"NDA" (an acronym for "
non-disclosure agreement
A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a legal contract or part of a contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes, but wish ...
") is a song by American singer-songwriter
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell ( ; born December 18, 2001) is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained public attention in 2015 with her debut single " Ocean Eyes", written and produced by her brother Finneas O'Connell, with whom ...
and the fifth
single
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
from her second studio album, ''
Happier Than Ever
''Happier Than Ever'' is the second studio album by American singer Billie Eilish, released by Darkroom and Interscope Records on July 30, 2021. Eilish co-wrote the album with her brother and frequent collaborator Finneas O'Connell, who also p ...
'' (2021). It is an
alternative pop
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream or commercial ...
, dark-pop,
electropop
Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a re ...
,
industrial
Industrial may refer to:
Industry
* Industrial archaeology, the study of the history of the industry
* Industrial engineering, engineering dealing with the optimization of complex industrial processes or systems
* Industrial city, a city dominate ...
, and
progressive pop
Progressive pop is pop music that attempts to break with the genre's standard formula, or an offshoot of the progressive rock genre that was commonly heard on AM radio in the 1970s and 1980s. It was originally termed for the early progressive ...
track, which contains elements of
trip hop
Trip hop (sometimes used synonymously with "downtempo") is a musical genre that originated in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom, especially Bristol. It has been described as a psychedelic music, psychedelic fusion of hip hop music, hip hop ...
,
techno-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s a ...
, and
trance
Trance is a state of semi-consciousness in which a person is not self-aware and is either altogether unresponsive to external stimuli (but nevertheless capable of pursuing and realizing an aim) or is selectively responsive in following the dir ...
, accompanied by diverse lyrical content. Lyrically, "NDA" speaks about Eilish's battles with fame and for privacy, as well as touching on her relationships. Additionally, the song
transitions into the following album track, "
Therefore I Am
Therefore I Am was an American post-hardcore band formed in Boston in May 2004. After recording two independent extended plays, they signed to Epitaph Records in 2005 and later to Equal Vision Records in 2008, on which they recorded one full-len ...
". Eilish wrote the song with its producer, her brother
Finneas O'Connell
Finneas Baird O'Connell (born July 30, 1997), known mononymously as Finneas (stylized in all caps), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has written and produced music for various artists, most notably his sister, B ...
.
The track was released by
Interscope
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture with Atlantic Records of Warner Musi ...
and Darkroom Records as the album's fifth single on July 9, 2021. It is the third song supporting the project that impacted
mainstream radio
Contemporary hit radio (also known as CHR, contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format that is common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by ...
in the United States. The song received mostly favorable reviews from
music critics
Music journalism (or music criticism) is media criticism and reporting about music topics, including popular music, classical music, and traditional music. Journalists began writing about music in the eighteenth century, providing commentary on w ...
, who often called it dark and pulsating. The track's production and vocal performance were acclaimed, while its themes left some critics divided. Additionally, in some reviews, issues were taken with the song's lack of relatability or placement within ''Happier Than Ever''. Commercially, the single reached the top 20 in Australia, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, and the
''Billboard'' Global 200 chart, while in the artist's native United States, the single logged position 39.
"NDA" was promoted by a self-directed music video, which depicts Eilish walking alone on a desert road as cars race around her. It received an analysis from the critics, who saw the road representing the titular non-disclosure agreement or different parts of the singer's life. Similarly to the song, the visual also was dubbed as dark, eerie, and moody. For further promotion, the singer performed the song numerous times for gigs like
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...
's
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio stations BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra. It was originally hosted by Simon Mayo, and later by Jo Whiley on her weekday mid-morning, and later weekend lunchtime radio shows, then by Fearne Cotton ...
,
Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival
Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival is an annual music, culinary, art, and learning festival held in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It debuted in 2013 as a three-day event. In 2019, it was one of the world's highest grossing festi ...
,
2022 Coachella, and
Glastonbury Festival 2022
The 2022 Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts took place between 22 and 26 June. The three headlining acts were Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and Paul McCartney, with Diana Ross performing in the Legend's slot.
This is the fir ...
. During
a 2022–2023 world tour in support of ''Happier Than Ever'', Eilish performed the song on the stage resembling the highway road. The live rendition of the track has been featured in her
concert film
A concert film, or concert movie, is a film that showcases a live performance from the perspective of a concert goer, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by either a musician or a stand-up comedian.
Early history
The ...
''
Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles'' (2021).
Background and release
![2017-Kauai-Island](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/2017-Kauai-Island.jpg)
At the age of 18,
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell ( ; born December 18, 2001) is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained public attention in 2015 with her debut single " Ocean Eyes", written and produced by her brother Finneas O'Connell, with whom ...
won five awards at the
62nd Annual Grammy Awards
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on January 26, 2020, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. It recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, running from October 1, 2018, to August 31, 2019. Al ...
held in 2020. These include
Album of the Year Album of the Year, often abbreviated to AOTY, may refer to:
Awards
* ARIA Award for Album of the Year, Australia
* Brit Award for British Album of the Year, UK
* Grammy Award for Album of the Year, US
* Juno Award for Album of the Year, CA
* Lati ...
for her debut studio album, ''
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
''When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?'' (stylized in all caps) is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Billie Eilish. It was released on March 29, 2019, by Darkroom and Interscope Records in the US and Polydor Records i ...
