Chris Culos is calling in from the road—equal parts road warrior and lifelong optimist—carrying the kind of grounded energy that only decades of touring can instill. The drummer and founding member of O.A.R. sounds energized, not worn down, and there’s a good reason why.
After more than two decades of making music, his band is still evolving, still refusing to be pinned down. O.A.R.’s upcoming full-length, the follow-up to 2022’s The Arcade, is shaping up to be their most collaborative, sonically adventurous record yet. And according to Culos, that shift in energy has a lot to do with how the band is approaching things these days.
“It started with Marc [Roberge] having a bunch of ideas,” Culos explains. “But when we got into the studio, it was a totally open canvas. We were bouncing ideas around, experimenting with sounds, working with new producers. It was fresh.”
Fans got their first taste of the material with “Gonna Be Me.” The original was released in July 2024, while an updated version produced by J-Vibe and featuring The Elovaters arrived in April. The tune leans into a soulful, island-tinged groove with a rhythmic backbone that’s unmistakably O.A.R., but injected with something looser, sunnier. It’s a song that doesn’t sound like a departure—it sounds like growth.
“That song came out of this idea that we’re all walking around feeling isolated, but going through the same things,” Culos explains.“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, but we want the music to reflect where we are now. Collaborating with J-Vibe brought this new vibe, no pun intended, and the fans have really been connecting with it.”
He’s right. The single dropped with little fanfare but quickly started making noise on streaming platforms and in live sets. “We only played it a couple times live before, but people knew it. That’s always the best feeling.”
As for the rest of the album, Culos promises more surprises—some unexpected features, a mix of old-school O.A.R. storytelling and modern production, and, at the heart of it, that communal energy that’s defined the band from the jump.
“We’ve always wanted to make music that brings people together. That hasn’t changed,” he says. “But this time around, we’re giving ourselves more room to explore.”
There’s no confirmed release date yet, but expect to hear more new music off the album in the near future. In the meantime, O.A.R. is hitting the road hard, with tour dates that will stretch across the U.S., Europe, and even a few bucket-list festivals.
“We’re just in a great place creatively right now,” Culos says with a smile. “It feels like we’re still just getting started.”
For a band nearly 30 years in, that’s not just a flex—it’s a mission statement.
Interview by Jenna Shaw
