Nothing But Thieves’ origins lie in schoolmates Conor, Joe and Dave’s efforts in a variety of bands in their hometown of Southend, Essex. They gained valuable experience on the local live circuit, even if they weren’t going to change the world. Then Dom joined their school in the sixth form and everything went up a notch. A classically trained guitarist from the age of six, Dom brought a musicality and learning to the table which made everyone sit up and take notice. Not that this puts him on a pedestal with his bandmates. They all agree that it’s the mix of his formal training with Joe’s self-taught chops which lies at the heart of the Nothing But Thieves sound.
They released their debut ep, "Graveyard Whistling" on July 18, 2014. The band's single "Itch" picked up Hottest Record and Track Of The Day accolades on Radio 1 and also made it onto the Radio 1 playlist, as well as being added in regular rotation of Sirius XM new hard-rock channel Octane. The same year they signed to RCA Records.
They released their self-titled debut album on October 16, 2015. Frontman Conor Mason said in an interview about the album: Since this record was our first album we especially wanted to make each song stand out in the best way possible. I guess there are tones, lyrics and themes that tie in throughout the album; however, we generally wanted each song to have its own space and world. Overall, I think we achieved the variety we were after and it’s nice that our fans feel the same way too.
They released their sophomore album, called "Broken Machine", on September 8, 2017. The concept for the album came alive soon after the band had written and demoed “Broken Machine,” the 4th track, which became the centerpiece of the album. Lead singer Conor Mason describes it as a metaphor for systems that seem perfect on the surface but cracked underneath, whether that’s mental health, love, religion, or even politics. The singles leading up to the album’s release are “Amsterdam,” released on May 2, 2017, “Sorry” released on August 14, 2017, “Broken Machine” released on August 21, 2017, “I’m Not Made By Design” released on August 26, 2017, and “Particles” released on January 11, 2018.
They released a new ep, titled "What Did You Think When You Made Me This Way?" on October 19, 2018. The lead single of the ep, "Forever & Ever More", was supported by a music video. On October 23, 2020, the band released Moral Panic. Which then followed with a tour in 2021 with Yonaka and Airways.
The band released three singles in 2023, "Welcome to the DCC" on March 15, "Overcome" on May 10 and "Keeping You Around" on June 23, before finally releasing their fourth studio album, "Dead Club City" on June 30, 2023, which peaked number 1 in the U.K Official Album Charts. They then released the single "Oh No :: He Said What?" on January 29, 2024 before dropping the deluxe edition of "Dead Club City" on March 15, 2024, this included the addition of new songs such as "Time :: Fate :: Karma :: God" and "Pure You" as well as the stripped edition of beloved songs from the original album.
Neon Brother
Nothing But Thieves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fallen out of sync
There's the one I accept and the one I believe in
Which one drew you in?
In the night, in the night this is how it goes
We are all or nothing
Can you hear it coming?
Do you see something real or just some kinda mirror
Staring back at you
It's a punch and kiss and I'm trying to remember
Which one is the truth
In the night, in the night where we feel at home
With wire humming
In the night, in the night, we are not alone
Can you hear it coming?
I hear my brother crying out
From the beginning we were in rhythm
Well we'll build something new and we'll do it together
Wake up from our sleep
It'll kick like a mule and it won't live forever
That's alright with me
If you open my chest, see that two hearts are beating
They both beat so slow
The lyrics of Nothing But Thieves's song Neon Brother is about the duality of a person's heart as well as the search for truth within oneself. The song opens with the line, "If you open my chest see that two hearts are beating, fallen out of sync," which suggests that the singer has two conflicting emotions or beliefs. The next lines, "There's the one I accept and the one I believe in, which one drew you in?" further emphasize this conflict within oneself. The singer questions which side of him the listener is drawn into, and if they're seeing the true version of himself.
Throughout the chorus of the song, the line "In the night, in the night" is repeated, suggesting an atmosphere in which the truth can be revealed. The lyrics imply that in the dark, when everything is quiet, it's easier to hear one's heart and one's true self. The lyrics also suggest that we are never truly alone and that there is always someone who understands us, who feels the same way.
The final lines of the song, "If you open my chest, see that two hearts are beating, they both beat so slow," suggest that even though the two hearts are out of sync, they are both slowly beating together, implying that the singer has found harmony within himself.
Line by Line Meaning
If you open my chest see that two hearts are are beating
My emotions are conflicted, and I have two competing passions or beliefs.
Fallen out of sync
These passions are no longer aligned in my heart.
There's the one I accept and the one I believe in
There is a choice to be made between two passions, one of which is accepted and one truly believed in.
Which one drew you in?
Which of my two competing passions is the reason you were attracted to me?
In the night, in the night this is how it goes
During the darkness of night, this internal struggle is most intense.
We are all or nothing
This internal conflict requires commitment to one passion above all else.
It's alright, it's alright listen to your bones
It's okay to trust your gut and let your intuition guide you.
Can you hear it coming?
Do you feel the conflict approaching, threatening to consume me?
Do you see something real or just some kinda mirror
Do you perceive me as I truly am or simply as a reflection of yourself?
Staring back at you
It's as if my internal struggle is reflected in your gaze.
It's a punch and kiss and I'm trying to remember
These passions are both thrilling and challenging, and I'm struggling to recall which one is true to me.
Which one is the truth
I need to determine which of these passions truly resonates with my heart.
In the night, in the night where we feel at home
During the darkness of night, we feel most comfortable and in touch with our inner selves.
With wire humming
There is an intense energy humming within us that fuels our internal conflict.
In the night, in the night, we are not alone
Others also experience this internal conflict and we can take solace in knowing we are not alone.
Can you hear it coming?
Do you feel the intense energy of this internal conflict approaching?
I hear my brother crying out
I am in tune with the cries of those who also experience this internal conflict.
From the beginning we were in rhythm
Despite our internal conflicts, there was a certain harmony or connection between us from the start.
Well we'll build something new and we'll do it together
We can take control of our internal conflicts and build something new and meaningful in our lives, together.
Wake up from our sleep
It's time to stop ignoring our internal conflicts and awaken to the reality of the situation.
It'll kick like a mule and it won't live forever
Confronting our internal conflicts will be difficult and challenging, but it's better to face them head-on than to allow them to continue indefinitely.
That's alright with me
I am willing to face the challenges and difficulties that come with confronting my internal conflicts.
If you open my chest, see that two hearts are beating
My internal conflict is intense and palpable, and can be seen when looking deep into my heart.
They both beat so slow
My passions are in conflict with each other, resulting in both beating more slowly than when aligned with a single passion.
Contributed by Scarlett F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.