By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – New York, Jack Antonoff is once again stepping out from behind the producer’s desk to center stage, announcing the return of his celebrated indie-pop project, Bleachers. The band has officially confirmed the upcoming release of their fifth studio album, titled Everyone for Ten Minutes, which is scheduled to arrive on May 22. This latest body of work will be released via Dirty Hit, the influential independent label that has become a secondary home for Antonoff’s creative output in recent years. To celebrate the announcement, the band has shared the album’s lead single, “You and Forever,” a track that serves as a vibrant introduction to this new era of the Bleachers’ discography.
The arrival of “You and Forever” is accompanied by a striking music video directed by Alex Lockett, a frequent collaborator known for his intimate and visually rhythmic style. The video features Antonoff alongside his wife, the acclaimed actress Margaret Qualley, creating a piece of visual art that feels deeply personal and reflective of the couple’s real-life chemistry. In the clip, the narrative is split between two distinct emotional atmospheres. Antonoff is seen navigating the gritty, unforgiving landscape of a rain-slicked city, where he paces through the streets, taking metaphorical and literal punches and eventually crawling through the downpour. This imagery of endurance and struggle is sharply contrasted by scenes of Qualley in a warm, brightly lit apartment. She is depicted dancing with an infectious sense of freedom and joy, occasionally pausing to play with a small dog. The juxtaposition between the external storm Antonoff faces and the internal sanctuary represented by Qualley highlights the central themes of the song—finding a sense of permanence and peace amidst the chaos of the world.
While the music video suggests a degree of physical and emotional hardship, the overarching sentiment of Everyone for Ten Minutes appears to be one of resilience and affection. According to a press release accompanying the announcement, the album is described as a collection of songs that, while not shying away from moments of darkness, is fundamentally an "optimistic record that feels lovestruck and hopeful." This tonal shift suggests that Antonoff is leaning further into the romanticism that has always bubbled beneath the surface of his work, perhaps influenced by the significant milestones in his personal life over the last few years.
This new album marks a significant milestone for Bleachers, arriving just over a decade after the project first burst onto the scene with the 2014 debut Strange Desire. In the years since, Antonoff has used Bleachers as a vehicle to explore his obsession with the intersection of 1980s synth-pop, heartland rock, and modern indie sensibilities. Everyone for Ten Minutes comes two years after the release of the band’s self-titled fourth album, which was praised for its refined production and more grounded lyrical approach. With the fifth album on the horizon, fans are eager to see how Antonoff will continue to evolve a sound that has become synonymous with anthemic choruses and nostalgic, New Jersey-bred storytelling.
The announcement of a new Bleachers record is particularly impressive given the sheer volume of work Antonoff has undertaken as a producer for other artists. Since the release of the self-titled Bleachers LP in 2022, Antonoff has solidified his status as the most sought-after architect in modern pop and alternative music. His recent portfolio is a testament to his versatility and work ethic. Most notably, he played a pivotal role in the meteoric rise of Sabrina Carpenter, co-writing and co-producing the majority of her blockbuster albums Short n’ Sweet and Man’s Best Friend. His ability to tailor his production style to the specific needs of a rising superstar helped Carpenter achieve a level of cultural ubiquity that defined the recent pop landscape.
Antonoff’s reach has also extended into the world of hip-hop and high-concept collaborations. He notably contributed to Kendrick Lamar’s recent output, working behind the boards for the track “6:16 in LA.” His partnership with Lamar reached a new peak with the album GNX, where Antonoff co-wrote and produced 11 of the 12 tracks. The project was not only a commercial success but also a critical powerhouse, ultimately securing a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 2026. This collaboration surprised many who primarily associated Antonoff with pop and indie-rock, proving that his sonic fingerprints can successfully translate across genres without losing their distinct character.
Beyond his work with Carpenter and Lamar, Antonoff has remained a constant presence in the credits of the industry’s most influential artists. He collaborated with Gracie Abrams on the hit single “Us,” which featured Taylor Swift, and provided a fresh perspective on Paramore’s catalog by producing a remix of their track “Sanity.” These projects illustrate the "polarizing nice guy" persona that has come to define Antonoff’s public image—a man who is seemingly everywhere at once, yet remains deeply committed to the individual artistry of the people he works with.
Despite the demands of his production schedule, Antonoff has never allowed Bleachers to fall by the wayside. For him, the band represents a more direct form of expression, a place where he can be the primary voice rather than the supporting architect. Everyone for Ten Minutes appears to be the culmination of this dual existence, blending the high-gloss production techniques he has perfected for his A-list clients with the raw, heart-on-sleeve vulnerability that Bleachers fans have come to expect.
The tracklist for the new album reveals an 11-song journey that begins with "Sideways" and concludes with "Upstairs at Els." Titles such as "Dirty Wedding Dress," "I Can’t Believe You’re Gone," and "She’s From Before" suggest a narrative arc that explores memory, loss, and the transformative power of love. The inclusion of "You and Forever" as the fourth track and lead single suggests it acts as the emotional anchor of the record, bridging the gap between the album’s darker reflections and its more hopeful conclusions.
As the music industry prepares for the May 22 release, the move to Dirty Hit represents a strategic step for the band. The label, known for fostering long-term creative freedom for its artists, seems like a natural fit for a project as idiosyncratic as Bleachers. With a decade of history behind them and a future that looks increasingly bright, Antonoff and his bandmates are poised to deliver a record that captures the zeitgeist of a musician who has spent the last several years shaping the sound of the modern era.
For longtime followers of the band, the wait for Everyone for Ten Minutes will be filled with anticipation for the live shows that inevitably follow a Bleachers release. Known for their high-energy, cathartic performances, the band has built a reputation as one of the most engaging live acts in the indie-pop circuit. As Antonoff continues to balance his roles as a Grammy-winning producer and a front-man, this new album serves as a reminder that at the heart of all his success is a songwriter who still finds his greatest inspiration in the simple, enduring power of a three-minute pop song.
The full tracklist for Everyone for Ten Minutes is as follows:
01 Sideways
02 The Van
03 We Should Talk
04 You and Forever
05 Dirty Wedding Dress
06 Take You Out Tonight
07 I Can’t Believe You’re Gone
08 Dancing
09 She’s From Before
10 I’m Not Joking
11 Upstairs at Els
With the release of “You and Forever” and the unveiling of this new collection, Bleachers are not just returning to the charts; they are reclaiming their space in a musical landscape that Jack Antonoff himself helped build. As the spring release date approaches, the industry and fans alike will be watching to see how this "optimistic, lovestruck" record resonates in an increasingly complex world.