Music

Jack Antonoff - Songs That Saved Me @Bleachers

BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1•May 28, 2026

Why It Matters

Antonoff’s account links his creative influences directly to the sound and themes of Bleachers’ new album, offering insight into how artist-led authenticity can drive commercial and critical relevance. For the music industry and collaborators, it underscores the commercial value of deep artistic commitment and the enduring influence of iconic songwriters.

Summary

Jack Antonoff, Grammy-winning producer and frontman of Bleachers, discusses the formative songs and artists that shaped his career and influenced Bleachers’ new album Everybody. He emphasizes the sustaining power of genuine band dynamics, describing live collaboration as creating something larger than individual parts and citing a track called “The Van” on the new record. Antonoff highlights Fiona Apple’s “Sleep to Dream” as a touchstone for raw, unadulterated songwriting and says he draws inspiration from people who build things passionately. He also reflects on why Bleachers is resonating now: commitment, seriousness about craft, and an appetite for authenticity among audiences.

Original Description

Jack Antonoff (Bleachers, Fun, go-to producer for Lana Del Rey, Clairo, Hayley Williams and more) shares the songs that have shaped him, saved him and continue to define his creative world.
02:13 Why Bleachers are thriving right now
06:54 Why Fiona Apple is Jack Antonoff's favourite artist
12:55 Working with Hayley Williams on her solo record
22:00 Kendrick Lamar: What's it like to work with him in the studio?
28:50 The song that got Jack through tough times
Jack Antonoff has spent the last decade quietly becoming one of the most important forces in modern music. A Grammy-winning producer, songwriter and frontman of Bleachers, he’s helped shape the sound of artists like Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey and Kendrick Lamar, while building a deeply personal catalogue of his own.
From his early days playing in bands to creating music that fills arenas, Jack’s work has always been rooted in obsession, honesty and emotional precision. Whether he’s chasing the feeling of a perfect melody or capturing the chaos of a live show, his music is driven by a relentless need to connect.
In this conversation, Jack opens up about the songs that inspired him — from Fiona Apple’s raw intensity to The Mountain Goats’ devastating storytelling — and how those tracks influenced the making of Bleachers’ latest album Everyone For Ten Minutes. Along the way, he reflects on collaboration, creativity and what it really means to dedicate your life to music.
From origin stories and studio magic to the songs that pulled him through his hardest moments, this is a deep dive into the mind of one of today’s defining artists.
This is Songs That Saved Me, with Jack Antonoff.
🎶 https://h1.nu/1qryB 👈 click here for more artists sharing the most influential songs to them.
#bleachers #jackantonoff #songsthatsavedme
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