The band released their first EP, I'm Sorry... in January 2013, where their single Sweater Weather reached #1 in the U.S. Alternative Tracks and #8 on the U.S. Rock Tracks and #33 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also charted at #68 in Canada. Their first album, I Love You. was released on April 23, 2013.
In early 2012 a mysterious band appeared online. The group, The Neighbourhood, revealed no biographical information, no photos and no backstory, offering only a moody track titled "Female Robbery." Fans and the press were confounded, scouring the Internet for any information that might lead them to the identity of these musicians. Pieces of the puzzle, some reflecting reality and some not so much, began to emerge. The Neighbourhood were a quintet. They were from California despite the British spelling of their name. They had a second track, "Sweater Weather," which had an accompanying -- and equally dark -- video.
Although The Neighbourhood's identity remained hazy, it became clear that the music they were making felt transformative to critics and fans alike. The evocative combination of rock instruments with R&B and hip-hop aesthetics seemed, in many ways, revelatory, a reimagining of sounds that seemed to make people clamour for more information with even greater fervour. In April, BBC Radio One DJ Zane Lowe, an early champion of the group, let it slip that The Neighbourhood was the handiwork of musician Jesse Rutherford, a resident of Newbury Park, CA. By early May, as the band unveiled a free, self-released EP titled "I'm Sorry," it became understood that the identity of this young band was, ultimately, secondary to the music itself.
So who is The Neighbourhood? In essence, the group, which was formed in August 2011, is a collection of five friends who make music together. They're headed by Rutherford, a 21-year-old singer who has dabbled in various genres, including hip-hop, before crafting the merge of sounds that categorizes The Neighbourhood's style. Their debut EP was produced by Justyn Pilbrow, who brought Emile Haynie on board to collaborate on "Female Robbery." The EP, recorded at the end of last year, is composed of shadowy, emotional music with visuals to match. And it's all part of the band's master plan.
"I always have a strong vision before I go into anything," Rutherford says. "I don't know how to make music any other way. It was all in my head, and that vision for the music was to make hip-hop beats with guitars and I was going to sing and rap over them. We wanted to do that hip-hop aesthetic on an indie platform."
"I'm Sorry," a five-song disc, is a precursor to the band's debut album, which is also being produced by Pilbrow and Haynie. The album, expected out in March 2013, will expand the group's moody sensibility, which pairs brooding layers of instrumentals with Rutherford's hip-hop-inspired croon. The style, which the band has dubbed "black and white" due to its confident inspirations, is based largely on rhythm, as evidenced by the EP. "When I started in music I started doing drums and then I started doing vocals," Rutherford explains. "And then I combined the two together because to me rapping is just rhythmic vocals. I think the rhythm of hip-hop is really what got me into it. It's not just words being said; it's about how the words are said."
In the end, all you need to know about The Neighbourhood is in that music and in those words. There are more facts, more pieces of the puzzle, more information to unveil. But what's the fun in being given the full picture when you can slowly discover it for yourself? It's better to leave some mystery lingering. Because, after all, it's that unknowing that brought The Neighbourhood to people's attention to begin with.
YG call
The Neighbourhood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm, I′m at the studio right now, so I'll just do a little intro, uh
Fuck, dude, I'm nervous, I′ve never done
I′ve never done like an intro like that
I don't wanna sound like a fuckin′ idiot, ah, ah
Nah, you gon' sound cool, just swag it out like "Hey, this Jesse
Hey, this Jesse from The Neighbourhood
Say it how you would like, say it
Yeah yeah, okay, okay
That ain′t nothin', nigga, you got that shit, you, you swagged out
Alright, yo, hit me when you get back to California
Yep, I got you
Alright, peace (yeah)
In the beginning of The Neighbourhood's song "YG call," the lyrics depict a conversation between a nervous Jesse from The Neighbourhood and an unknown person on the phone. Jesse is at the studio and is asked to give an introduction to a song being covered by YG called "Me & My Bitch." He expresses his nervousness and fear of sounding stupid before being encouraged to "swag it out" and introduce himself as Jesse from The Neighbourhood before announcing the song title.
The lyrics provide a window into the anxiety that can come with performing, even for established artists like Jesse. It also touches on the idea of the pressure to perform well and the fear of failing. However, with a bit of reassurance and confidence, Jesse is able to overcome his nerves and introduce the song.
Overall, "YG call" gives insight into the inner workings of the music industry and the personal experiences of musicians outside of the lyrics of their songs. It reminds listeners that even successful artists can struggle with nerves and anxiety, and that with some encouragement and self-confidence, anyone can step up to the plate and perform.
Line by Line Meaning
Alright, no problem, I′ll do it
I'll do the intro for the song YG Call by The Neighbourhood, no problem.
I'm, I′m at the studio right now, so I'll just do a little intro, uh
I'm currently at the studio and will introduce the song YG Call.
Fuck, dude, I'm nervous, I′ve never done
I'm feeling anxious about my ability to do the intro.
I′ve never done like an intro like that
I haven't done an intro similar to the one for YG Call before.
I don't wanna sound like a fuckin′ idiot, ah, ah
I don't want to sound foolish or unintelligent during the intro.
Nah, you gon' sound cool, just swag it out like "Hey, this Jesse
You will sound amazing, just speak confidently and say something like "Hey, this Jesse from The Neighbourhood."
Hey, this Jesse from The Neighbourhood
Introducing himself as Jesse from The Neighbourhood.
And we′re 'bout to cover "Me & My Bitch" from YG, too"
Announcing that they will also be covering the song "Me & My Bitch" by YG.
Say it how you would like, say it
Say the intro how you feel comfortable and confident saying it.
That ain′t nothin', nigga, you got that shit, you, you swagged out
What you're doing is easy, and you can do it with style and confidence.
Alright, yo, hit me when you get back to California
Let me know when you've returned to California.
Yep, I got you
Affirming that he will let the artist know when he's back in California.
Alright, peace (yeah)
End of the conversation, saying goodbye.
Writer(s): Keenon Daquan Ray Jackson, Jeremiah Freedman, Jesse J. Rutherford, Zach Shane Abels, Michael Blake Margott
Contributed by Jayden C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chloe Naughton
on West Coast
I don't know if I'm right or not, but I feel like when they sing "If the sun was God, I'd be covered in faith, If the ocean was the Devil, I'd be covered in hate", it means more than he's got a tan and swims in the ocean a lot. But I can't put my finger on what it could mean...