'' (2019). It was a commercial success, debuting at number one on many national record charts and bringing her mainstream fame. Her newly found success attracted the attention of stalkers: in 2019, the address of her family home in Los Angeles leaked online, causing three fans to show up at her house one day. One of them was an old man who had driven all the way from San Diego. That same year, a man was arrested for trespassing after appearing outside Eilish's residence seven times while "showing erratic behavior", such as by waiting for her by the front porch when told by her father that she was not home yet. A judge issued a restraining order against the man, which prevented him from trying to contact or go within a 100-meter radius of Eilish and her parents, harassing the family, or visiting Eilish's workplaces.
In 2020, Billie Eilish and her family experienced stalking from another person.
She filed a civil harassment restraining order against the stalker, who went by a nickname of "Adam Lucifer", on February 11, 2021, winning the case the following month. Camping by a school across from Eilish's residence, he had been sending her "extremely disturbing" letters and making throat-slitting gestures whenever they encountered each other. Eilish started fearing for her life and the well-being of her family, and she stopped feeling safe while inside her house as well as travelling outside of it. In a court statement, she wrote: "Every time I see him I just want to scream."
On April 27, 2021, Eilish announced her second studio album ''
Happier Than Ever
''Happier Than Ever'' is the second studio album by American singer Billie Eilish, released by Darkroom and Interscope Records on July 30, 2021. Eilish co-wrote the album with her brother and frequent collaborator Finneas O'Connell, who also p ...
'' for release on July 30. Preceding the release of "NDA", Eilish became the subject of critical media coverage, which the media described as originating from "
cancel culture
Cancel culture, or rarely also known as call-out culture, is a phrase contemporary to the late 2010s and early 2020s used to refer to a form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles—whether it be online, on ...
".
Several old video clips of her began to receive media attention.
In one video, Eilish, then in her early teens, is seen lip-syncing to a song by
Tyler, the Creator
Tyler Gregory Okonma (born March 6, 1991), known professionally as Tyler, the Creator, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the founding members of the music collective Odd Future.
Okonma self-released his debut mixtape Bast ...
which includes the anti-Asian slur "
chink
''Chink'' is an English-language ethnic slur usually referring to a person of Chinese descent. The word is also sometimes indiscriminately used against people of East Asian, North Asian and Southeast Asian appearance. The use of the term des ...
", for which Eilish later apologized.
She was also criticized for other clips which allegedly show her using a
blaccent
African-American English (or AAE; also known as Black American English, or Black English in American linguistics) is the set of English sociolects spoken by most Black people in the United States and many in Canada; most commonly, it refers t ...
and
AAVE
African-American Vernacular English (AAVE, ), also referred to as Black (Vernacular) English, Black English Vernacular, or occasionally Ebonics (a colloquial, controversial term), is the variety of English natively spoken, particularly in urban ...
. She was accused of
queerbaiting
Queerbaiting is a marketing technique for fiction and entertainment in which creators hint at, but then do not depict, same-sex romance or other LGBTQ+ representation. The purpose is to attract (" bait") an LGBTQ+ or straight ally audience with ...
after the release of the music video for her previous single "
Lost Cause
The Lost Cause of the Confederacy (or simply Lost Cause) is an American pseudohistorical negationist mythology that claims the cause of the Confederate States during the American Civil War was just, heroic, and not centered on slavery. First ...
" (2021), which viewers believed had "
sapphic" undertones. Eilish responded by posting photos to
Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
with the caption "I like girls", later stating in an interview that she considers her sexuality to be her own private business. "NDA" was announced via an
Instagram
Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. The app allows users to upload media that can be edited with filters and organized by hashtags and geographical tagging. Posts can ...
post by Eilish, alongside a music video, on July 1, 2021. She additionally revealed the cover art for the single, which features double image of her.
Two days before the song's release, Eilish posted a short snippet of it on Instagram.
The song was released to
digital download and
streaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is delivered and consumed in a continuous manner from a source, with little or no intermediate storage in network elements. ''Streaming'' refers to the delivery method of content, rather than the content it ...
on July 9, 2021, as the fifth single from ''Happier Than Ever''.
Additionally, it was serviced to Italian
radio airplay
Airplay is how frequently a song is being played through broadcasting on radio stations. A song which is being played several times every day (spins) would have a significant amount of airplay. Music which became very popular on jukeboxes, in n ...
the same day.
On July 20, 2021, the song impacted
alternative
Alternative or alternate may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki''
* ''The Alternative'' (film), a 1978 Australian television film
* ''The Alternative ...
and
mainstream
Mainstream may refer to:
Film
* ''Mainstream'' (film), a 2020 American film
Literature
* ''Mainstream'' (fanzine), a science fiction fanzine
* Mainstream Publishing, a Scottish publisher
* ''Mainstream'', a 1943 book by Hamilton Basso
Mu ...
radio formats in the United States.
Along with the release of the album, the
lyric video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...
of the song was uploaded to Eilish's official
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
channel.
Development and recording
"NDA" was written by Eilish and her brother
Finneas O'Connell
Finneas Baird O'Connell (born July 30, 1997), known mononymously as Finneas (stylized in all caps), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has written and produced music for various artists, most notably his sister, B ...
