Billie Eilish isn’t your regular teenager. Not even close.
The Los Angeles-raised singer and songwriter set the music world on fire with her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?), and a string of hits from it, including the Billboard Hot 100 leader “Bad Guy.”
In January 2020, she became just the second artist in history to win all four of the Big Four Grammy categories: best new artist, album of the year, song of the year and record of the year.
And then, another record. Eilish was tapped to record the James Bond theme for “No Time To Die,” in doing so becoming the youngest singer to take on the 007 franchise.
The year 2020 didn’t pan out how Eilish, or anyone else, had planned. 2021 is looking up.
On Tuesday night (Feb. 23), Eilish stopped by The Late Show for a candid, 20-minute chat with its host Stephen Colbert, ticking off the doc, new music, fans, James Bond and more.
While most of us turned to mush in lockdown, Eilish used the extended downtime wisely. The novel coronavirus resulted in a new album, the release date for which is still under lock and key. “The flip side is, I’ve gotten more time off than I’ve ever ever had,” she quips. “I have to thank COVID for that, and that’s about it.”
When asked what to expect with the new album, and whether Eilish cuts loose and showcases her mighty pipes, she remarks, “There are a couple moments in this album when I pull some tricks out.”
We’ll just have to wait and see.
The wait, however, is nearly over for the release of The World’s A Little Blurry, a new documentary that charts the rise of the talented teen turned global superstar, filmed across three years. Blurry is due to drop this Friday (Feb. 25) on Apple TV+ and in select theaters.
Having cameras in her face, constantly, was “invasive” but “also fun,” she recounts. And watching the playback with three friends was awkward. “I don’t really change in front of the camera,” she explains. “I was really worried.”
Eilish, now 19, shared some insights into her self-belief, and how she ignored those voices telling her what to do. “I respond to opposite peer pressure. If friends of mine tried to get me to do something, it made me want to do the other thing,” she explains. “That’s why I never did drugs, and I never drank alcohol… I’m not going to do something because you want me to do.”
In a nutshell, it’s about “intuition” and “serious trust in your gut.”
Eilish also talked about life in the celebrity bubble, meeting her “idol” Justin Bieber, and the “creeps” that are out there.
Remember to live in the moment and pay respect to fans, is her mantra. “We forget that what we do really affects other people in very large ways.”
And has she caught the new Bond blockbuster, the release of which was pushed back by the pandemic? You bet. “It’s bomb,” she insists. “It’s amazing.”
Watch the interview below.
