If you have turned on the radio, or looked at any US music charts within the last year or more specifically within the last five weeks, you’ve probably encountered Billie Eilish. The 17-year-old prodigy released her first full album 2 weeks before performing at Coachella and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
So what has led her crazy success? Aside from her beautiful voice and the fact that her music is the perfect balance between emo and pop, her blunt, to-the-point attitude has seemed to fascinate fans and journalists. Eilish came into the spotlight when she was 14 with her first single “Ocean Eyes.” In radio and video interviews she seems to represent every teenage girl going through all the feels of rejection, sadness, and general ‘earth shattering’ teen dilemma’s.
She represents everything that Disney teens don’t which has seemed to be her biggest selling point. She was only 11 when she first started writing songs and had no interest in being fake or innocent. Another stand out quality about Eilish is her fashion sense. She’s constantly in loose fitting, highly accessorized looks, with an emphasis on androgyny.
Her mix of rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic is something most people haven’t encountered before and definitely not from such a young star. When asked about her age Billie usually scoffs and has no good response; to the average person being as successful as she is at a young age sounds overwhelming but for Billie it’s her reality.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Billie answered all the same questions she had previously answered in an interview one year before with the magazine. The touching and wholesome video humanized Billie in a way most artists can’t show their fans. Although her vibe is standoffish and angsty, the video does a perfect job of showcasing how much she achieved in one year and how much she has grown in herself.
The beginning the video starts with basic questions, like how many Instagram followers she has and the biggest crowd she’s ever played for, but as the video goes on, they ask questions that dig deeper into the life of Billie Eilish. When asked what advice she would give to herself in a year, the younger Billie answered by saying not to waste so much time on being sad. Watching the reaction she has one year later made Billie the most relatable 17-year-old even if her lifestyle is not relatable whatsoever.
Though her career is only just beginning, Billie has shocked the music industry with her success which I think must be attributed to her image and brand, along with her incredible talent. Were all just waiting to see what Billie does next.
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