, who also served as the track's producer. It was recorded at Finneas' home recording studio, located in the basement of his
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
residence. The song's production started with the sound made by Finneas that plays in between
pre-chorus
Song structure is the arrangement of a song, and is a part of the songwriting process. It is typically sectional, which uses repeating forms in songs. Common forms include bar form, 32-bar form, verse–chorus form, ternary form, strophic form, and ...
and
chorus
Chorus may refer to:
Music
* Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse
* Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound
* Chorus form, song in which all verse ...
. Eilish wanted to use the sounds, because if not it would be a "waste" according to her.
In Eilish's
concert film
A concert film, or concert movie, is a film that showcases a live performance from the perspective of a concert goer, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by either a musician or a stand-up comedian.
Early history
The ...
, ''Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles'' (2021), she said that the track talks about different situations, it goes "all around the place", and it is open to interpretation. She added that the recording of "NDA" did not take place in her "comfort zone", but it was therapeutic and fun for her.
The singer likes the track because of its different structure.
She further elaborated about the song's development process in an interview with
Zane Lowe
Alexander Zane Reid Lowe (born 7 August 1973) is a New Zealand radio DJ, live DJ, record producer, and television presenter.
After an early career in music creation, production and DJing, he moved to the UK in 1997. He came to prominence thro ...
for
Apple Music
Apple Music is a music, audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users select music to stream to their device on-demand, or they can listen to existing playlists. The service also includes the Internet radio stations Apple M ...
:
"I'm so happy that it's seeing the light of day. It came from that oes soundWe had that, we only had that. Finneas made that, just that. We were just messing around, and he just made that, and we were like, 'Oh!' And it just was that … and it was way slower and pitched down. It was really slow, this crazy... And we would just listen to it, and we would just walk around the room feeling it. And it was such a feeler. Oh my God, I kept picturing visuals for it. And I kept picturing legs, and girls and shapes, and darkness, and this cool. And I was just like, 'We have to make something to this, because this is a waste otherwise.' We literally made that whole song in two days or something, a day, I don't know. But it was a fun, satisfying-ass process. It was very, very fulfilling."
Composition and production
Musically, "NDA" is a
minimal, pulsating,
trip-hop
Trip hop (sometimes used synonymously with "downtempo") is a musical genre that originated in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom, especially Bristol. It has been described as a psychedelic fusion of hip hop and electronica with slow tempos ...
py,
and
trance
Trance is a state of semi-consciousness in which a person is not self-aware and is either altogether unresponsive to external stimuli (but nevertheless capable of pursuing and realizing an aim) or is selectively responsive in following the dir ...
-like
song described as
alt-pop
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream or commercial ...
, dark-pop,
electropop
Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a re ...
,
industrial
Industrial may refer to:
Industry
* Industrial archaeology, the study of the history of the industry
* Industrial engineering, engineering dealing with the optimization of complex industrial processes or systems
* Industrial city, a city dominate ...
, and
progressive pop
Progressive pop is pop music that attempts to break with the genre's standard formula, or an offshoot of the progressive rock genre that was commonly heard on AM radio in the 1970s and 1980s. It was originally termed for the early progressive ...
. According to the sheet music published by
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...
, the song is composed in the key of
G minor
G minor is a minor scale based on G, consisting of the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has two flats. Its relative major is B-flat major and its parallel major is G major.
According to Paolo Pietropaolo, it is the cont ...
, and has a
tempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...
of 85 beats per minute. Eilish's vocals span from
G3 to
D5, staying in her mid-
range
Range may refer to:
Geography
* Range (geographic), a chain of hills or mountains; a somewhat linear, complex mountainous or hilly area (cordillera, sierra)
** Mountain range, a group of mountains bordered by lowlands
* Range, a term used to i ...
.
It beggins with a "bleary" and "tense"
sample
Sample or samples may refer to:
Base meaning
* Sample (statistics), a subset of a population – complete data set
* Sample (signal), a digital discrete sample of a continuous analog signal
* Sample (material), a specimen or small quantity of s ...
from
t.A.T.u.
t.A.T.u. (russian: Тату, ) were a Russian music duo that consisted of Lena Katina and Julia Volkova. The singers were part of children's music group Neposedy before being managed by producer and director Ivan Shapovalov and signing with R ...
's 2003
promotional single
A promotional recording, or promo, or plug copy, is an audio or video recording distributed free, usually in order to promote a recording that is or soon will be commercially available. Promos are normally sent directly to broadcasters, such as ...
"
Show Me Love",
which is a
distorted synth
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and f ...
and pulsing beat.
The song later features "weird plucky" guitar,
"eerie" piano line,
atmospheric synths,
sub-bass
Sub-bass sounds are the deep, low-register pitches below approximately 70 Hz (C2 in scientific pitch notation) and extending downward to include the lowest frequency humans can hear, approximately 20 Hz (E0).
In this range, human hear ...
,
an
electro Auto Tune
Auto-Tune (or autotune) is an audio processor introduced in 1996 by American company Antares Audio Technologies. Auto-Tune uses a proprietary device to measure and alter pitch in vocal and instrumental music recording and performances.
Auto-Tu ...
,
"hypnotic" couplets and refrains,
and Eilish's doubled whispery vocals
in a "sparse, chiming production".
The bass grows more "intensive" and "aggressive" during the song's "frustrated" chorus,
while Eilish screams "You couldn't save me, but you can't let me go / I can crave you, but you don't need to know" through heavily auto-tuned vocals.
