The All-American Rejects (AAR) are making a significant comeback in 2026, culminating in the release of their first album since 2012, titled "Sandbox," which is set to arrive in May. Band members Tyson Ritter and Nick Wheeler recently attended the Billboard House at SXSW on Friday, March 13, where they engaged in a discussion with Billboard co-chief content officer Jason Lipshutz. During their conversation, the duo delved into various pivotal topics, including their strategic shift to an independent music model, the immense success of their viral backyard tour, and the journey of creating new music after nearly 14 years.

A standout aspect of their recent return was the highly publicized backyard tour across America, an idea initiated by their manager, Meghan Kraemer. Clips from these performances rapidly gained traction on social media, igniting a powerful wave of nostalgia among fans and fostering a deeper connection within the band. Ritter expressed profound sentiments about the experience, describing it as monumental: "While we were in the belly of that beast, when we were a week in and it was popping off, it felt like we were holding the tail of the dragon, man. Those shows were the greatest things I’ve ever been a part of, let alone been to, let alone performed in." He further noted that the intimate nature of these shows, especially given their Oklahoma roots, mirrored the early performances from their youth.

After a period of mainstream dominance in the 2000s under Interscope Records, The All-American Rejects decided to pursue an independent path for their new musical endeavors. This shift was born out of necessity, as Ritter disclosed, "Nobody wanted to touch us. Nobody wanted to really roll the dice on us as far as new music is concerned, including the management we had at the time… Independence was what we had to do to continue the story of this band." This move underscores their commitment to their artistic journey despite facing initial industry resistance.

With "Sandbox" marking their first album in 13 years, Ritter and Wheeler emphasized their dedication to fostering the band's artistic evolution through fresh material, rather than attempting to replicate past successes. Ritter articulated this sentiment, stating, "My fear for this band was can we grow together musically? The last thing we wanted to do was reach into some bag and be like, ‘Cool, this looks just like it used to and sounds like it used to, let’s go make a transactional experience for our fans of the lackluster watered-down concentrate of the juice they were drinking 20 years ago." He added, "I’m happy I believe in what we’re doing." Wheeler echoed this perspective, highlighting that their motivation stemmed solely from a genuine desire to challenge themselves and create meaningful new music, rather than merely performing old hits. He remarked, "We always said we wouldn’t even attempt this again unless we really wanted to and we were excited about it and wanted to challenge ourselves again."

Beyond The All-American Rejects' discussion, the Billboard House at SXSW also featured a variety of daily performers, including Dizzy Fae, Alicia Creti, Kairo Keyz, and Babyfxce E on Friday’s opening day, with DJ Cortez providing daytime sounds. Fans eagerly anticipate the release of "Sandbox" on May 15.