It was late 2016 when the radio wouldn’t stop playing that four-chord loop. You know the one. It starts with a pulsing synth and a story about a roommate in Boulder. When The Chainsmokers moved to the city in the context of their massive hit "Closer," it wasn't just a lyrical choice. It was a cultural shift. Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall didn't just write a song about a specific geographical relocation; they captured a mood that defined an entire era of millenial and Gen Z crossover appeal.
Most people think of "Closer" as just another EDM-pop track. That's a mistake. It was a pivot point. Before that song, EDM was mostly about "the drop"—that aggressive, eardrum-shattering moment designed for festivals like Ultra or Tomorrowland. But when the duo leaned into the narrative of two people reconnecting in a city environment, they bridged the gap between the DJ booth and the singer-songwriter circle. It felt personal. It felt kinda messy. It felt like real life, even if the beat was polished to a mirror finish in a studio.
Why the "Moved to the City" Lyric Stuck
There is something visceral about the line “So, baby, pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover that I know you can't afford / Bite that tattoo on your shoulder / Pull the sheets right off the corner of the mattress that you stole from your roommate back in Boulder.” It’s hyper-specific. In songwriting, specificity is usually the secret sauce that makes a song feel universal. Even if you’ve never been to Boulder, you know exactly what that "stolen mattress" life feels like.
When The Chainsmokers moved to the city narrative-wise, they were moving away from the "Selfie" era. Remember "Selfie"? It was a gimmick. It was funny, sure, but it didn't have legs. Moving into city-centric storytelling gave them a gravity they previously lacked. They started talking about the anxiety of urban life, the cost of living, and the fleeting nature of relationships in a crowded world.
The "city" in their music functions as a character. It's often New York—where the duo got their start—but it represents any dense urban space where you’re surrounded by millions of people yet feel entirely alone. This theme resonates because it’s the modern condition.
The Real Story of New York and The Chainsmokers
Alex Pall and Drew Taggart actually met in New York City. This wasn't some manufactured boy band situation put together by a label in a boardroom in Los Angeles. It was organic. They were part of the NYC nightlife scene, playing small clubs and trying to figure out how to make dance music that people actually wanted to listen to on their headphones, not just in a strobe-lit basement.
New York is expensive. It's grueling. It beats you down. When they talk about moving to the city, they aren't talking about a vacation. They are talking about the hustle. This perspective is what allowed them to collaborate with artists like Halsey. Halsey, a native of the tri-state area, brought a raw, gritty vocal performance to "Closer" that grounded Drew’s smoother, more "suburban" vocal style.
The contrast worked.
It wasn't just about the lyrics, though. The production reflected the city vibe too. It was tighter. More claustrophobic in the verses, then opening up into these wide, expansive choruses. It’s the sonic equivalent of walking out of a cramped subway station into the middle of Times Square.
Breaking Down the "Closer" Formula
What really happened with "Closer" and why does it still matter in 2026? It’s the simplicity.
Technically, the song is almost too simple. It uses a basic $I - IV - vi - V$ chord progression (or variations thereof) that has been the backbone of pop music for decades. But The Chainsmokers did something clever. They stripped back the heavy synths of the mid-2010s and replaced them with a "plucky" sound that felt more acoustic, more human.
Basically, they made EDM for people who hate EDM.
- The beat is 95 BPM. That’s a walking pace. It’s not a "dance until you collapse" pace.
- The vocal range is narrow. You don’t have to be Adele to sing it at karaoke.
- The "drop" isn't a drop. It’s a synth melody that mimics the vocal line.
This accessibility is why the song stayed at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks. It wasn't just a "hit." It was an environment. People lived inside that song for an entire summer.
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The Backlash and the Redemption
You can't talk about The Chainsmokers moving to the city—both literally and metaphorically—without talking about the hate. At the height of their fame, they were the "frat bros" of EDM. They were easy targets. Critics called them shallow. They were mocked for their "bro-y" interviews and their seemingly overnight success.
