Burn the Jukebox: Why Destroying Stereotypes Through Diversity Matters More Than Fitting Into The Music Industry Mold

As a part of our interview series with leaders, stars, and rising stars in the music industry, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Burn the Jukebox.

Burn the Jukebox is a musical force of four talented teens between the ages of 15 and 16 years old. Rapidly gaining traction, they’ve amassed over 1 million followers and 250 million views across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. They’ve showcased their unique spin on five decades of popular hits, posting a new cover every day since the start of the year. Their rendition of “99 Red Balloons’’ alone soared with over 6.3 million views.

Their highly anticipated single, “Not Me Being Crazy,” is slated for release on all major streaming platforms on October 20th. Complementing the song’s theme, Burn the Jukebox is collaborating with the Lamplighter Project in the UK, an initiative that leverages music, art, and storytelling to address contemporary mental well-being challenges. BTJ will feature prominently in this project, delivering the main track that’s set to reach schools across the UK, further underscoring their commitment to fostering mental health awareness through their artistry.

Burn the Jukebox is also hitting the road for 7 dates with David Michael Frank’s “Private Party Tour.” This unique tour, sponsored by Pizza Hut, has captured the spotlight, notably from Billboard.

Members of BJT have graced stages from National Broadway tours to Off Broadway, and even made appearances on national T.V. They’ve also garnered international attention, having been featured on Alpha TV, a prominent weekend television show in Greece.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

Ethan: I grew up in Northeastern PA and I always loved to sing and play piano. My Mom used to play all of the more modern music that was on the radio, while my Dad showed me more of the classics, like the Beatles. I eventually joined a national tour of the musical “Sound of Music’’ and continued to act professionally. About three years ago I joined Burn the Jukebox when my piano teacher told my parents she got an email from this upcoming band. Little did I know years later we would have a million followers.

What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did your journey begin?

Carter: My dad is a drummer and I took a liking to music at a very young age. There was always music in our house and I started playing when I got a drum kit for one of my earliest birthdays. I knew very early on that being a musician was something I wanted to do. In my mind it was never a question.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

Virginia: When we first started doing the cover songs on TikTok we didn’t know what to expect. Since then we’ve had amazing artists request us to cover their songs, leave comments, and share our work which is really mind blowing. Music legends like Debbie Harry, the Pixies, Kenny Loggins, Hall and Oates, and even celebrities like Jenny McCarthy have taken the time to comment and share, and I have to say my personal favorite was seeing a comment from Chris Motionless from Motionless in White because I am a HUGE fan.

It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Luke: At one of our first shows I remember I couldn’t figure out why I had no sound coming out of my amp. I was really confused and started to panic. I was so worried something was broken and we wouldn’t be able to play. After messing with a bunch of knobs and switches I finally noticed my guitar wasn’t even plugged in. Lesson learned? Always take your time and make sure everything is plugged in before you try to play.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Ethan: I’m forever grateful to both of my parents. They are my motivation in doing what I love. They’ve always supported my musical life, theater life, and now in Burn the Jukebox. I live about an hour away from the rest of the band, so my parents make that trip every time because they know I’ll be happy there.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

Carter: Well, definitely the new music we’re working on is at the top of the list. I think Not Me Being Crazy and our follow up singles are going to be the strongest material we’ve created to date. And we’re also super excited about joining David Michael Frank on the Private Party Tour. We’ve been fortunate to perform in multiple states and now we get to see fans and go to even more places than ever before which is awesome.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film, and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

Virginia: Diversity helps to destroy stereotypes. It inspires people to do things they think they can’t do because they’ve been taught old ideas by their families, friends, and our society. Diversity in music, film and television introduces new ideas, acting as both a conscious and subconscious mirror that shows you can follow your dreams regardless of your sex, sexual orientation, race, economic status, physical ability, or any other limit that society has put on you. These new ideas change our culture over time as they evolve and are adopted by new generations.

As a successful music star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated? How do you overcome obstacles in your career?

