Jonah Marais, Jack Avery and Zach Herron on Friendship, Growth and Australia

Why Don't We was one of the biggest boy bands of the modern era. For six years, the quintet of Jack Avery, Corbyn Besson, Zach Herron, Jonah Marais and Daniel Seavey dominated the airwaves, selling millions of records, garnering over 3.1 billion streams worldwide and amassing over 870 million YouTube views.

But just as they were set to embark on their biggest world tour in 2022, the lads found themselves battling litigation between Why Don't We manager Randy Phillips and former manager David Loeffler over the name of the band. Embarking on solo endeavours as the case played out in the courts for several years, a verdict was reached in 2025 that meant the boys would have to stop using the name Why Don't We, leading to the demise of the band.

Many thought they would never see the group again, but that's all about to change in November, with Jonah Marais announcing an Australian tour with support from his former bandmates Jack Avery and Zach Herron. The aptly named The Dreamer Tour of Australia will see all three artists appearing on stage together for the first time in years.

Ahead of the trio touching down in Australia, The Note spoke with Marais, Avery and Herron about their solo careers, enduring friendship and love of Australia.

You've each had your own journey since Why Don't We. Looking back at everything you achieved together, what's been the biggest highlight for each of you?

Jonah Marais: I think when you're in the middle of something like that, you don't always have the perspective to appreciate just how special it is. Looking back, being able to travel the world, play sold-out shows, and have people connect with music that we made together is something I'll always be incredibly proud of. But beyond the milestones, it's the memories we made and the people we met along the way. We were so young when we started, and we got to experience things that most people only dream about. That’s something I’ll never take for granted.”

Jack Avery: I still look back at a lot of those moments and think, "How did we get to do all of that?" Getting to perform for that many people and travel to places we'd never been before is pretty unbelievable. I feel really fortunate that music has given me that life, and getting to share it with four of your best friends made it even more special.

What has it been like stepping away from the band and pursuing your own creative paths?

JM: It was an important period of growth for all of us. When you spend so much of your life working toward a shared goal, there's a lot of value in taking a step back and figuring out who you are independently. I think we all learned a lot about ourselves, both personally and creatively. For me, it reinforced how much I love making music and how important it is to approach it with intention. Having that independence gave us a new perspective, and I think we’re better artists because of it.

JA: It was definitely different, but in a good way. We'd spent so many years doing everything together that getting to explore things individually was a really valuable experience. I got to appreciate music in a different way and figure out what I wanted that next stage of my life to look like. I’m grateful we all had the opportunity to do that.”

Despite forging your own solo careers, the bond between you all seems as strong as ever. How important has it been to keep the friendship alive?

JM: It's everything, really. At the end of the day, the friendship is what makes all of this meaningful. We've shared so many formative years, and there's a level of understanding that comes from going through those experiences with one another. The music will always be a huge part of our story, but the relationships are what make it last. I think giving each other room to grow individually has actually made those friendships stronger. We can come back together now because we genuinely want to, and that’s a really special place to be.

Zach Herron: We've seen each other at our best and our absolute worst, so there’s really no going back from that. They know too much about me at this point! But seriously, we've grown up together, and that kind of friendship doesn't just disappear because you're not working together every day. We'll always have that history, and it's pretty cool that we still get to share this part of our lives with each other.

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Did having that time apart change the way you approach music as a band?

JM: Absolutely. I think we have a much greater appreciation for what each person brings to the group. When you're together for so many years, you naturally develop a certain rhythm and way of working. Having time apart allows you to discover new influences, experiment with different approaches, and come back with fresh ideas. We're not trying to recreate exactly who we were four or five years ago. We're bringing everything we've learned since then into the room, and that makes the creative process exciting.”

All three of you have been through different things since the early years together as a band. How have those experiences shaped who you are as artists today?

JM: I think life gives you a different kind of perspective as you get older. When we first started, we were teenagers figuring everything out as we went. Now, we've each had experiences that have shaped how we see the world, how we relate to people, and what we want to communicate through music. I've learned that you don't have to have everything figured out to create something meaningful. Sometimes the most important thing is just being honest about where you are in life. I think that maturity has given all of us a deeper connection to what we do.

ZH: I think we've all grown up a lot, which is probably a good thing. We were pretty young when this all started, and I'm not sure any of us really knew what we were getting ourselves into. We've had time to figure out who we are outside of the band, make mistakes and learn a few things along the way. I'd like to think we're a little wiser now. Whether we act like it all the time is a different story.

