Jack Antonoff says dissonance of mental health struggles is ‘where a lot of good songs come from’

As listeners sink their teeth into the new self-titled album by Bleachers , frontman, Jack Antonoff , reveals he believes his best work comes from navigating the often-confusing journeys of mental health, which is exactly where this album originated.

LISTEN NOW : Jack Antonoff says dissonance of mental health struggles is ‘where a lot of good songs come from’

Using both producing and songwriting to explore his own struggles, Antonoff says working through feelings of uncertainty and fear are the most vulnerable, yet successful places to write from.

“An inability to understand something or acclimate to it — like a situation in your life or a feeling… is often where a lot of good songs come from,” he expressed during his recent Audacy Check In . “If you know something, then it’s a little less interesting to write about. Often, I find the best songs come from things that you don’t fully understand, but you’d like to.”

He continued, “I just stay focused there, ‘Why do I feel this way? Where’s that coming from? Is there a question there or something to write about? Why it compels me.”

While writing and producing music doesn’t always lead him to the answers, he finds himself feeling compelled to share his exploration with fans believing they often connect to the vulnerability. “You write this diary over two years and you launch it out to the world and you have to stop and sort of think, ‘What compels me to do this?’” His answer? Sharing the message with his fans.

Hear more about Antonoff’s connections between mental health and music by listening to the full clip above.