Glasgow-based punk band The Burgers have released their latest satirical single “Are You Really Listening To Music?” as the leading single for their upcoming album, set for release on May 2, 2025.
The face and heart of The Burgers is vocalist and lyricist Zac Burger. Zac started producing music in 2020, forming The Burgers as a passion project.
After leaving his home of Beijing in 2023 due to his disdain for the punk-scene over there, he found himself drawn to Glasgow in search of “a group of beautiful people” to connect with and hopefully from a, “scene of our own”.
Discovery Music Scotland were able to ask Zac a couple of questions about “Are You Really Listening to Music?” and his thought process behind the release. We asked Zac how the single acts as a sneak peek into the album and he had this to say,
“Musically, this song sets the tone for the entire album—playing the simplest and rawest chords while singing the most melodic tunes. Conceptually, it is an essential part of the album. Many songs on this album discuss the hegemony within the music industry and pop culture.”
“Are You Really Listening To Music?” pokes fun at the unfortunate reality that many punk bands face, that being that the industry itself looks for good stage performances and focuses far more on live shows rather than the music itself. Zac’s message is communicated with a sense of childlike glee, the guitars are playful and the simple chords played hearkens back to the early origins of punk.
During our conversation with Zac he described how “The essence of today’s independent music industry is upside down. The overemphasis on live music has turned music from a melody that truly touches people into background noise in pubs where drunk men and women cause riots.” The Burgers goal is to bring back the power of punk music through fun lyrics and entertaining songs, hoping to connect with as many people as possible
There’s a real purity in “Are You Really Listening To Music?”, it’s a simple song held together by its entertaining lyrics and catchy guitar hooks. What really makes the song so investing is Zac Burger himself.
If you’re a person looking to connect with a band that stands in defiance of the commercialisation punk music, be sure to support The Burgers.
Image credit: Zac Burger