When did the idea of coming back together and touring as a group first become a serious conversation?

JM: I think the possibility was always there in some form because the connection between us never really went away. But there's a difference between talking about something and feeling like the timing is right to actually do it. As we each found our footing individually, the idea of getting back together started to feel more natural. We were able to have honest conversations about what it would look like and what we wanted it to mean. Once we were all on the same page, it became something we were genuinely excited to pursue.

You're returning to Australia, where you have a big fanbase. Why do you think you connect with Australian audiences so well, and how excited are you to be coming back?

JM: Australia has always felt like a really special place for us. There's an incredible energy from the fans, and we've always felt so welcomed whenever we've had the opportunity to come over. I think music has a way of connecting people regardless of where they're from, and we've been fortunate to experience that firsthand with our Australian fans. Coming back now, at this stage in our lives, makes it even more meaningful. We're incredibly excited to be there again and to share this experience with everyone who has supported us over the years.

JA: I've always felt really lucky that we get to travel to the other side of the world and have people show up to sing songs that we made. It's a pretty surreal thing when you stop and think about it. Australia has always been amazing to us, and I'm really looking forward to being back and experiencing that again. It never gets old.

These upcoming shows will be the first time the three of you have taken to the stage together in four years. How excited are you to be together again performing with each other?

JM: It's hard to put into words, honestly. Performing together was such a huge part of our lives for so long, and there's a certain feeling you get onstage with people who know you that well. We've all grown and changed over the last four years, so getting to come back together with that shared history is really special. I think there's going to be a moment when we're standing onstage together, and it all sinks in. We're really looking forward to that.

ZH: I'm excited, man. I'm also curious to see how much we remember! It's been a minute. But there's something really cool about getting back onstage with the guys after all this time. We've done so much together, and I think once we're out there and the music starts, it's going to feel familiar pretty quickly. Hopefully we can all remember our parts.

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What can Australian fans expect from these shows?

JM: They can expect a lot of nostalgia, a lot of energy and a really genuine celebration of what we've shared with our fans over the years. We want these shows to feel special, not just because we're back together, but because of the people who have been part of this journey with us. There are so many memories attached to these songs, and getting to experience them together again, in a room full of people who know every word, is something we're really excited about. We want everyone to leave feeling like they were part of something meaningful.

Are there any songs you're performing that hit differently now that you're performing them again together?

JM: I think a lot of them will. When we originally made those songs, we were experiencing life for the first time in a lot of ways. We were writing about things we were going through in that moment, and now we get to revisit those same songs with a completely different perspective. The lyrics might be the same, but the meaning can change as you grow older. There's also something powerful about singing them together again and remembering everything that went into making them. I think some of those moments will be pretty emotional.

With the three of you back together, is there any chance of new music on the horizon?

JM: I think right now, our focus is on being present and making these shows as special as possible. We want to give this chapter the attention it deserves and enjoy getting back onstage together. Music has always been a natural part of our relationship, so I think it's important to let things develop organically rather than put expectations on them. We're open to possibilities, but for now, we're really excited about what we have in front of us.

ZH: I mean, never say never! We've made a lot of music together, so we know how that goes. Somebody starts playing something, somebody else jumps in, and before you know it, you've got an idea. But Jonah makes us sound very mature and calculated, so I'll let him handle the official answer.

After everything you've experienced individually and together, what would you like this next chapter to represent for the three of you?

JM: I'd like it to represent growth, gratitude, and the freedom to appreciate what we've built without feeling like we have to define everything that comes next. We've been fortunate enough to experience something extraordinary together, and we've each had the opportunity to grow in our own ways since then. Coming back together is a chance to celebrate both of those things. We can honour where we came from while being open to whatever the future holds. Ultimately, I hope this chapter is about enjoying the journey, staying connected, and being grateful that we get to do this together again.

JA: For me, it's about appreciating how fortunate we are to still have these opportunities. We got to live this incredible experience together when we were so young, and now we get to come back and do it again with a little more life behind us. That's something I don’t take lightly. I just want to enjoy it, be present for it, and make some more great memories with the guys and with the fans.

Catch Jonah Marais with Jack Avery and Zach Herron performing at The Gov on Sunday 15 November. Tickets on sale now at oztix.com.au.