Jack Antonoff has insisted it has been “really beautiful” to perform love songs amid his split from wife Margaret Qualley.
In a new interview for The Guardian, the Bleachers frontman admitted he was initially hesitant to sing particular tracks, such as You and Forever, on the group’s Bleachers Forever World Tour.
Antonoff and the Maid actress quietly split in July after three years of marriage.
“I obviously was really worried about this specific thing, I sat long and hard with it and thought: ‘If I change the setlist…’ and in my gut there was a unanimous jury that said, ‘No, this is the deal. The deal I’ve made with my audience is that I’m going to tell you honestly how I feel and I’m going to risk at any moment having to stand behind it for f**king ever,'” he shared.
But after a period of reflection, the music producer realised there could also be “great power” in singing the songs to an audience.
“Anyone could relate to the terrible sadness and pain, but there’s a great power to it also,” the 42-year-old continued. “It’s actually been really beautiful. I mean, for people to come together, to know what I write a song about, to know how that must feel for me now, to know what that song means to you as an audience member, to just hold it all and sort of celebrate.”
To conclude, Antonoff emphasised that it is “impossible to rewrite the past” anyway.
“I would rather live through something publicly than even escape it privately,” he added.
Antonoff and Qualley tied the knot in August 2023. The 32-year-old also appeared in the music video for the Bleachers song, Tiny Moves.
