Music

Jack Antonoff Shares His Rarest Record, Favorite Karaoke Song, Playlist Names, and More | I-DJ

i-D
i-D•Mar 13, 2026

Why It Matters

Antonoff’s diverse influences and experimental workflow reveal how top songwriters mine obscure sources to craft mainstream hits, offering a roadmap for future pop innovation.

Key Takeaways

  • •First record purchased was RM's "Monster" CD from Tower Records
  • •Rarest vinyl: Al Cooper's prank "Kapusta Christmas" record
  • •Karaoke favorite is Billy Joel's "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"
  • •No‑skip album: Tom Waits' "Foreign Affairs" dominates his listening
  • •2026 studio approach: experiment with opposite instrumentation after each track

Summary

Jack Antonoff sits down with i‑DJ to reveal the soundtrack of his life, from the first CD he ever bought to the obscure vinyl that now sits atop his collection. He recounts purchasing RM’s "Monster" at a Tower Records on Route 17, curating birthday‑themed playlists for friends and family, and cherishing childhood favorites like Propagandhi’s *Less Talk, More Rock*. The interview weaves through a litany of personal music touchstones: a rare Al Cooper "Kapusta Christmas" prank record, tear‑inducing tracks such as Red House Painters’ "Have You Forgotten," and his declared no‑skip album, Tom Waits’ *Foreign Affairs*. Antonoff also shares his go‑to karaoke anthem—Billy Joel’s "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"—and the live song that moved his last tour audience, "Chinatown." He drops memorable quotes, noting he wishes he’d written Don Henley’s "Heart of the Matter," and describes a breakthrough moment when a sample heard at a Philadelphia gas station sparked the song "The Van" on his recent album. The anecdote illustrates his habit of turning everyday sounds into songwriting fuel. Overall, Antonoff’s eclectic palate—from obscure vinyl to mainstream karaoke—highlights how personal nostalgia and experimental studio habits shape his production style. For industry observers, his willingness to juxtapose opposite instrumentation in 2026 signals a continued push toward genre‑blurring pop that draws on a wide cultural archive.

Original Description

We meet Jack Antonoff in his studio in LA to hear more about the music that makes him, him. See more from Jack's i-D digital cover below and the full issue of i-D 376, "The Lore Issue".
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