The chorus itself was classified by Rob Harvilla of
The Ringer as "dystopian
techno-pop
Synth-pop (short for synthesizer pop; also called techno-pop; ) is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s a ...
".
The song
segues into the album's next track "
Therefore I Am
Therefore I Am was an American post-hardcore band formed in Boston in May 2004. After recording two independent extended plays, they signed to Epitaph Records in 2005 and later to Equal Vision Records in 2008, on which they recorded one full-len ...
".
![Julia_Volkova_Bacardi_B-LIVE_2008](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Julia_Volkova_Bacardi_B-LIVE_2008.jpg)
"NDA" has been labled as "claustrophobic", "jittery", "prowling", "razor-sharp", "syncopated", and "thumping" by
music commentary, with Allison Stewart from ''
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' describing it as "twitchy club
rack
Rack or racks may refer to:
Storage and installation
* Amp rack, short for amplifier rack, a piece of furniture in which amplifiers are mounted
* Bicycle rack, a frame for storing bicycles when not in use
* Bustle rack, a type of storage bin ...
. Tyler Golsen of ''Far Out'' stated that the song is a "stark and shadowy version of electro-pop" and is "closer to
goth-pop
Gothic rock (also called goth rock or simply goth) is a style of rock music that emerged from post-punk in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The first post-punk bands which shifted toward dark music with gothic overtones include Siouxsie an ...
" than the previous single "
Lost Cause
The Lost Cause of the Confederacy (or simply Lost Cause) is an American pseudohistorical negationist mythology that claims the cause of the Confederate States during the American Civil War was just, heroic, and not centered on slavery. First ...
" (2021), but noted how "stylistically it stays in the same sonic sandbox".
In ''
Teen Vogue
''Teen Vogue'' is an American online publication, formerly in print, launched in January 2003, as a sister publication to ''Vogue (magazine), Vogue'', targeted at teenagers. Like ''Vogue'', it included stories about fashion and celebrities. Since ...
'' article, production of the tune was stated as its "unique sound element", while the song in whole was described as "woozier take on
hyperpop
Hyperpop is a loosely-defined music movement and microgenre that predominantly originated in the United Kingdom during the early-to-mid 2010s. It is characterized by a maximalist or exaggerated take on popular music, and artists within the genre ...
".
Brad Wheeler described the track as a "creepy thumper". Alex McLevy from ''
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
'' described the track as "pulsing, heartbeat-like throb".
"NDA" has been compared by critics to her debut studio album ''
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
''When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?'' (stylized in all caps) is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Billie Eilish. It was released on March 29, 2019, by Darkroom and Interscope Records in the US and Polydor Records i ...
'' (2019), and to the work of artists such as
progressive rap
Progressive rap (or progressive hip hop) is a broad subgenre of hip hop music that aims to progress the genre thematically with socially transformative ideas and musically with stylistic experimentation. Developing through the works of innovati ...
per
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
,
industrial rock
Industrial rock is a fusion genre that fuses industrial music and rock music. It initially originated in the 1970s, and drew influence from early experimental and industrial acts such as Cromagnon, Throbbing Gristle, Einstürzende Neubauten a ...
band
Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails, commonly abbreviated as NIN and stylized as NIИ, is an American industrial rock band formed in Cleveland in 1988. Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Trent Reznor was the only permanent member of the band ...
, and
hip hop and
dance
Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
producer
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He has received widespread acclaim for his innovative production work and distinc ...
. Sophie Walker of ''The Forty-Five'' opined that strings of this track are influenced by the
Eastern music
Asian music encompasses numerous musical styles originating in many Asian countries.
Musical traditions in Asia
* Music of Central Asia
** Music of Afghanistan (when included in the definition of Central Asia)
** Music of Kazakhstan
** Music o ...
, and they with the "ticking
metronome
A metronome, from ancient Greek μέτρον (''métron'', "measure") and νομός (nomós, "custom", "melody") is a device that produces an audible click or other sound at a regular interval that can be set by the user, typically in beats pe ...
" create a "disorientating, otherworldly sound".
The singer's vocal delivery in the track was described as "apathetic",
"emotive",
half-rapping,
and "hushed".
Writing for ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'', Hannah Dailey said that Eilish's distorted vocals are "engineered to sound intense";
whilst
Capital FM's Savannah Roberts called her vocals "effortless", elaborating that Eilish carried the verses and allowed the poignant words to sink in.
''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
''s Rhian Daly wrote that the song "moves between sparse, hypnotic verses and big refrains anchored by a heavy sub bass".
Bardají said that the song contains an interesting contrast with its production choices, "catchy and boastful melody", and "Billie's voice in the foreground but subjected to the habitual virguerias".
Walker said that the auto tune effect put on Eilish's voice "brings this glacial, nocturnal and spectacularly odd track to life."
Lyrical content and interpretation
Lyrically, "NDA" covers various topics.
Eilish starts the song by offering a reminder of the stalking incident from 2020: "Had to save my money for security / Got a stalker walkin' up and down the street / Says he's Satan and he'd like to meet."
Next, she mentions that she bought a secret house back in 2019.
Eilish also presents the struggles of having a private personal life and a romantic partner due to her fame.
Additionally, she sings that she had a "pretty boy" who she made sign a titular NDA—which is short for a
non-disclosure agreement
A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a legal contract or part of a contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties wish to share with one another for certain purposes, but wish ...
—to secure her private life from going public.
