SBTRKT debuted in 2009 with remixes of artists like Radiohead, M.I.A, Basement Jaxx (‘Scars’) and Franz Ferdinand (‘Send Him Away’). These remixes gained the attention of radio DJs and tastemaker blogs, leading to more releases on Brainmath label, Ramp and Young.
His 2011 eponymous debut SBTRKT was critically acclaimed, featuring starmaking turns from artists like Jessie Ware and Sampha. Jerome's collaboration with Sampha had begun in 2010, with the two working to hone their music production skills together in Jerome's London apartment. The creative bond would extend across all of the subsequent SBTRKT albums. Jerome followed up his debut album with 2014's Wonder Where We Land, featuring contributions from Caroline Polachek, A$AP Ferg, alongside Ware, Sampha, and Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig.
SBTRKT's third project -- 2016's Save Yourself -- saw Jerome tackling xenophobia, political corruption, and the toils of being an artist under capitalism. Featuring contributions from Shelley FKA DRAM, The-Dream, and Sampha, the project was initially positioned as a rejection of the traditional album format, with Jerome writing upon release that "this is not an album" and that "culturally, albums now feel like a means to prove you are a "real" artist. To release an album, you turn yourself over to traditional label cycles and the end of increasing sales, leaving behind the creative spirit that brought the music to life in the first place."
After releasing Save Yourself, Jerome took an extended hiatus, returning in 2023 with his fourth project The Rat Road. Again inspired by the dire sociopolitical context, Jerome sought to send up the idea of the "rat race," while also stepping more fully into the spotlight and reclaiming his artistry and the narrative surrounding the SBTRKT project. In the lead-up to the album's release, Jerome discussed his South Asian heritage, how the initial anonymity of the SBTRKT project alienated him from his art, and how during his hiatus from the project he sought to hone his skills. The album was released on May 5, 2023.
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Everybody Knows
SBTRKT Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody knows that you are
Everybody knows that you're shifty
Everybody knows that you are
Everybody knows that you're shifty
Everybody knows that you are
Everybody knows that you're shifty
Everybody knows that you are
You are
Everybody knows that you're shifty
Everybody knows that you are
Everybody knows that you're
Everybody knows that you are
Everybody knows that you're shifty
Everybody knows that you are
Everybody knows that you're
"Everybody Knows" by SBTRKT is a song that seems to talk about the duplicity that exists in some people, and how everyone is aware of it. The lyrics, with its repetition of "Everybody knows that you're shifty," is meaningful as it implies that even if someone doesn't talk about someone's duplicitous nature, it doesn't mean that they are unaware or ignorant of it. The repetitive nature of the song implies that this is something that the singer wants to hammer home.
One could look at the song from a psychological perspective, where individuals who are shifty may have some underlying issues that they are dealing with or repressing. The fact that the song emphasizes on everyone being aware of their duplicitous nature could point to a situation where the individual is projecting a certain image of themselves, but everyone sees through the facade. The individual may be struggling with something, and their shifty mannerisms could be a representation of that.
As for the music itself, SBTRKT's use of electronic beats and layered vocals set the tone for a moody and introspective track. The minimalist use of instruments and the electronic beats allow for the lyrics to take center stage, which is the focal point of the song. It is a song that is both catchy and thought-provoking, making it a standout track from the album.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody knows that you're shifty
It is widely recognized that you are untrustworthy.
Everybody knows that you are
There is a general consensus that you possess certain negative qualities.
You are
You exhibit behaviors and characteristics that are problematic and cause distrust.
Everybody knows that you're
It is not a secret that you exemplify these negative qualities.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: AARON THOMAS JEROME FOULDS, TIRZAH MASTIN, BRIDGET SAMUELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind