It was 2017. Fidget spinners were everywhere. We were all obsessed with "Despacito." And then, seemingly out of nowhere, a shimmering synth-pop track hit the airwaves that basically defined that specific era of cautious romanticism. I'm talking about promise me no promises demi lovato, or as the official credits list it, "No Promises" by Cheat Codes featuring Demi Lovato.
The song isn't just a relic of the late 2010s house-pop explosion. Honestly, it's a case study in how to make a collaboration actually work. So many "DJ plus pop star" tracks feel like they were emailed back and forth between people who never met. This one? It felt different. It felt like a real moment.
The Story Behind Promise Me No Promises Demi Lovato
You might wonder how a Los Angeles electronic trio and a Disney-alum-turned-powerhouse-vocalist ended up on the same track. It wasn't some corporate boardroom mandate. It started in Brazil.
In December 2016, both artists were performing at Z Festival in São Paulo. If you've ever seen footage of a Brazilian crowd, you know they don't just "watch" a show—they become a part of it. The fans there started a grassroots campaign on social media, tagging Cheat Codes and Demi, insisting they work together.
The trio—Trevor Dahl, Matthew Russell, and Kevin Ford—had a demo sitting around. They knew it needed a specific kind of "edge." They sent it to Demi. She didn't just record the vocals; she lived in them. Within a few months, they were in a studio in LA, and the track was finished in a single afternoon.
Why the Song Hit Different
Music in 2017 was weirdly obsessed with low-commitment relationships. We had tracks about "friends with benefits" and "situationships" before that word was even a thing. "No Promises" captured that anxiety perfectly.
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The lyrics are vulnerable but guarded.
"I just wanna dive in the water with you / Baby, we can't see the bottom."
It’s that terrifying feeling of falling for someone while simultaneously screaming "don't hurt me" into the void. Demi’s vocal performance isn't just her usual belt-to-the-rafters style. She uses a lot of breathy, intimate textures in the verses that make the "promise me no promises" hook feel like a desperate plea rather than a cool-girl demand.
Breaking Down the Production
Let's get technical for a second, but not too boring. The song is written in B♭ major. It’s got a tempo of 113 beats per minute. That’s the "sweet spot" for what DJs call "tropical house" or "future bass" crossovers. It’s fast enough to dance to, but slow enough that you can still feel the sadness.
- The Build: It starts with those plucked, guitar-like synths.
- The Drop: It isn’t a heavy, aggressive EDM drop. It’s melodic. It’s "bouncy."
- The Vocals: Trevor Dahl takes the first verse, setting a mellow tone. When Demi enters for the second verse, the energy shifts. Her voice has this gravelly quality that grounds the electronic elements.
People often search for promise me no promises demi lovato because the hook is so catchy it replaces the actual title in their heads. "No Promises" reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went Platinum in the US and the UK. It was everywhere—from H&M dressing rooms to the main stage at Ultra Music Festival.
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The Tattoos and the Bond
This wasn't just a "one and done" paycheck for them. The artists actually became friends. There’s a famous story about Demi eyeing Trevor’s hand tattoo. She was nervous about getting something that visible. The guys encouraged her, and a few weeks later, she debuted that massive lion tattoo on her hand.
When the song hit the Top 10 on pop radio, Demi actually sent the Cheat Codes guys a credit to get their own tattoos with her personal artist in New York. That’s not "industry standard" behavior. That’s real peer-to-peer respect.
Is There a Stripped Version?
If the dance beats are too much for you, you need to find the "Stripped" or acoustic version. It was released in August 2017.
In this version, the synths are replaced by a simple acoustic guitar and a piano. Without the house production, you realize how much of a "songwriter's song" this actually is. The vulnerability is dialed up to eleven. You can hear the "knife" in the lyrics that the original version sort of hides under the beat.
Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think this song was a lead single for a Demi album. It wasn't. While it appeared on the deluxe version of her 2017 album Tell Me You Love Me, it was officially a Cheat Codes single.
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Another weird one: Some people think Lauv is the one singing the male part. He didn't sing it, but he did co-write it. If you listen closely, you can hear his signature melodic phrasing all over the chorus. Ari Leff (Lauv) has a way of making lyrics feel like a text message you’re afraid to send.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you're a fan of this specific sound, or a creator looking to capture that "No Promises" magic, here is what you should look for:
Check out the Remixes
The Bassjackers remix is great if you want a festival-ready version. If you want something more sophisticated, the Ashworth remix brings a more "indie-electronic" vibe that works better for a chill playlist.
Look at the Credits
If you love the "vibe" of this song, follow the writers. Jackson Foote and Emma Lov from the duo Loote were heavily involved. Their own music carries that same DNA of high-energy pop mixed with devastatingly relatable lyrics.
Understand the "Collab" Strategy
For aspiring artists, "No Promises" is the blueprint for a successful crossover. It didn't force Demi into a genre that didn't fit her. Instead, it took her "soulful" 2017 era and gave it a pulse.
The legacy of promise me no promises demi lovato is its staying power. Even years later, when it comes on shuffle, you don't skip it. You might not want to make any promises, but you'll definitely sing along to the "oh na na" parts.
To fully appreciate the evolution of this track, start by listening to the original radio edit to catch the energy, then immediately switch to the acoustic "Stripped" version. Comparing the two reveals how a great melody can survive even when you strip away the million-dollar production. Once you've done that, look into the discography of Loote and Lauv to see how this specific "2017 pop-drop" sound evolved into the bedroom pop of the 2020s.