and get to know them. The future is bright for these boys and you wouldn’t want to miss it!
The quintet has conquered so much in such a short amount of time
Why Don’t We has one studio album released in 2018, 5 extended plays, and 20 singles under their belt. Their music videos garnered millions of views, with the most viewed being Trust Fund Baby at 50 million as of writing. Their album, 8 Letters even rose to 9th place at the US Billboard 200. It’s safe to say that these boys have magic! But who are they exactly?
Jack Avery
View this post on Instagram
Twenty-year-old Jack Avery was born in California in 1999. Like all the boys of Why Don’t We, Avery had a solo career before joining the group. He released a single called Liar in 2016 and starred in a short film called Fearless Five. Avery and his girlfriend Gabriela Gonzales welcomed their first daughter last April. He is the only member of the band who has a child.
Zach Herron
View this post on Instagram
Before Why Don’t We, Zach Herron’s name already made viral when he posted a cover of Shawn Mendes’ song Stitches on YouTube. This 18 year old boy was raised in Texas where he grew up singing in choir.
Corbyn Besson
View this post on Instagram
Born in Texas, Corbyn Besson, 20, already had a following before becoming a member of Why Don’t We. He was on YouNow, an American live broadcasting site, and toured around as a solo artist. He released a single called The Only One back in 2014. And yes, Besson has a girlfriend: YouTuber Christina Marie.
Jonah Marais
View this post on Instagram
Jonah Marais is the eldest member of the group (21 years old) and is most likely the first boy that caught your attention. In high school, he used to be a baseball player while balancing his music career. Prior to Why Don’t We and just lke Besson, Marais was also on YouNow where he had quite a number of followers. He actually has an album on his own entitled When the Daylight’s Gone.
Daniel Seavey
View this post on Instagram
When he was 15, Daniel Seavey became a top 10 finalist of American Idol season 14 where he finished 9th place. He boasts of his ability to play over 20 instruments by ear, his favorite being the cello.
They have worked with the likes of Ed Sheeran.. and Logan Paul
Aside from the fact that they’ve had radio success over parts of the globe, Why Don’t We has also toured with the likes of The Chainsmokers, Demi Lovato, and even Taylor Swift. During an interview with PEOPLE, they admitted that meeting Grammy-winner Ed Sheeran was a surreal moment. Avery even says that Sheeran was his inspiration to pick up a guitar. It must have been an amazing thing for Sheeran to pen Why Don’t We’s hit songs, What Am I and Trust Fund Baby.
YouTuber and friend of the band Logan Paul has directed several of Why Don’t We’s music videos and even collaborated with them for a song called Help Me Help You and The Fall of Jake Paul.
Nowhere to go but up for this band
Just like Why Don’t We’s blings, their future is bright. Having won the 2019 Teen Choice Award for Choice Music Group and nominated for Best New Artist, there’s nothing in the world they can’t conquer. Their Invitation Tour last 2018 saw a number of shows sold out and their 8 Letters Tour this year will finally land them in Asia.
With the short 2 years, we’ve come to know this band they’ve proved they’re not just a vapor in the world of boy bands. They’re here to stay.
Catch Why Don’t We Live in Manila on November 18, 2019 at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City. The 8 Letters Tour Manila is presented by MMI Live. Get your tickets here.