Luke: It’s hard sometimes to stay motivated between having school, band and trying to be a normal teenager. There’s a lot to juggle but we try to stay balanced as much as possible. When I have time I hang out with my friends, listen to all types of music and write new songs along the way.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?

Ethan:

1 . Don’t Give Up — While it might sound a bit cliché at first. It’s something anyone who wants to follow their dreams should know. There have been times where I see someone playing music who is extremely talented and I said to myself, well if I can’t play like that I guess I can’t be a good musician. That is NOT TRUE!!! Through practice, and time and effort, you can play and do anything you put your mind to.

2 . Be unique — Following up on my last answer, the beauty of art is that no two musicians, or artists, are alike. That’s something that helps you to make it in the industry! Think outside of the box. What’s something I can do that no one, or not many people have tried?

3 . Be inspired — The way you get a unique sound is to listen to a huge range of artists, and take your favorite parts from each, I really wish I knew this from the beginning.

4 . Challenge yourself — What’s something you hear or see that someone created that you tell yourself, I can’t do that? In the wise words of Emperor Palpatine, DEW IT! Prove yourself wrong.

5 . Create what you love — Don’t think that because everyone in the industry is doing something, you have to do it too. Do what YOU love because that will help you to not give up, be unique, be inspired, and challenge yourself.

Can you share some insights into your creative process? How do you approach songwriting? How do you approach musical collaborations?

Carter: I take information from each band member, like listening to a riff and then putting a drum part to it and making a structure for a song and building from there. Everyone has an input in the music and brings something valuable to the table. I think that collaborations are a great thing for the music writing process and I think that it can be very helpful in the song writing phase.

Your music has resonated with so many fans worldwide. What do you believe sets your music apart?

Virginia: As a band we’re heavily influenced by so many different artists that it helps us to create a unique sound that is undeniably Burn the Jukebox. With multiple lead singers we’re always showing up in unexpected ways, which keeps our fans guessing while also reinforcing our sound. I think that the new single Not Me Being Crazy is also incredibly relatable for many different fans in many different ways, tackling real life issues while reclaiming narratives with a bit of humor and a lot of heart.

How do you connect with your audience?

Luke: I try to engage with our audiences by signing autographs, taking pictures, replying to comments, and talking with them when I have a chance. We truly appreciate all the support and love we get from our fans.

With your busy schedule and demanding performances, how do you prioritize self-care and maintain a balance between your personal life and career in the music industry?

Ethan: It’s not easy, the most important thing I can think of is to work ahead of time. Whether it is schoolwork, band rehearsals or other activities. Being stressed out is the worst feeling, it happens, but most of the time it’s preventable. Don’t wait until the last minute. It doesn’t matter if you do one activity, or one hundred, being on top of things helps you to do YOUR best in everything you try.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

Carter: I think that if we can all hear each other out and take influence from many different areas, such as different people, different songs, and different genres, you can make some awesome things come out of it. And the same could be said for communicating with other people. If everyone in the world took the time to listen to other people and try to understand where they are coming from and why, I think we could all accomplish a lot more and the world would be a much better place.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

Virginia: Did I mention I’m a big Chris Motionless fan? Yes, yes I did. Honestly, I’m just a huge fan. I think he’s an amazing performer and a big inspiration, especially because we’re both from Northeastern PA.

How can our readers continue to follow your work online?

Luke: That’s an easy one… we are on every social media platform @burnthejukebox and have a great website where you can continue to learn about all of us and what we have going on at burnthejukebox.com.

This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!

About the interviewer: Guernslye Honoré, affectionately known as “Gee-Gee”, is an amalgamation of creativity, vision, and endless enthusiasm. She has elegantly twined the worlds of writing, acting, and digital marketing into an inspiring tapestry of achievement. As the creative genius at the heart of Esma Marketing & Publishing, she leads her team to unprecedented heights with her comprehensive understanding of the industry and her innate flair for innovation. Her boundless passion and sense of purpose radiate from every endeavor she undertakes, turning ideas into reality and creating a realm of infinite possibilities. A true dynamo, Gee-Gee’s name has become synonymous with inspirational leadership and the art of creating success.