Jack Antonoff and Bleachers Return with ‘I’m Not Joking’

It may sound like a lighthearted quip, but Jack Antonoff is entirely serious on the latest Bleachers single, “I’m Not Joking.” The track, which features Antonoff on both harpsichord and a Dobro—the distinctively resonant acoustic guitar—is a maudlin, heartfelt ballad that avoids irony in favor of genuine sentiment. As Antonoff sings to his partner, “I’m not joking, it was love at first sight, good Lord, I found you,” the song establishes itself as a centerpiece of the band’s upcoming studio album, Everyone for Ten Minutes, scheduled for release on May 22.

The composition ambles with a nostalgic warmth, evoking the commercial lite rock of the Seventies. The arrangement is bolstered by Mikey Freedom-Hart’s Hammond organ work and a falsetto “la-la-la” refrain that draws subtle, effective comparisons to Neil Young’s “Down by the River.” Throughout the track, Antonoff positions himself as a partner who eschews the typical tropes of modern romance—he isn’t interested in rehashing pickup lines or dwelling on past relationships. “All of that fear comes out in the big wash,” he sings, his voice rising alongside the harpsichord as he reaffirms his commitment: “I’m not joking at all.”

“I’m Not Joking” follows the release of previous album singles including “The Van,” “You and Forever”—which featured a music video starring Antonoff’s wife, actress Margaret Qualley—and “Dirty Wedding Dress.” Regarding the creative direction of the new record, the band noted in April that while the album occasionally peers into darker emotional territory, it remains an inherently optimistic project. They described it as a “lovestruck and hopeful” collection that leaps between harmony-laden folk rock, shimmering pop soul, and the signature sax-assisted sound that has become synonymous with the Bleachers aesthetic.

In anticipation of the album’s release, the band is set to launch Rolling Stone’s 2026 Rock Tour, beginning in New Orleans on May 20, with support from Been Stellar and Thomas Dollbaum. Additional dates for the tour are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.