Jack Antonoff has revealed his plans to build public recording studios in several LGBTQ+ youth shelters across the United States – see what he had to say below.
- READ MORE: Jack Antonoff: “I’ve always felt really misunderstood – it’s like a driving, pounding feeling in me”
Yesterday (October 1), the Bleachers frontman and hit producer shared a statement on social media outlining his intentions to build a number of these studios over the course of “a large part of the next chapter of my life”.
In his post, Antonoff writes that he’s enjoyed being able to produce anywhere – from his home studio to hotel rooms and even on planes while on the road – but that his life “changed in a recording studio” and that “it’s time to share that with those who might not find themselves there otherwise but need to be.”
He continued: “I plan to spend a large part of the next chapter of my life bringing these spaces to people who wouldn’t have access to them. Public studios available to those who aren’t priced out. It’s going to take time and a lot of resources but over here we have a plan that starts with woking through the Ally Coalition to build studios in LGBTQ+ youth shelters. From there, our plan is to build these spaces, pay for maintenance and engineering and let the centers give out the time slots for people to use them. From there we can start to expand into cities once we have it happening.”
As for his reason for announcing his plans, Antonoff hopes it raises awareness towards the cause and inspires “anyone who believes in this and has resources that can help” before including a line to reach out to help.
Antonoff concludes his post by addressing “all the commercial studios I love”: “This concept is strictly for those who can’t afford studio time in those spaces so it’s my belief that this is helpful to our spaces as well”.
Read Antonoff’s full post below.
The news comes shortly after the artist and producer shared a tongue-in-cheek response to claims that he put Airpods in during Katy Perry’s VMAs performance.
The moment took place at the 2024 MTV VMAs on September 11, where Perry was presented with the coveted Video Vanguard Award and took to the stage to perform a medley of her most famous hits, during which Antonoff was spotted putting something in his ears – which fans thought were Airpods. This was quickly dispelled as earplugs designed to protect hearing at concerts and loud events.
Taking to X, he quipped that he was “mortified to admit that I’ve been using them for a long time as well as buying them in bulk,” before saying that he wanted to “apologise” for the “pressing issue that needed to be exposed: “I would also like to be honest and get ahead of that fact that I do not only use them when in 100 plus DB environments. It is humiliating to admit that I use them on planes and every night while sleep.”
In August, Antonoff made a surprise appearance at Taylor Swift‘s final ‘Eras’ show in London. It took place last month during the final of the five consecutive ‘Eras Tour’ shows at the iconic London stadium – which also marked the final night of the colossal tour’s European leg.
Before then, he joined forces with Sabrina Carpenter to perform a new track, ‘Slim Pickins’, at the Grammy Museum earlier in the month.