Photo Credit: Jack Antonoff by Katie Fricker / CC by 2.0
Jack Antonoff announces a plan to open free public recording studios at LGBTQ+ youth shelters across the country.
Jack Antonoff has announced his plan to open free public recording studios across the country, beginning with LGBTQ+ youth shelters. In a statement posted to his social channels, the Bleachers frontman said he intends to “spend a large part of the next chapter of my life bringing these spaces to people who wouldn’t have access to them.” He will work with the Ally Coalition to bring studios to LGBTQ+ youth shelters.
While he still hasn’t disclosed (or perhaps yet figured out) all the details, Antonoff says his plan would involve a “network of engineers that we will fund who will train people at these sites.” He hopes 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, he wants to “start expanding into cities,” once he’s laid the initial groundwork.
Although Antonoff commented on how “wonderful” the advancements have been in home-recording technology, he insists the studio experience is different. “Working with analog gear and creating sounds that are impossible to recreate is powerful,” he said.
“Knowing you are in a space for a limited amount of time and pushing yourself to the edge is vital. A studio is a rare space and you function different because of it. […] I’ve loved home recording, but my life changed in a recording studio. There is magic there.”
“I dream of the studio being a place that anyone can access, not just those with the money to do so,” he explained. “It should be a place that all people can experience and find out if they are meant to be in there.”
Antonoff also asked that anyone interested in helping his initiative get in contact with him via email. “Anyone who believes in this and has resources that can help should please reach out as we get this off the ground.”
He concluded his concept is “strictly for those who cannot afford studio time in those spaces,” so he believes the project would better serve major commercial recording studios as well.
Bleachers has a show coming up at Madison Square Garden this Friday, October 4. Meanwhile, Antonoff produced the new Bartees Strange album, announced earlier today (October 2).
