the neighbourhood.

and how they practically saved my life.

When I was about 13, I was on YouTube and discovered a “rapper” named Jesse Rutherford. I would play his stuff all the time, and to this day I still dabble in it.

If you haven’t listened to any of it, here are some of his solo stuff:

Copy Paste // Can’t Do Anything

I can’t seem to find his extremely old stuff right now, but I am also being really lazy about it.

In 2012, I remember it clear as day: I was in my bed listening to 101.1 on the radio and heard “Sweater Weather” for the first time. I sat there and listened to the voice and thought, “Huh, this sounds a lot like that guy from YouTube,” and I was right. Jesse, in all his glory, had made a band with his friends called “The Neighbourhood.” I nearly lost my shit.

I scrambled through Spotify and found their first EP, “I’m Sorry…,” which contained absolute bangers like “Female Robbery” and “Baby Came Home.” Along with the song I play every time I am about to break up with someone, called “Leaving Tonight.” I was obsessed. In fact, it’s all I listened to until “Thank You” and “The Love Collection” (which was a compilation EP of all their earlier songs) came out.

They started to show up on my Tumblr a lot, being reblogged with artists like The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, and the XX. I was excited to see them grouped together with larger bands like this, but most only really listened to “Sweater Weather.” In fact, to this day, when I ask someone about The NBHD, they always ask who they are until I mention that song. Makes me sad because they have so many bangers, and Sweater Weather is just one of the many.

I was so obsessed with them that my mother even knew who they were. She never really cared for the music I listened to (since at this time I was leaving my “emo” phase and dabbling into more indie music), but she definitely knew who The NBHD were. It was in my headphones 24/7; I fell asleep to it. In fact, they’re the whole reason I purchased Spotify Premium at 15 years old.

In 2013, they released their first studio album, “I Love You,” which included songs such as “W.D.Y.W.F.M.” and “Afraid.” Both extremely fantastic fucking songs. This is around when “Afraid” became the new Tumblr favorite, whereas mine was “Flawless.” There was just something so comforting about the music. Their lyrics truly spoke to me on a deep, emotional level, and I became even more attached to their music.

Fast forward to 2015, deprived of new music, I woke up one day to a new drop, “Wiped Out!”, and two songs took my breath away. “Prey” and “Baby Came Home 2". Both of which are still my two favorite songs to this day. “Prey” really spoke to me and still does. At 3:45, I always sing this part at the top of my lungs, and every single time I feel it so deeply that I cry. Every fucking time. For the past 11 years.

“Something is off, I can’t explain. You know what I mean, don’t you? Something I saw or something I did that made me like this. Could you help me?” - Prey, The NBHD

There is just something about that song that makes me feel so heard.

2018 comes around, 3 years deprived, and “Hard To Imagine The Neighbourhood Ever Changing” is released. They took on a different sound from this album that many people didn’t like, but I, of course, loved. I’m one of those people who doesn’t mind when artists change their sound. I don’t think you should stick with comfort in music. I love to hear artists' experimentation. This album produced hits like “You Get Me So High” and “Softcore.” This album contains a few songs I am deeply attached to. “Stuck with Me,” “Compass,” and “Nervous.”

“Stuck with Me” has a very emotional association. The day after I got cheated on, I went to Picnic (101.1 radio station music “festival”). The NBHD was there, and when this song came on, I sobbed uncontrollably. These were the lyrics that really stood out to me after this:

“Now I’m feelin’ guilty for it. Didn’t want to leave.”

“Realized I’m less important. Than I thought I’d be.”

“I been gettin’ over myself. Thinkin’ about what you need. Then I realized that neither of us matter. What’s reality?”

Oh God, did I cry. I was so overwhelmed by how relatable it felt. How this song resonated with my current situation on insane levels.

After another 2 years of deprivation, “Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones” was released. Jesse had taken on an alter ego named Chip Chrome. Painted in all silver with an occasional appearance by a clown face on top of it. Little did I know this was the last I would hear from them before they teased us with the single “Fallen Star” in 2021. This album made one of my absolute favorite mental breakdown songs called “Hell or High Water.”

“I went through hell to get to high water. And now I’m trying not to drown. Each time I fail, it makes me try harder. I’ll reach the stars next time around.”

It also produced fucking bangers such as “Pretty Boy,” “Silver Lining,” and “Devil’s Advocate.”

“Pretty Boy” is probably one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. I used to get high and just float in it. Now that I can’t smoke, I bathe in it.

Then they stopped.

The worst six fucking years of my life.

I would stalk their Reddit page, their Instagrams, and anything I could get my grubby little hands on. I was dying.

Then late last year, I saw the hints. I called my mom crying, saying, “THEY’RE COMING BACK! THEY’RE COMING BACK!” and I was ecstatic. Every day, I was on Spotify, hoping they would magically drop it in the middle of the night. It became part of my morning and night routines. I even turned on Spotify notifications, and that’s huge because the only notifications I have on are for text messages (fun fact).

Then, on February 20, 2026, it happened. They were back. My boys were back. My lovely, beautiful boys. “(((((ultraSOUND))))” ended up being another style mix-up. For once, I was taken aback by a style change, but songs like “Hula Girl,” “Private,” and “Daisy Chain” were born. I’m still adjusting to the album, I am not going to lie to you. I haven’t been crazy invested in it, but I have also been deeply obsessed with Artemas lately, so I haven’t given it an insane listen. I think once I start drinking again, I may do one of my favorite activities, turning an album on, drinking a bottle of wine, and turning off my phone so I can just bask in it.

Music means a lot to me. I think it might be the only thing next to my vape and water that I can’t live without.

The NBHD has been with me through every phase in my life that felt hard, happy, and suffocating. Their lyrics have made me feel more heard than any person ever could.

I feel so much and so deeply, I think music is the only thing I can truly connect with.

Here is a playlist of my favorite Neighbourhood songs:

I remember the first time I saw the Neighbourhood. It was the most emotional experience of my life, seeing Artemas being the second. I am deeply obsessed with seeing artists live. Both times I was with one of my best friends, and both times I was a little tipsy, which made me feel it even deeper. I was just captivated by the raw sound of something that made my raw emotions feel validated. I was in heaven. I think those two concerts were the closest I have felt to accepting death. If I were to die the second the final song ended, I would die happy and at peace.

I am seeing them twice this year. One time at Lolla and another in November. It will be two out of the four best days of my year. The other two are the Artemas concert I already went to, and seeing him again in October.

God, I just feel this shit so deeply.

I can’t even put into words how much they mean to me, man. They truly are a part of my soul now. Literally tattooed on my body. They are a part of me.

Thank you, xx.

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What artist do you feel the most attached to?