Pop star whispers her way to huge emotional wallops.
The Independent|May 17, 2024
We could finally be seeing the artist behind Billie Eilish's baggy-goth avatar with her third LP 'Hit Me Hard and Soft', which interrogates her public persona
Helen Brown
Pop star whispers her way to huge emotional wallops.

Billie Eilish has a cool knack for singing as though she's inside your head. An intrusive thought of a vocalist, prodding at the darker side of life. On Oscar-winning songs for the Bond and Barbie movies, she slipped beneath the plastic skin of iconic characters to whisper existential doubt. Her delicate, haunting third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, sees the sad-sweet hushed croon that she honed on “What was I Made For?” dreamily submerged into a shifting mix of sleepy guitars, sighing cellos, and trancey beats concocted with her brother Finneas in his Astronave studio.

Interviewed for the cover of Rolling Stone last month, 22-yearold Eilish spoke of feeling confined in a panic room of her own celebrity. She’s been a star since the age of 17, after all. And a lot has happened since then: nine Grammys, two Academy Awards, a record-breaking Coachella performance, and millions of new fans. She admits to creating an alter ego to handle the fame, only now to find herself unsure of who she is beyond her baggy-goth avatar. Looking around at her birthday party recently, Eilish realised all the guests were on her staff, so she resolved to get out more and do normal things like visiting Target and taking her pitbull, Shark, on hikes. (Listen out on the record for the jangle of his collar.)

Denne historien er fra May 17, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra May 17, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE INDEPENDENTSe alt
Besieged Sweeney fights on in face of growing rebellion
The Independent

Besieged Sweeney fights on in face of growing rebellion

As the RFU chief executive’s future hangs in the balance, it is time for radical reform of English rugby’s governing body

time-read
5 mins  |
January 25, 2025
The Independent

'I still love doing stunts. But I've grown older, and wiser'

Michelle Yeoh, star of Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and Wicked’, talks to Louis Chilton about her new Star Trek spin-off Section 31’ and the dangers of playing action heroes

time-read
7 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Israeli troops to remain in Lebanon beyond deadline
The Independent

Israeli troops to remain in Lebanon beyond deadline

Benjamin Netanyahu extends target date to leave tomorrow, putting ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah under pressure

time-read
2 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Ukraine launches massive drone attack across Russia
The Independent

Ukraine launches massive drone attack across Russia

Moscow warns risk of major nuclear’ clash is growing

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025
A Washington visit would help PM win over Trump
The Independent

A Washington visit would help PM win over Trump

In public, Downing Street insists Keir Starmer has a good relationship with Donald Trump.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Fresh blow to Chagos deal as UK faces legal challenge
The Independent

Fresh blow to Chagos deal as UK faces legal challenge

A group of indigenous Chagossian people have instructed lawyers to challenge the controversial Chagos Islands deal, in yet another blow to the government’s beleaguered agreement.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025
City's January spend is not enough to spark renaissance
The Independent

City's January spend is not enough to spark renaissance

Pep Guardiola has three new players by his side and a long four months ahead of him.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Judges in Sara Sharif case will be revealed next week
The Independent

Judges in Sara Sharif case will be revealed next week

Court of Appeal bows to media pressure with its ruling

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025
Vandals daub Captain Cook statue before celebrations
The Independent

Vandals daub Captain Cook statue before celebrations

A statue of British explorer Captain James Cook in a suburb of Sydney has been vandalised ahead of Australia Day tomorrow, the second such incident in as many years. New South Wales Police said they were investigating.

time-read
1 min  |
January 25, 2025
Power goes out as Britain is battered by 100mph winds
The Independent

Power goes out as Britain is battered by 100mph winds

‘Once in a generation’ Storm Eowyn causes travel chaos

time-read
3 mins  |
January 25, 2025