Billie Eilish takes on Bond
Fresh off of her stand out performance at the 2020 Oscars, Billie Eilish releases the title theme song for the 25th Bond film “No Time to Die”. Having swept the four major categories at the Grammys in January, Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas (only 22) are dominating all of music.
ABOUT THE YOUNG PRODIGY
We can’t hide this fact that young prodigies are cool. Among them, Billie Eilish is possibly one of the coolest. With her defiant eye, her rebellious attitude, and a remarkably successful career, at only 18, she has been one of the most talked-about celebrities in the last three years.
Despite her young age, Billie has already collected eight gold and four platinum singles, leaving a mark in the pop culture with songs like Bad Guy, When the party’s over, Bury a friend.
With both her songs and her peculiar image, characterized by baggy clothes and bright-colored hair, she fully represents the fluidity and the rebellion of Generation Z (or maybe of adolescence, in general).
How did Billie Eilish become so popular and acclaimed in such a short time and at such a young age?
Internet Fame
She is one of the brightest examples of how the Internet revolutionized the music industry, shifting the focus from big labels in big expensive studios to independent artists in small, D.I.Y. home-studios.
Billie has a strong bond with her brother and fellow musician Finneas O’Connell, with whom she writes and produces all of her songs. In 2015, he asked her to record a version of Ocean Eyes, initially written for his band.
They uploaded the track to Soundcloud, intending to share it with Billie’s dance teacher, and it instantly reached more than 1000 streams.
The track continued growing on the platform, attracting the attention of new fans and media.
Upbringing
Born in quite a stimulating environment, from screenwriter and actress Maggie Baird and actor Patrick O’Donnell, Billie had her first encounter with art and music at a very young age. It’s no surprise she developed a sharp sensitivity and an undeniable talent.
Throughout the last three years, Billie and her brother Finneas published more than forty successful singles, contained in two main collections: the 2017 EP Don’t Smile At Me, and the 2019 album When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Music Style
An interesting blend of electropop, EDM, trap, and alternative rock, their songs portray with raw realism and surreal flairs what contemporary adolescent and young adults experience in their lives.
The main focus of every track is Billie’s peculiar vocal performance, a whispery and throaty soprano voice that sounds delicate and somewhat creepy at once. This unique voice, together with a layered and articulate set of influences, has surely contributed to a huge, quick, and unexpected success.
Her life, however, is not always a bed of roses.
Challenges and Impact
Billie Eilish has recently worked with the Ad Council at the Seize The Awkward campaign, a series of PSAs on mental health issues, a topic she has at heart: she lives with Tourette syndrome and she has experienced depression.
Nevertheless, Billie has shown the world that diversity is a bonus rather than an impediment and that strong young woman can have an influential place in today’s music industry and world. Check out our other entertainment features here.
Contributed by Nicole Stella
