58.
ARTWORK: Maddy Watson
happier than ever: billie’s truth. CHETHA NAWANA
19. 162. 7. 15. 88.
These numbers can summarise the complexity that is global music phenomenon Billie Eilish into five simple facts. She is 19 years old. She has been nominated for 162 awards. She won 7 Grammy Awards. Her music has been streamed over 15.5 billion times. And she has 88.3 million followers on Instagram. However, as we know from experience, with fame and wealth comes hardship that is unbearable for many celebrities; let alone a 19-year-old who, like everyone else, must deal with issues surrounding body image, high expectations and heartbreak. Described by Forbes magazine as having a “fuck you attitude”, Eilish doesn’t alter her personality to fit the image of a ‘perfect teen pop singer’. She speaks her truth and that’s what makes people uncomfortable. The fact that they cannot stop her from exposing society’s flaws, specifically in the entertainment industry. She does “what [she] wants, when [she’s] wanting to” and that’s what makes her worth watching. Eilish has discarded her black hair, neon green roots and baggy Gucci clothing for 1940s Hol-
lywood inspired blonde curls and custom corsets. Her Happier Than Ever era farewells the themes of night terrors, self-harm and unrequited love present in WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? Instead, Happier Than Ever explores stardom and heartbreak. Eilish’s realisation that worldwide acclaim is not all that it seems has been a topic of rumination for many young stars before her. Take a 22-year-old Taylor Swift singing ‘The Lucky One’. With a bright and upbeat intro, she sings: “New to town with a made up name in the Angel City / Chasing fortune and fame / And the camera flashes, make it look like a dream.” As the song proceeds, listeners become aware that these so-called ‘lucky ones’ are trapped in a world fuelled by the opinions of others. The same message is reflected in ‘Getting Older’, the vulnerable introductory track of Eilish’s album. As Eilish’s whisper-like voice sings over a steady synth beat, her quiet tone is juxtaposed against haunting lyrics describing her new life in the spotlight.
