At just 22, Billie Eilish has already achieved what many musicians dream of in a lifetime. The Los Angeles pop culture phenomenon has been subject to intense adoration and scrutiny, growing up in the public eye.
Her meteoric rise began at 17 with her 2019 album “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?”, crafted in her brother’s childhood bedroom. This album not only topped Triple j’s Hottest 100 but also made history at the Grammys.
Her Complex Relationship with Music
Despite her success, Eilish’s relationship with music has been fraught with challenges. The 2021 documentary “The World’s A Little Blurry” revealed the impact of global fame on her physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Her second album, “Happier Than Ever”, further cemented her cultural dominance, yet it raised compelling questions about the price of ubiquity.
The album opener, “Growing Older,” captures this sentiment with the line, “Things I once enjoyed / Just keep me employed now.”
In a candid interview with Lucy Smith on Triple J Mornings, Eilish admitted, “I used to really not enjoy making music, and I still have trouble with it.
I forgot that I started making music because I loved it.” However, with the release of her third album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, Eilish has rekindled her passion for music. “I think that I’ve come back to enjoying it, and that’s been really nice,” she shares.
A Return to Her Roots
“Hit Me Hard and Soft” sees Eilish returning to the darker, theatrical tone of her debut album but with newfound confidence and studio mastery.
The 10-track release explores new sonic horizons, featuring a string quartet, 80s pop-rock, ‘indie sleaze-era electronica, and late 90s club heaters.
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Eilish had a greater role in its cinematic production, co-writing and producing the album with her brother, Finneas O’Connell.
“I was more involved in this album than anything we’ve made. And I think that came from pure enjoyment. Like, I wanted to,” Eilish explains.
She continues to comp her own vocals, a process of splicing together various takes to create the perfect track. “The greatest thing I’ve ever learned to do,” Eilish declares. “I’m never not grateful that I do that … all my vocals, and my little synths.”
Among the album’s surprises are moments where Eilish ventures into club music. Tracks like “Bittersuite” and “Chihiro” feature big synths and bass-heavy funk, respectively.
Eilish explains, “We really didn’t even mean to do that, it just came naturally.” One standout is the second half of the jazzy “L’Amour De Ma Vie,” which transitions into a danceable track called “Over Now.”
This song, with its pitch-shifted vocals and up-tempo pulse, was designed for Eilish’s personal fitness playlist. “I was at the gym all the time in this period. I was doing a lot of cardio,” she says.
Eilish’s return to DJing also influenced the album. At 15, her brother gave her DJ software, and she became proficient at remixing tracks.
This hobby was put on hold due to her rise to stardom, but she recently picked it up again thanks to Finneas’ circle of DJ friends. “I’ve been starting to go out into the world for the first time since I was young and just biting the bullet and just going outside,” she says.
Making Music for Herself
With immense popularity and Gen Z idol status, “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is poised to be a blockbuster. All 12 East Coast shows on Eilish’s upcoming Australian tour sold out almost immediately.
Initially, Eilish felt pressured by the weight of expectations. “I remember just being like, ‘I don’t know what people want me to make, and I don’t know what I’m going to make or what people are going to think!'” she recalls.
A conversation with a friend changed her perspective: “Billie, just make what you want to make.”
This liberated sense of artistic freedom informed the album, allowing Eilish to create without worrying about success or reception.
This decision also led to a unique release strategy: there would be no singles for “Hit Me Hard and Soft”. Eilish declared on Instagram, “Not doing singles, I wanna give it to you all at once.”
“Hit Me Hard and Soft” showcases Eilish’s vocal prowess, from delicate phrasing to soaring falsetto.
The record begins with the hushed vocals of “Skinny,” reminiscent of her Grammy-winning ballad “What Was I Made For?” Asked about her favorite vocal moment on the album, Eilish points to “L’Amour De Ma Vie.”
“It’s the jazziest song on the album, and any time I get to sing in the realm of jazz, I am so happy,” she says.
Eilish grew up admiring classic crooners like Frank Sinatra and Etta James. Despite facing criticism for her understated singing, she remains unapologetic.
“I really grew up thinking I was a bad singer because I didn’t belt,” she says. “But when I think about it, all the singers that I adored had deeply precise, beautiful, delicate control over their voices.”
Final Verdict
Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” marks a triumphant return to her roots, blending dark, theatrical tones with innovative new sounds.
It’s a testament to her growth as an artist and her renewed love for music. As she continues to push boundaries, Eilish remains a powerful voice in the music industry, unafraid to defy expectations and create art that resonates with her and her fans.