In the second verse, Eilish addresses her fame and money, singing that after being featured in
''Forbes'' 30 Under 30, her life has been negatively impacted since she can "barely" go outside.
She also shares thoughts of pursuing a new career and moving to
Kauai
Kauai, () anglicized as Kauai ( ), is geologically the second-oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands (after Niʻihau). With an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), it is the fourth-largest of these islands and the 21st largest island ...
,
an island she visited in 2020.
Eilish later refers to other songs from the album, such as "Getting Older", "I Didn't Change My Number", and "
My Future
"My Future" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the lead single of her second studio album, ''Happier Than Ever'' (2021). It was released on July 30, 2020, through Darkroom and Interscope Records, ...
".
The singer thinks that the outro has "like eight different meanings".
The song's lyrics have been described as a "half-joke",
"darkly humorous", "emotional", "barbed", and "sly". Megan Stone of ''
Good Morning America
''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. Th ...
'' had a different perspective on the track, describing it as "vulnerable and unsettling".
In an article published by
Pinkvilla
Pinkvilla is an Indian entertainment and lifestyle platform. As of June 2022, Pinkvilla has over 5,00,00,000 visitors on its website and app.
Overview
Pinkvilla covers entertainment and lifestyle stories. Its coverage extends to Bollywood, H ...
, a writer suggested that the song seemingly also talks about trust,
while ''
Young Hollywood
Young Hollywood is a privately held multimedia entertainment company founded in Los Angeles, California, by R. J. Williams.
The company licenses the “Young Hollywood” trademark domestically and internationally for a range of consumer pr ...
''s Rebecca Breitfeller stated it is about "that life is moving too fast and too many things are coming at
ilish
The ilish (''Tenualosa ilisha'') ( bn, ইলিশ, translit=iliś; also known as the ilishi, hilsa, hilsa herring or hilsa shad, is a species of fish related to the herring, in the family Clupeidae. It is a very popular and sought-after food ...
from all angles".
''
The Sydney Morning Herald
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...
''s Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen said that "NDA" depicts "strangeness of being a young woman under such intense scrutiny".
Jon Dolan of ''Rolling Stone'' opinied this tracks is about "life as a disconnected blur of new-fame isolation."
Critical reception
''
Gigwise
''Gigwise'' is a British online music news site that features music news, photos, album reviews, music festivals, concert tickets and video content. Founded in June 2001, the site is based in London, England.
History
Gigwise was launched in 2001 ...
''s Vicky Greer deemed Eilish to be "returning to the darker alt-pop" with "NDA",
similarly to how Roberts opined that the song further tapped into Billie's experimental vein.
Mike DeWald of ''Riff Magazine'' called it an "urgent
wall-of-sound anthem".
Chris Willman from ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' felt the single "seems more like an offbeat album track" and it is "good to get her more unnerving side back, in full, uneasy bloom".
Tom Breihan of ''
Stereogum
''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine.
''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several award ...
'' wrote that the song contains a "playfulness that's mostly lacking on the album" and that it is "one of the few moments where ''Happier Than Ever'' really crackles to life".
Ellen Peirson-Hagger of the ''
New Statesman
The ''New Statesman'' is a British political and cultural magazine published in London. Founded as a weekly review of politics and literature on 12 April 1913, it was at first connected with Sidney and Beatrice Webb and other leading members ...
'' compared its tone and vocal delivery to "Billie Bossa Nova", describing them as "sighing".
For ''
musicOMH
MusicOMH (stylized as musicOMH) is a London-based online music magazine which publishes independent reviews, features and interviews from across all genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.
History
MusicOMH was founded and launched by ...
'', John Murphy pointed out that "NDA" and "Lost Cause" sound like "future classics". ''The Forty-Five''s Emma Holbrook called the song's title line as one of the darkest lyrics of the album. Writing for ''
Hot Press
''Hot Press'' is a fortnightly music and politics magazine based in Dublin, Ireland, founded in June 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes.
History
''Hot Press'' was founded in June 1977 by Niall Stokes, who co ...
'', Peter O'Neill said that certain lyrics "highlight the moody feeling of the track". Robin Murray from ''
Clash'' said that it is "delicately composed"; while Sarah El-Mahmoud of ''
CinemaBlend
Future plc is an international multimedia company established in the United Kingdom in 1985. The company has over 220 brands that span magazines, newsletters, websites, and events in fields such as video games, technology, films, music, photogr ...
'' called the song "brooding" and "well orchestrated" with "intense back beat", as well as labeling the subject matter "interesting", however admitting that it did not "blow
ermind".
![Finneas O'Connell 2019 by Glenn Francis](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Finneas_O%27Connell_2019_by_Glenn_Francis.jpg)
"NDA" was praised by respective editors of ''
The Wall Street Journal
''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...
'' and
Hollywood.com
Hollywood.com is an entertainment news website covering popular culture topics including movies, television, music and celebrities. Hollywood.com is principally owned by Mitchell Rubenstein and Laurie S. Silvers, who previously founded Sci-Fi Ch ...
, with Mark Richardson commenting "
ilish'shushed voice and muted phrasing need the contrast these grittier and noisier tracks provide";
while Sam Persall said that it is a "perfect accompaniment to the previously released ''Happier Than Ever'' singles" because of its diverse lyrics.
Persall also described Finneas' production as "killer" and "superb", while opining that Eilish's vocal performance is "unworldly".
