The Hills

The harmony of "The Hills" is deliberately minimalist — a three-chord loop in C minor (i–VI–VII) that never resolves to a traditional dominant. This refusal to resolve mirrors the song's thematic content of unapologetic excess. The harmonic simplicity puts focus on production textures: distorted bass, layered synths, and processed vocals carry the emotional weight rather than chord changes. The VII chord (Bb major) borrowed from the natural minor scale gives the progression its distinctive dark, floating quality, distinct from a standard pop minor progression.

The initial demo was created by producer Emmanuel "Mano" Nickerson, who sent it to The Weeknd. Co-producer Illangelo then began working on it, describing the process as their way of going back to the style of The Weeknd's first mixtapes but with "a pop arrangement and chords in a faster tempo." The Weeknd came up with the vocal top line shortly after Illangelo started shaping the production. The bridge and outro were the last sections written.

Released in 2015 as the second single from Beauty Behind the Madness, "The Hills" is The Weeknd's triumphant return to his murky, atmospheric roots after flirting with mainstream pop. Built on dissonant synths and trap-influenced production by Illangelo and Mano, the song became a cultural phenomenon, spending six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning diamond certification.