But here is what most people get wrong: they actually know their stuff. Drew Taggart studied music business at Syracuse University. Alex Pall was an art gallery assistant. They understood the intersection of art and commerce better than almost anyone else in the industry.
When the backlash hit, they didn't just disappear. They leaned into a darker, more experimental sound with the album Sick Boy. They started talking about mental health, the pressures of fame, and the emptiness of the "city life" they had previously glorified. It was a pivot that saved their career. They stopped trying to be the "Closer" guys and started being actual musicians.
Collaborative Power: More Than Just Two Guys
The move to the city wasn't a solo journey. The Chainsmokers’ success is built on a foundation of incredible collaborations. They have an ear for talent that is almost unmatched in the producer world.
- Daya on "Don't Let Me Down": This track won them a Grammy. The guitar riff is iconic. It showed they could do heavy, trap-influenced sounds without losing the pop hook.
- Coldplay on "Something Just Like This": This was the moment they became "stadium big." Working with Chris Martin gave them a level of prestige that silenced a lot of the early critics.
- 5 Seconds of Summer on "Who Do You Love": This proved they could play well with pop-rock bands, further blurring the lines between genres.
The common thread? Each of these songs deals with the tension between individual desires and the outside world. Whether it's the superhero imagery in "Something Just Like This" or the infidelity paranoia in "Who Do You Love," the songs feel lived-in.
The Technical Side: How They Sound Like "The City"
If you're a producer, you know the "Chainsmokers sound." It’s characterized by a few specific technical choices.
They use a lot of side-chain compression. This is the "pumping" effect where the music ducks out of the way every time the kick drum hits. In the context of a city-themed song, it feels like a heartbeat. It feels like the pulse of a crowd.
They also lean heavily into vocal chops. Instead of using a traditional lead instrument like a trumpet or a lead guitar, they take snippets of the singer's voice, pitch them up, and play them like a keyboard. It creates a dreamlike, slightly artificial atmosphere. It’s the sound of digital ghosts in a concrete jungle.
Honestly, it’s brilliant branding. Even if you don't like the music, you recognize it within three seconds.
What We Can Learn From the "Closer" Era
Looking back from 2026, the moment The Chainsmokers moved to the city stands as the peak of "relatable EDM." Before this, dance music was about escapism—getting away from the world. After this, dance music became about reflection—looking at the world around you and finding the beauty (and the sadness) in the mundane details.
The legacy of this era isn't just about record sales. It's about how we consume music. We want stories. We want to know what kind of car you're driving and whose mattress you're sleeping on. We want the gritty details of the city.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you're looking to capture some of that same energy in your own creative work or just want to appreciate the music more deeply, consider these steps:
Focus on the "Micro-Moment"
Don't write about "love." Write about a specific tattoo on a specific shoulder. Don't write about "the city." Write about a specific roommate in a specific town. The more local you get, the more global your reach becomes.
Embrace the "Messy" Middle
The reason "Closer" worked is that the characters weren't perfect. They were kind of jerks to each other. They were broke. They were making bad decisions. In an age of filtered Instagram lives, people crave that raw, slightly uncomfortable honesty.
Understand the "Hybrid" Model
The Chainsmokers succeeded because they didn't stay in their lane. They weren't just DJs; they were a band. They weren't just pop stars; they were producers. If you're in a creative field, don't be afraid to mix "high art" sensibilities with "low brow" commercial appeal. That’s where the magic happens.
Study the 95 BPM Groove
If you're a musician, try writing at a slower tempo than you think you should. Most dance tracks are 128 BPM. By slowing it down to 95, The Chainsmokers made music that worked at the gym, in the car, and at the club. Versatility is the key to longevity.
The story of the duo is still being written, but that specific moment—the move to the city—will always be the anchor point. It’s when two guys from New York stopped chasing trends and started setting them.
Next Steps for Deep Listening:
Check out the Collage EP and the Memories...Do Not Open album back-to-back. You can hear the transition from pure electronic energy to a more structured, city-focused songwriting style. Pay attention to the background noise in the tracks; there are often subtle "city" sounds—traffic, chatter, ambient hum—that build the atmosphere they are famous for.