Breitfeller was positive, naming the track one of her favorite Eilish's releases, calling it "extremely bouncy
catchy",
and "chaotic".
She also opined that the song features one of the "coolest" productions on the album.
At ''Chorus.fm'', Adam Grundy highlighted Finneas production skills in "NDA", saying that they improved since the last projects he has been involved; while Aaron Mook suggested that the song is a good mixture of Eilish's first studio album with "something new."
Bardají called the track "excellent".
In an article published at The Ringer, "NDA" was called "
hit
Hit means to strike someone or something.
Hit or HIT may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities
* Hit, a fictional character from ''Dragon Ball Super''
* Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization in ...
"-sounding and its chorus was praised for being "heavy-hitting". Golsen praised the song, saying that "with a darker, almost creeper beat and near-whispered lyrics, 'NDA' shows off what Billie does best and builds up in tension and raw emotion as the song goes on".
For ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', Lindsay Zoladz complimented the song, saying that is "one of the most compelling songs on the album".
Alberto Aramburu from ''Holr Magazine'' praised the singer since "NDA" proves "
ilish
The ilish (''Tenualosa ilisha'') ( bn, ইলিশ, translit=iliś; also known as the ilishi, hilsa, hilsa herring or hilsa shad, is a species of fish related to the herring, in the family Clupeidae. It is a very popular and sought-after food ...
keeps giving it all on her creativity
ndperformance".
In an analysis published at
Chorus.fm, Mary Varvaris said that "NDA" "excellent
yflow" to "Therefore I Am" and that they "
omplementside-by-side and on the album."
''
E!''s writer Lindsay Weinberg described "NDA" as "dark glam glory".
On more critical note, William said that because the song is full of details it "should make
ilish
The ilish (''Tenualosa ilisha'') ( bn, ইলিশ, translit=iliś; also known as the ilishi, hilsa, hilsa herring or hilsa shad, is a species of fish related to the herring, in the family Clupeidae. It is a very popular and sought-after food ...
less relatable", however "counterintuitively, it has the opposite effect". McLevy criticized the fact that "Everybody Dies", "
Your Power", and "NDA" are placed next to each other because "following one another, they feel jarring, as though Eilish and her brother couldn't bear to leave such quality material in the studio, regardless of how inelegantly they work when placed together".
Oppositely, Zoladz called the song, and its followers, a "strong closing stretch".
''
Insider
''Insider'', previously named ''Business Insider'' (''BI''), is an American financial and business news website founded in 2007. Since 2015, a majority stake in ''Business Insider''s parent company Insider Inc. has been owned by the German publ ...
''s Callie Ahlgrim and Courteney Larocca gave the song a mostly unfavorable review, with Ahlgrim contemplating her "want to like this song more than" she did. While giving praise to the guitars placed in the song's pre-chorus, she found its release as a single a "mistake", explaining, "If you're going to prerelease a sizable chunk of your album, you better make sure it doesn't sound like well-worn terrain, or an obstacle on the way to shinier toys." Larocca liked references to other album tracks in "NDA", but she was critical of the tone of the song, saying that "Eilish sounds dispassionate throughout, prohibiting the song from exhibiting any real emotional pull".
Lists
Jackson Langford of ''
MTV Australia
MTV is a 24-hour general entertainment channel specialising in music and youth culture programming which serves Australia and New Zealand. It is operated by parent company Paramount Networks UK & Australia headquartered in London with a local of ...
'' put "NDA" on the third place of his list compiling of every Eilish songs, where he wrote that even though the track is not relatable, it "doesn't alienate." He also compared it to previous ''Happier Than Ever'' singles, "
My Future
"My Future" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and the lead single of her second studio album, ''Happier Than Ever'' (2021). It was released on July 30, 2020, through Darkroom and Interscope Records, ...
" (2020) and "Your Power", saying that unlike those "NDA" is an "all-out onslaught of fiery emotion as she reckons with fame's intense repercussions." Walker placed the single on the tenth position of her worst-to-best list of the artist's songs.
On ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
''-published ranking of the singer's 20 best songs, "NDA" was put on number 16, with Dolan opining that it is the "tensely humming track, with its water-torture string plucks and meat-cleaver snare thwumps, amps up the sense of claustrophobic desperation, as Eilish's bleary voice tries to break through, hungering for the freedom she's earned and deserves."
Writing for ''
Uproxx
''Uproxx'' (stylized in all caps) is an entertainment and popular culture news website. It was founded in 2008 by Jarret Myer and Brian Brater, and acquired by Woven Digital (later renamed Uproxx Media Group) in 2014. The site's target audience ...
'', Rachel Brodsky placed the track on number 19 of all Eilish songs ranked, where she added that "
stening to the pulsating 'NDA' is even a little stressful, but it’s probably nothing compared to what its author experiences on a daily basis." Dailey was more critical of "NDA", hence she placed it at number 13 in her ranking of worst-to-best songs of ''Happier Than Ever'', explaining that the song is a "fairly unrelatable song about what it takes to have a relationship and personal life when you're an ultra-famous celebrity".
''
Rolling Stone India
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its cove ...
''s Amit Vaidya listed it among the worst songs of 2021, saying that "sticks out like a sore thumb". The writer suggested that this song would have "worked better on an album or two later", hence now it feels "unnecessary."
