Ep. 241: Jesse Rutherford (The Neighbourhood) | How an Unlikely Band Became Inevitable

Today’s guest is the frontman of one of the most defining bands of the 2010s — a songwriter whose voice helped shape an era of alternative pop that still echoes today. Before arenas. Before permanence. Before “Sweater Weather” became cultural shorthand. Jesse Rutherford was just a kid in Los Angeles trying to figure out where he fit — in a band, in an industry, and in himself. What followed wasn’t overnight success. It was a slow build. A series of pivots. A band that wasn’t supposed to last — that did. Now, after over a decade of hits, reinvention, and evolution, Jesse looks back on the long arc of The Neighbourhood with clarity — and with honesty about what success did and didn’t solve. And The Writer Is… Jesse Rutherford of The Neighbourhood! In this episode of And The Writer Is…, Jesse opens up about: • Growing up in the industry before he understood it • The unlikely formation and endurance of The Neighbourhood • How success feels different from the inside • Why permanence is often accidental • The tension between identity and audience • The advice he’d give himself before it worked • And much more… Hit subscribe and turn on notifications. Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music. Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris A special thank you to our sponsors… Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us. And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:09 I Never Wanted To Be Alternative 04:02 Why Thousand Oaks Produces Massive Bands 07:39 Becoming a Child Actor at 6 08:35 “My Self-Worth Is Tied to Entertaining” 09:55 Discovered in a Movie Theater at 5 14:16 Reconnecting With His Dad Before He Passed 17:28 Success Without the Fame He Expected 27:10 High School Metalcore Bands 33:17 How The Neighbourhood Formed 36:06 The First Riff of “Sweater Weather” 40:00 Getting Discovered Online by Their Manager 44:23 His Manager’s Warning 47:20 Writing the Lyrics to “Sweater Weather” 48:42 Pop Writing Rules 55:23 Learning to Let Go of Instant Validation 59:32 “Daddy Issues” 1:02:30 Watching Your Own Lyrics Affect Relationships 1:10:01 Why He Needs Alone Time 1:10:23 Feeling Invisible, the “Chip Chrome” Era 1:11:17 Touring the Same Venues & The Plateau Feeling 1:12:31 Why Chip Chrome Became His Favorite Creative Risk 1:13:48 “You’ve Got to Get People to Look to Listen” 1:16:00 Creative Direction as Identity Control 1:19:30 Self-Sabotage vs Reinvention 1:32:00 Band Brotherhood & Growing Up Together 1:36:00 Legacy, Impact & What Really Matters 1:41:00 Advice to His Younger Self Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad Edited by Jad Saad Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki Watercolor Art by Michael White