Billie Eilish
Electronic, Pop • Los Angeles, United States
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell was born on December 18, 2001, in Los Angeles, California, to parents Maggie Baird and Patrick O'Connell, both musicians and actors. Homeschooled and encouraged to explore creative pursuits, Eilish began playing ukulele at age six and started writing music at eleven. Her breakthrough came in 2015 when her brother Finneas produced "Ocean Eyes," a track that garnered hundreds of thousands of listens within weeks. Signed to Darkroom and Interscope Records in 2016, Eilish released her debut EP "Don't Smile at Me" in 2017, establishing her distinctive aesthetic of baggy clothing and intimate, whisper-like vocals.
Eilish's debut album "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" (2019) became a cultural phenomenon, debuting atop the Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart. At just 17 years old, she became the youngest artist to be nominated for all four major Grammy categories and subsequently won all four at the 2020 Grammy Awards. Her single "Bad Guy" made her the first artist born in the 21st century to top the US Billboard Hot 100 and achieve RIAA Diamond certification. She performed the James Bond theme "No Time to Die" in 2020, becoming the youngest artist to write and perform a Bond theme, and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2022.
Eilish's second album "Happier Than Ever" (2021) continued her commercial dominance with multiple top-ten singles. Her third album "Hit Me Hard and Soft" (2024) received critical acclaim and spawned hit singles including "Lunch" and "Birds of a Feather." With eighteen Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, and numerous other accolades, Eilish represents a generational shift in pop music. Known for her dark, experimental production style developed with Finneas, introspective lyrics addressing depression and social issues, and innovative music videos, she has influenced contemporary pop while maintaining artistic credibility. Her activism encompasses climate change, women's reproductive rights, and body positivity, solidifying her role as both musical innovator and cultural voice for her generation.
Quotes
“I said so many things then that I totally don't agree with now, or think the opposite thing. The weirdest thing is how nothing ever goes away once it's on the internet... When you're a fucking teenager, you don't really know yourself.”
“His show is the second show I ever went to in my life. He changed so much about who I am, how I write music.”
“These songs are really current for me, and they're songs that I want to have said right now.”
“Over time it's kind of become a thing, 'Billie Eilish, the creepy, weird, scary girl.' And I don't like that. It's lame. I just don't want to stay one thing.”
“I wish no one knew anything about my sexuality or anything about my dating life. Ever, ever, ever. And I hope that they never will again. And I'm never talking about my sexuality ever again.”
“That woman has made her brand so perfect for her whole career and she shouldn't have to hear that.”
Career Timeline
Second Academy Award at Age 22
Won Academy Award for Best Original Song for "What Was I Made For?," becoming the youngest person ever to win two Academy Awards in any category.
Third Album "Hit Me Hard and Soft" Released
Third studio album received critical acclaim and spawned major hits including "Lunch" and "Birds of a Feather," the latter becoming her first number-one on Billboard Global 200.
Acting Debut and "What Was I Made For?"
Made acting debut in Amazon Prime Video series "Swarm" receiving positive reviews. Wrote "What Was I Made For?" for Barbie soundtrack, winning Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2024.
Academy Award for "No Time to Die"
Won Academy Award for Best Original Song for "No Time to Die," becoming the first person born in the 21st century to win an Academy Award in any category.
Youngest Headliner for Major Festivals
Became the youngest headliner to date for Glastonbury and Coachella festivals, highlighting her major cultural impact and status in the music industry.
Second Album "Happier Than Ever" Released
Second studio album topped charts in multiple countries with successful singles. Released in various formats including eco-friendly limited-edition vinyl made from recycled scraps.
Grammy Awards Sweep
Won all four major Grammy categories—Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year—becoming the second artist in history (after Christopher Cross) to achieve this.
James Bond Theme "No Time to Die" Announced
Announced as performer and co-writer of 25th James Bond film's theme song, becoming the youngest artist to write and perform a Bond theme and first female artist to have it top UK charts.
Debut Album "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" Debuts at Number One
Album debuted atop Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart, making Eilish the first artist born in the 2000s to have a number-one album in the US and youngest female to achieve this in UK.
"Bad Guy" Reaches Number One
At age 17, "Bad Guy" peaked at number-one on US Billboard Hot 100, making Eilish the first artist born in the 21st century to top the chart and youngest since Lorde in 2013.
Grammy Awards Recognition
Nominated for six Grammy Awards including Record of the Year and Song of the Year at age 17, becoming the youngest artist nominated in all four General Field categories.
Debut EP "Don't Smile at Me" Released
Released debut EP reaching number 14 on US Billboard 200. The project was commercially successful across multiple countries including US, UK, and Australia.
Record Label Deal
Signed to Darkroom and Interscope Records by Justin Lubliner. The label developed her rollout inspired by hip-hop artists, establishing her distinctive persona and aesthetic.
Debut Single "Ocean Eyes" Released
At age 13, Eilish released "Ocean Eyes" written and produced by her brother Finneas. The song garnered hundreds of thousands of listens within two weeks on SoundCloud, launching her music career.
