The Burgers: Are You Really Listening to Music?
The Burgers Ask: "Are You Really Listening to Music?"
by Jack Rush
Glasgow-based punk band The Burgers have just released their new single, "Are You Really Listening to Music?". The track, a biting and humorous critique of certain aspects of the punk music industry, serves as the lead single from their upcoming album, due out on May 2, 2025.
The Burgers originated in Beijing as the solo bedroom project of Zac Burger (电未), a musician who has always balanced raw defiance with a childlike wonder. Emerging from the DIY ethos of punk and folk punk, Zac began writing and producing his own music in early 2020, crafting songs that he describes as either "beautiful missing person ads or fists raised towards the sky."
Zac's journey has been as turbulent as his music. After releasing the albums Amusement Park of Beijing and Stay or Run Away along with the EP The Run Away Trilogy in November 2022, he found himself disillusioned with Beijing's rock scene. Frustrated by what he saw as an industry steeped in pseudo-profundity, promiscuity, and misogyny, he fled China in November 2023. His search for a new creative home—and for a love reminiscent of what he once lost—led him to Glasgow, where he reformed The Burgers into a full-fledged punk band.
"Are You Really Listening to Music?" takes aim at a specific phenomenon within punk culture: the way live shows, socializing, and subcultural aesthetics often overshadow the music itself. Inspired by an actual hardcore band from Dundee, the song playfully critiques some of punk's most iconic figures while delivering catchy melodies and simple, high-energy chords reminiscent of Green Day and the Ramones.
The Burgers' latest single promises to be both an anthem and a challenge—an invitation for listeners to strip away the distractions and truly engage with the music. If Zac Burger has been searching for "a group of beautiful people," perhaps this song will help bring them together.
Have a listen and connect with The Burgers:
Facebook The Burgers_Music (@theburgersmusic) • Instagram photos and videos