Commercial performance
Similarly to two previous ''Happier Than Ever'' singles, "NDA" achieved moderate commercial success, which was criticized by some of Eilish's fans, calling it her "flop era". The singer addressed those allegations in a
TikTok
TikTok, known in China as Douyin (), is a short-form video hosting service owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which can range in duration from 15 seconds to 10 minutes.
TikTok is an international version ...
video, suggesting trolls to "eat
erdust", with "NDA" playing in the background. The song became the fifth single of the album which landed in the top 40 of the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, entering at number 39 on a chart issue July 24, 2021. The single slipped to number 75 the following week, while rebounding two weeks later to position 59, receiving "Biggest Streaming Gain" award. A week later, it was one of two songs from ''Happier Than Ever'' that stayed on the Hot 100, logging position 77. Additionally, the song peaked at number 25 on
Mainstream Top 40
Pop Airplay (also called Mainstream Top 40, Pop Songs, and Top 40/contemporary hit radio, CHR) is a 40-song music chart published weekly by Billboard (magazine), ''Billboard'' Magazine that ranks the most popular songs of pop music being played o ...
. According to
MRC Data
Luminate (formerly Nielsen SoundScan, Nielsen Music Products, and MRC Data) is a provider of music sales data. Established by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett in 1991, data is collected weekly and made available every Sunday (for albums sales) and eve ...
, in the week ending July 22, 2021, "NDA" was the 87th most-streamed song in the US. Also, it charted within top 20 in other ''Billboard'' charts, peaking at number 18 on the
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music industry record chart in Canada for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. The Canadian Hot 100 was launched on the issue dated March 31, 2007, and is currently the standard record chart in Canada; a n ...
and at number 20 on both global charts—
Global 200
The Global 200 is the list of ecoregions identified by the World Wide Fund for Nature ( WWF), the global conservation organization, as priorities for conservation. According to WWF, an ecoregion is defined as a "relatively large unit of land or w ...
and
Global Excl. U.S.
Unlike previous ''Happier Than Ever'' singles, "NDA" missed top 20 on the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
, peaking at number 23. Elsewhere in Europe, the song peaked within top 20 of countries such as Greece, Ireland and Norway, logging at numbers 19, 13, and 16,
while Lithuania is the only country where the single hit the top 10—it peaked at number 10.
In Oceania, the song also was placed in top 20 of Australia and New Zealand. In the former, "NDA" appeared at number 16 on the
ARIA Singles Chart
The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...
, before falling off the chart after two weeks. After the album's release, the song re-entered the ARIA Singles Charts at number 36. In the latter, the single logging position 14.
Music video
Background and synopsis
The music video for "NDA" was directed by Eilish and recorded on June 1, 2021. It was uploaded on her official YouTube channel on July 9, 2021, at 12 AM
Eastern Time
The Eastern Time Zone (ET) is a time zone encompassing part or all of 23 states in the eastern part of the United States, parts of eastern Canada, the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico, Panama, Colombia, mainland Ecuador, Peru, and a small port ...
.
In an interview with Apple Music, Eilish revealed the original concept for the music video was scrapped due to complications.
However, Eilish admitted that it is one of "the coolest" videos she directed.
According to ''Entertainment Weekly'', the clip was recorded on one take, with no doubles nor special effects.
The day after the video was published, Eilish posted behind-the-scenes content on her Instagram, featuring clips of recording the video, pictures of the bruises on her knees after she fell, and her mother
Maggie Baird
Maggie May Baird (born ) is an American actress, screenwriter, and former theater troupe teacher. Baird grew up in Colorado performing music, and studied theater and dance at the University of Utah, before moving to New York City, where she perf ...
's reaction to the fall.
The
one-shot
One shot may refer to:
Film and television
* One-shot film, a feature film shot in one long take with no edits, or manufactured to look like so
* ''One Shot'' (2005 film), a Sri Lankan action film directed by Ranjan Ramanayake
* ''One Shot'' (2 ...
video features Eilish walking at a dark night on a dimly lit desert road,
wearing black clothes.
While the song's verses are playing, a group of shadow figures follow behind her, but when she looks behind her, they disappear.
Additionally, the clip features numerous images of the artist's face in foreground played several times throughout the verses.
During the chorus,
25 stunt drivers race around the singer,
creating clouds of tire smoke.
At one point in the video, she falls on her knees.
The music video ends with an exhausted Eilish knowingly staring into the camera.
Analysis and reception
Althea Legaspi of ''Rolling Stone'' likened the trust between Eilish and the drivers to that associated with a non-disclosure agreement, after which the song is named;
whilst Breitfeller said that the cars cause chaos to "most likely represent the chaos and hardships represented in the song".
''Pure Charts'' Yohann Ruelle suggested it might symbolize "constant pressure she faces, even harassment from the paparazzi";
while Stone proposed that the cars may be symbolizing the singer's "distress".
In an article published by ''Pinkvilla'', the two-way street featured in the video was seen as the representation of "trust and love".
''Variety''s Chris Willman saw the music video as a continuation of Eilish's "trademark mordant humor and blunt language".
Nicholas Rice of ''
People
A person (plural, : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of pr ...
'' called the visual "moody", while Ruth Samuel from the ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' labeled it "eerie", adding "engulfed in clouds of smoke as dozens of cars race past her, Billie Eilish puts a literal spin on life".
