With rumors circulating that The 1975’s Matty Healy and Taylor Swift are dating, we can’t help but investigate how these worlds collided. However, there might just be a common thread between the two, and Taylor Swift fans know him well. As a non-Swiftie, I’m hesitant to admit that I didn’t really know who Jack Antonoff was until recently, but it seems as though the producer can add “wingman” to his already impressive resume.
On May 8, Entertainment Tonight reported that Healy and Swift were connected by Antonoff, a mutual friend. And while I’m not a total Swiftie, I am a former Tumblr kid, and, Antonoff’s collab with The 1975 was honestly overdue for those of us who went through that black-and-white, pleated skirt, indie-alternative phase. Antonoff produced some classics from this era, including Lorde’s Melodrama, and would later come to co-produce Lana Del Rey’s Norman F*cking Rockwell. This is a perfect background for the alternative, pop-rock sound of The 1975.
So, how did Antonoff and Matty Healy become friendly enough to become wingmen and introduce new potential romances?
Early/mid-2022: Talks of an antonoff/The 1975 collaboration surface.
The 1975 met with Jack Antonoff as a potential producer for their fifth album, pivoting away from working with the producer they were originally considering, BJ Burton.
JULY 2022: The 1975 release “Part of the band.”
The 1975 released their first single, “Part of the Band,” from their album Being Funny in a Foreign Language, officially co-produced by Jack Antonoff.
AUGUST 2022: Healy praises Antonoff in an interview.
Healy revealed more to Apple 1 Music’s show with Zane Lowe about his collaboration and eventual friendship with Antonoff: “We became friends talking about production and what I was doing and what he was wanting to do and what I was wanting to do. And then I kind of just thought, ‘Well, this is like a really nice new energy.’” He continues that they invited Antoff to the studio, and that’s when magic struck: “And then ever since, we were just great, great friends.”
OCTOBER 2022: The 1975’s album drops.
Being Funny in a Foreign Language is officially released. It receives a successful reception from critics and audiences, ranking 16 on Billboard’s 50 Best Albums of the Year.
NOVEMBER 2022: Antonoff performs at Healy’s show.
The 1975 invited Jack Antonoff to perform as a special guest at their show in San Francisco. Fans are surprised but delighted and capture lots of videos of Antonoff performing songs released by his band Bleachers.
December 2022: Antonoff and Healy perform together, again.
Antonoff co-hosted the Ally Coalition Talent Show, for which he is a founding member, with funds being raised for LGBTQ+ youth homeless shelters. Matty Healy performed the song “Winterlong” at the event alongside Antonoff and other Bleachers members.
April 2023: Antonoff reportedly connects Swift and Healy.
Most recently, Antonoff reportedly helped to set up Healy with longtime collaborator Taylor Swift. A source close to the pair told E.T., “Taylor and Matty have been hanging out recently and Jack Antonoff reconnected them.” OK, wingman!