Jack Antonoff: I don't give a shit about radio or sales or anything. I'm only trying do something great'

"“I don't give a shit about radio or sales or anything. I'm only trying do something great,” says Jack Antonoff. Despite what it may seem, the tone isn't aggressive. The New Jersey native is direct and elaborates on his answers, but he's a nice, polite guy. And the day of the interview, March 31, happened to be his birthday. The busiest man in the music industry was turning 42, and instead of celebrating with his wife, the actress Margaret Qualley, he was at the Rosewood Hotel in London granting this interview to EL PAIS' fashion supplement ICON under heart-shaped balloons brought by his team."

"“Don't worry, this isn't a part of the job I dislike,” he replies to apologies for spoiling such a special day. Antonoff wearing a Gucci cardigan. Kuba Ryniewicz Slim, wiry, and youthful-looking, he maintains that nerdy indie-boy look he's always cultivated: glasses he's constantly taking on and off, a cat-print shirt, jeans... He jokes that he looks like Bad Bunny. He looks like my cousin or something, he laughs, pointing to his face. Okay, he's much more attractive than me, but don't you see? Since we're on the subject, did he see his Super Bowl performance? He did, and really enjoyed it."

"“I think a lot of people have a lot of rage for good reason, but when you see someone who has a lot of joy performing, it's very subversive nowadays,” he replies. Good things inspire you. When I see Michael Jordan, I don't feel like playing basketball, but to get better at what I do. So who is Jack Antonoff? None other than the person who has defined the sound of success in the last decade, especially his work with female artists. He has produced Sabrina Carpenter, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, St. Vincent, Clairo, FKA Twigs, and, above all, Taylor Swift."

Jack Antonoff says he is not driven by radio, sales, or anything else, and instead focuses on doing something great. He presents himself as direct and polite, maintaining a nerdy indie-boy look with glasses and casual clothing. On his 42nd birthday in London, he continues working rather than celebrating privately. He responds calmly to apologies about spoiling the day. He enjoyed his Super Bowl performance and connects performing joyfully to inspiring others in a time filled with rage. He credits good things with motivating improvement, comparing inspiration to Michael Jordan. He is known for producing major female pop artists, including Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, St. Vincent, Clairo, and FKA Twigs.

Read at english.elpais.com