Jack Antonoff Says His Home State of New Jersey Is ‘Extremely Misunderstood’: ‘It’s Like Europe’

Jack Antonoff will not tolerate any slander about New Jersey.

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, the Bleachers musician — who is from Bergenfield — defended his home state.

“Jersey is a very mocked place for no reason,” Antonoff, 39, told the host, 50. “It’s so misunderstood. It’s like Europe, man, it’s got everything. Everything. It’s the most beautiful place, and beautiful food and culture. And you want good Italian food? F— New York City, go to New Jersey. A lot of the things I think New York is known for, I prefer in New Jersey. Sue me, but I’ll die on that hill. Pizza, It’s 100% better in New Jersey. Bagels, it’s 100% better in New Jersey.”

Jack Antonoff sits down with Zane Lowe for an interview on Apple Music 1.

Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1

Jack Antonoff Says Bad Mushroom Trip After His Sister Died Stopped Taking Drugs: ‘I Went Completely Crazy’

The “Rollercoaster” performer noted that there are a lot of people who “care” and “never go to New York City” even though they are close in New Jersey.

“They are completely removed from that,” he said.

Antonoff then expressed his admiration for the songwriting of New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen.

“This is what Bruce has always done so well, he just challenges you to dream,” said the songwriter/producer. “He always wrote it so perfectly, this alone makes you dream about going out, makes you dream about something else.” Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Jack Antonoff at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in February 2023.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Jack Antonoff on the ‘magic’ of working with Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey: ‘The more we do, the less I expect’

Elsewhere in the conversation, Antonoff talked about the “magic” of working with Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey.

“Every time we do something new, I joke, ‘I guess we still have that,’ because there’s no reason to keep it going the way it is,” he told Lowe. “There’s a lot of magic there. That’s how I feel with Taylor, that’s how I feel with Lana, that’s how I feel with my band.”

Antonoff continued, “There are people that I’ve had these long relationships with, where I’m just the opposite of what’s expected. It’s almost like, the more we do, the less I expect. Because I often think to myself, Well, how much longer can we really have that spark ? And I’m just thankful that it’s there, and I don’t know where it’s coming from or where it’s going, but the one thing I’ve noticed is that anybody who claims to know where it’s coming from and where it’s going, burns out pretty quickly.”

Bleachers’ new self-titled album is out March 8 via Dirty Hit.

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Source: HIS Education