The Long Yarn of ‘Sweater Weather’: The Neighbourhood Hit Refuses to Die as It Turns 10 and Earns Diamond Certification

variety.com:

Mike Wass From braving the wild terrain of early Tumblr to its renaissance on TikTok, “Sweater Weather” by the Neighbourhood (stylized as the neighbourhood) has bridged the pre- and post-streaming eras by resonating with generations of netizens.

Along the way, it’s amassed 2.1 billion Spotify streams, 1.7 billion YouTube views, and now earned a RIAA diamond certification for sales in excess of 10 million song units — one of only 106 songs to reach the milestone.

These accolades hit the song’s co-writers a little differently. “To achieve such a big milestone is hard to believe,” says guitarist Zach Abels. “I think for all of us, it’s really hard to take in and accept it as reality.” Frontman Jesse Rutherford, who is currently rolling out a solo project for Atlantic Records under the moniker Jesse®, views its place as firmly in the past. “The moment was so long ago,” he says. “It’s weird that I’m still talking about it at all to be honest.” Asked how it feels to go diamond, Rutherford cracks, “I’m rock hard.” But at the same time, he’s grateful for the doors “Sweater Weather” has opened.

After all, the Neighbourhood wouldn’t exist without it. “Zach used to play that riff all day long,” Rutherford remembers. “Eventually, I recorded it and made the beat around it.” Abels’ recollection of the song’s origin is similarly nonchalant. “It was such a weird time,” he says. “I was just about to graduate high school and Jesse was doing his own thing.” When Rutherford asked to record Abels playing the riff in his mom’s house, he happily obliged. “I didn’t have any plans for it.” Rutherford laid down vocals and brought a demo to Abels and fellow Neighbourhood co-founder Jeremy Freedman soon thereafter. “Other than some melodic