In a remarkably candid interview, published in the L.A. Times this month, Billie Eilish was asked,
“Do you ever feel threatened by the recent rise of your fellow pop stars, such as Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter?”
he wasn’t exactly defensive. Quite to the contrary, she greatly admired these other artists, hailing them as “f**king awesome” and celebrating their success in a cutthroat industry.
“Are you kidding me? I’m so happy for these b*tches. It’s a crazy world when you get to the level they’re experiencing right now, and they’re doing great. Fans are drawn to them because they’re f*cking awesome.”
She added it’s no surprise the fans were into them, acknowledging the maelstrom of fame that comes with that level of talent. For Eilish, it’s literally: there’s just no room for some rivalry where the music is this good.
Beyond her remarks about these emerging stars, Billie turned candid about the fierce competition happening in the music business. Although that competition can be cutthroat, she doesn’t really view it as a constant struggle for center stage. Rather, Billie mentioned how important it is to support one another through those states of mind and overwhelming public expectations. “It’s a crazy world at the top,” she noted, “and we all need to have each other’s backs.“
The discussion even touched on Billie’s new single Birds of a Feather, which almost never made it to the public. Early in the year, when she mentioned the single had a more poppy sound than her usual, she said she wasn’t sure that it showed her typical style. After multiple edits, it remains one of her biggest hits; even most unlikely tracks can strike a chord with her audience.
This sense of growth and self-assurance is a returning theme for Billie, who reflected on how her music has changed in recent years. From the dark, brooding tones of her earlier albums to the more emotionally complex songs she’s making these days, according to Billie, much of her artistic shift can be attributed to her experiences with fame. Public scrutiny does force her to constantly move and change; the one thing that does stay put, though, is her commitment to staying real.
Indeed, like many artists of the contemporary era, Billie is vocal about the kinds of pressures thrown her way, both in her personal life and her professional career. She was open about the ways it is tough to maintain good mental health in an industry where everything gets amplified through social media and constant public attention. Yet, she has found her refuge in the company of fellow musicians, stating how significant it is for them all to lean on and lift each other up in such a cutthroat field.
But Billie’s talents go far beyond music. She is currently collaborating with Gucci and award-winning director Gus Van Sant on a series entitled Ouverture of Something that Never Ended, in which her influence on the worlds of fashion and visual arts proves just as impactful as the one her music does. Due to release later this year, the project highlights Billie’s emerging presence within other forms of creative media.
Besides this, Billie is on her world tour titled Hit Me Hard and Soft. Indeed, she has added new dates in 2025 in addition to touring Europe and Australia. It’s a show you would definitely not want to miss, graced with special guests Ashnikko and her brother Finneas, who join her on stage.
She concluded by saying that the public’s perception of her has shifted throughout her career. Being one of the most scrutinized pop stars of her generation, she learned how to handle praise as easily as she could criticism. Amidst constant pressures to be like everybody else, Billie stays true to herself, a quality her fans have come to admire.
