Lorde Explains Her Decision Not to Team Up with Jack Antonoff on Upcoming Album Virgin
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The pair previously earned a Grammy nomination in 2018 for their collaboration on Melodrama.
Lorde’s next album will be missing a familiar collaborator from her past projects.
In an interview with Rolling Stone published on May 15, the “Royals” singer shared why Jack Antonoff—who previously partnered with her on tracks like “Green Light” and “Liability”—won’t appear in the credits of her forthcoming album, Virgin.
Lorde, 28, described Antonoff, 41, as an encouraging and supportive creative partner, but explained that she chose not to work with him this time based on instinct. “I really rely on gut feelings,” she explained. “When my intuition tells me it’s time to move on, I have to listen.”
Lorde and Jack Antonoff have worked together on multiple tracks, including songs from Melodrama such as “Green Light,” “Liability,” “Supercut,” “Perfect Places,” and “The Louvre.” They also collaborated on several songs from Solar Power, including “Solar Power,” “Leader of a New Regime,” and “Secrets of a Girl (Who’s Seen It All).”
Their work on Melodrama earned them a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2018 Grammy Awards.
In 2018, rumors circulated that Lorde and Antonoff were romantically involved following his split from Lena Dunham. Both artists denied these claims, with Antonoff stating he was not dating anyone, and Lorde also dismissing the rumors. A source told PEOPLE magazine that the two were simply friends, emphasizing there was no romantic relationship. (Antonoff has been married to Margaret Qualley since 2023.)
In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, Lorde described her professional connection with Antonoff as unique. “No one who isn’t in my line of work has a relationship quite like the one I have with Jack,” she said. She explained that while their partnership isn’t romantic, it’s a close, seven-year-long collaboration that’s hard for outsiders to fully grasp.
For her latest album, Virgin, Lorde collaborated with writer and producer Jim-E Stack, known for his work with Danielle Haim and Bon Iver. Stack shared with Rolling Stone that he holds Lorde in very high regard.