Rewind: Jack Antonoff | How to Pick the Artists Who'll Define Your Career

Today's guest is a Grammy Producer of the Year who's tied with Babyface for the only three-in-a-row run in the award's history — and whose real story isn't the trophies, the radio, or the run of hits. It's the decision he makes once every few years that almost no other producer at his level makes: which artist he'll spend the next decade building. From frontman of touring indie band Steel Train to one of the most decorated producers of his generation, he built his career against almost every modern industry instinct. This is one of the more honest conversations about what it actually takes to bet a decade of your career on one person. When you're quietly refusing the industry's playbook from inside the room — who do you become? And The Writer Is... Jack Antonoff! In this episode of And The Writer Is, we go deep on: • The importance of finding your people • Why "Album is God" — and what a single actually is • The Sabrina Carpenter origin: a random run-in two weeks after a Bleachers show • "Workaholics aren't disciplined. They're sad." — why he refuses all-nighters • The "Getaway Car" bridge moment Taylor's documentary caught in real time • 5 voices that feel like 100 — the "Please Please Please" vocal stack walkthrough • The artists he's passed on who became stars — and why he doesn't regret it • Why he writes his best on instruments he doesn't understand And much more... Hit subscribe and turn on notifications. Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music. Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris A special thank you to our sponsors for making these conversations possible. Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishers Association. Your support means the world to us. And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 1:10 Ross gave Jack his first co-writing session 2:42 The myth and folklore of the LA writing scene 8:02 "There's no proof more sessions makes you better" 10:08 What gives energy vs. what takes it 13:12 Body-of-work first, not single first 16:48 "Album is God. Singles are a long hallway to nothing." 17:58 The hit-song tour that sold 12 tickets 19:17 Sabrina, Chappell, Charli — the only lesson from artist development 22:35 Working with artists who already have the vision 23:33 Amy asks: how do you make something timeless? 25:40 Album tracks are like movie scenes — "Scarface doesn't fit in The Holiday" 26:55 How the sonic palette emerges (Mastermind, Tulsa Jesus Freak) 31:43 Bleachers — letting the band teeter 33:22 "I write my best on what I understand the least" 37:47 "Workaholics aren't disciplined. They're sad." 40:18 The "Getaway Car" bridge moment Taylor's documentary caught 41:28 Keeping it small even when the artist is the biggest in the world 44:24 Writing for yourself is how you reach more people 48:48 "Geniuses finish things" 52:01 Why he protects his circle from outside voices 54:37 What Producer of the Year three years in a row actually means 56:36 The producers Jack steals from (Jeff Lynne, Sam Dew) 61:17 5 voices that feel like 100 — "Please Please Please" stack walkthrough 64:10 Dyslexic, Adderall, the VS 840 zip-disk teen years 68:13 Authenticity is the only currency that lasts 68:57 When their song "March" became a MeToo women's marches anthem Credits: Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad Edited by Jad Saad Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki Watercolor by Michael White Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.