Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with The BeatBuds

The BeatBuds is a multifaceted music endeavor that has connected with generations of listeners around the world. Founders, Jonathan Jonah and Matthew Shapiro, or as they’re better known—Jonny and Matty—are trained musicians who became the best of friends at the age of six, and began playing music together soon thereafter. From albums to children books, the BeatBuds have solidified their place in pop culture history.

This May, they continue to build on their legacy with the release of their animated series, The Beatbuds, Let’s Jam!

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Jonny and Matty about their friendship, meeting co-producer Scooter Braun, and what audiences can expect from The Beatbuds, Let’s Jam!

PC: You guys have been lifelong friends. How did the idea of the BeatBuds initially come about?
Matty: Woo.

Jonny: It’s a long story. It’s as long as our friendship. But it comes down to the fact that Matty and I had a friendship prior to music being a part of our lives. When we discovered music together, it really cemented our status as best friends. From there, we played in bands together, really honed our skills, and took a DIY approach to how we would release and put out music. Everything that we did along the way led us here.

When we had children of our own, that really inspired us to take the skills we had learned in the past and apply them to creating music that would be not just for kids but for the whole family. That was the concept behind the BeatBuds’ music and that’s how it started. Everything that came after that was because of this amazing organic following that kept up with the BeatBuds business: from albums to books to creating characters and alter egos (Jonny Jingles and Matty Maracas) and it all eventually led to a television show. How cool is that? We were lucky enough to meet Scooter Braun. He asked us when we wanted to pitch our show and who our number one network was. We said Nickelodeon. To be able to land that show and be where we are today, it’s a dream come true.

Matty: I’m still pinching myself over how this came about because there was no plan for this. We developed it along the way. We always say we’re behind the business. We’re always reaching for the top and the television show is right up there.

PC: How did you guys initially meet Scooter? How did that collaboration/partnership form?
Matty: Again, that was an organic process. We met him in a class actually. We do classes, birthday parties, and special events in the field all the time. The host couldn’t accommodate us for the class we were going to do, so we moved to another house, and it turned out it was Scooter’s house. We really didn’t know!

We were so happy even before we met Scooter because we had figured out a way to transition our music career. Having kids, you can only do rock ‘n’ roll for so long. We met up with Scooter. Scooter dug the music from an organic standpoint. Then he pulled us aside and said, “Hey, I got to tell you I really appreciate what you guys have done. You’ve created a business all on your own. But more than that, when my kid’s having a meltdown in the car, I can put on your music and everything’s A-OK. You know what? If you need anything regarding how this industry works, let me know.”

That was so important. It was such an unassuming approach that made us say, “Hey, maybe there’s another level to this.” Scooter was in the fold at that point. If there’s anybody that can do it, it’s Scooter Braun.

PC: Nickelodeon was your first choice for this series. How did you guys find out the news that you had sold the show to them? How did you celebrate?
Jonny: This is a true story. We go to Nickelodeon with our team from SBP.

Matty: Our entourage.

Jonny: James Shin, Scott Manson…

Matty: Yeah, James.

Jonny: …Integral people within the SB team. We go to this Nickelodeon meeting. We talk about stuff. We pitch our show. We’re sitting at this giant boardroom table. They’ve got craft services over there. Matty and I were almost more focused on the amazing craft services than we were on the meeting.

Matty: We’re musicians. We hadn’t eaten for the past twenty years.

Jonny: We pitched the show. It felt surreal because we had people and execs there from some of their biggest shows. It really felt surreal to us that we were even able to do this. After it was done, we got back in the elevator. We were going down with James and Scott. We were talking to them and we’re like, “So now that we’ve pitched to our number one network, what’s the plan? Do we wait to hear back from them? Do we start pitching other networks?”
They looked at us and said, “Guys, we sold the show.” Matt and I looked at each other and we were like, “When did that happen?” We must have been looking at a sandwich or something at that time. But we missed the moment when that happened! We kicked ourselves all the time for missing that moment. When something like that happens, you want to cherish it and savor it.

Matty: I would have thought that they would have slapped a contract down and a felt pen and you just sign away and that’s the moment, but it doesn’t seem like things work that way.

Jonny: It was pretty amazing. It was pretty surreal. It’s a story that we will remember forever and will love telling forever because it’s a lot of fun.

PC: You both wrote and performed all the music that we’re going to hear in this series. If you had to choose one song that you’re most excited for your fans to hear, which would it be and why?
Jonny: You want to say it at the same time? See if they are the same?

Matty: I don’t know. That’s a risk.

Jonny: Let’s do it. Ready?

Matty: Let’s count.

Jonny: Three…two…one…

Both: “Get Outside and Rock!”

Jonny: That’s the one. That’s the one. It’s in the final episode. It’s the finale. The show is all about getting to our BeatBash concert, which is our big concert at the end of the series. Along the way, we’re meeting people and friends, and the message of the show is everyone can be a BeatBud. It doesn’t discriminate. The show’s all about inclusivity and diversity. The song is an accumulation of the relationships that we’ve made along the way and the community that we’ve developed.

To keep up with the BeatBuds, follow them on Instagram. Watch The Beatbuds, Let’s Jam! today on Nick Jr.