Ruelle called it "shocking";
whereas ''
CinemaBlend
Future plc is an international multimedia company established in the United Kingdom in 1985. The company has over 220 brands that span magazines, newsletters, websites, and events in fields such as video games, technology, films, music, photogr ...
''s Sarah El-Mahmoud said that since the video has "some seriously dangerous practical set pieces", Eilish can be "respected" for it.
Josh Chesler of ''
Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' called the visual "high-octane" and "appropriate" for a "decidedly dark track" like "NDA". In an article published by ''
Paper
Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses or other vegetable sources in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fibre evenly distributed ...
'', the video was called "fun" and "Hollywood-themed"; while
iHeartRadio Canada
Bell Media Radio, G.P. (formerly CHUM Radio), operating as iHeartRadio Canada, is the radio broadcasting and music events subsidiary of Canadian media conglomerate Bell Media. The company has its origins in CHUM Limited, which was acquired by ...
's John R. Kennedy named it "daring" and "dark". Besides calling it "dark", Breitfeller said the video "particular
yfeels very honest and emotional", and that the cars featured in it are not only a "wonderful metaphor", but also "visually extremely entertaining".
Bardají dubbed the video as the singer's "darkest" visual yet, and opined that scenes where her face is the main focus are in "her style, but a little bit
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct three-octave vocal range and eccentric persona, she has de ...
".
The video reached almost 12 million views on
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
in three days.
Live performances
On July 16, 2021, an in-studio live performance of the song was uploaded to Eilish's YouTube channel. Besides Eilish, the video featured her brother, Finneas, playing synths and Andrew Marshall on drums. One day before the album's release, she performed "NDA" and "Billie Bossa Nova" on German program ''Unserding''. On August 5, 2021, Eilish performed a five-song in
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...
's
Live Lounge
The Live Lounge is a segment on the British radio stations BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra. It was originally hosted by Simon Mayo, and later by Jo Whiley on her weekday mid-morning, and later weekend lunchtime radio shows, then by Fearne Cotton ...
that included "NDA", alongside other album tracks and a cover of
Frances Langford
Julia Frances Newbern-Langford (April 4, 1913 – July 11, 2005) was an American singer and actress who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and made film and television appearances for over two decades.
She was known as the "GI Nighting ...
's "
I'm in the Mood for Love
"I'm in the Mood for Love" is a popular music, popular song published in 1935 in music, 1935. The music was written by Jimmy McHugh, with the lyrics by Dorothy Fields. The song was introduced by Frances Langford in the movie ''Every Night at Eigh ...
". Next month, the singer released her concert film entitled ''
Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles'', which featured a performance of the song. On September 20, Eilish performed "NDA" at
Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival
Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival is an annual music, culinary, art, and learning festival held in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. It debuted in 2013 as a three-day event. In 2019, it was one of the world's highest grossing festi ...
in front of 180 thousands fans.
In 2022, Eilish embark on
a world tour in support of ''Happier Than Ever'', where she performed "NDA" after "I Didn't Change My Number", before transitioning into "
Therefore I Am
Therefore I Am was an American post-hardcore band formed in Boston in May 2004. After recording two independent extended plays, they signed to Epitaph Records in 2005 and later to Equal Vision Records in 2008, on which they recorded one full-len ...
". During the song's performance, the stage changed into the highway road and backdrops displayed cars, reminiscent of the single's music video.
The tour included gigs on such festivals as
Coachella Coachella may refer to:
* Coachella, California
* Coachella Canal, in California
* Coachella (festival), an annual music and arts festival in California
* "Coachella – Woodstock in My Mind", a 2017 song by Lana del Rey
See also
* Coachell ...
and
Glastonbury
Glastonbury (, ) is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low-lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,932 in the 2011 census. Glastonbury ...
. The singer shared footage of the performance of "NDA" from the former festival on her official YouTube channel.
Credits and personnel
*
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell ( ; born December 18, 2001) is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained public attention in 2015 with her debut single " Ocean Eyes", written and produced by her brother Finneas O'Connell, with whom ...
vocals
Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...
,
songwriting
A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...
, vocal engineering
*
Finneas O'Connell
Finneas Baird O'Connell (born July 30, 1997), known mononymously as Finneas (stylized in all caps), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has written and produced music for various artists, most notably his sister, B ...
songwriting,
production
Production may refer to:
Economics and business
* Production (economics)
* Production, the act of manufacturing goods
* Production, in the outline of industrial organization, the act of making products (goods and services)
* Production as a stati ...
,
drum programming
Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices and computer software, such as sequencers and workstations or hardware synthesizers, sampler and sequencers, to generate sounds of musical instruments. These mus ...
,
engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...
,
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...
,
synth bass
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and f ...
,
synthesizer
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
, vocal arrangement
* Dave Kutch
mastering
*
Rob Kinelski
Robert Kinelski (born January 27, 1981) is an American mixing engineer, engineer, and record producer. He is best known for his engineering and mixing work for Billie Eilish, Finneas, Lil Dicky, Big Sean, Karol G, Joji, Beyoncé, and more. In 20 ...
mixing
* Casey Cuayo mixing assistant
* Eli Heisler mixing assistant
* Nick Rives immersive mix engineering
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Release history
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
2021 singles
2021 songs
Billie Eilish songs
Electropop songs
Industrial songs
Progressive pop songs
Song recordings produced by Finneas O'Connell
Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements
Songs written by Billie Eilish
Songs written by Finneas O'Connell
Songs about stalking