Billie Eilish: How Internet stardom became overnight sensation

Introduction

Billie is one of the most influential superstars in the world, with her music reaching #1 on Billboard in 2019 for her debut album When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? Stardom has not hindered her reputation as a music luminary in the 21st century, as she is the youngest artist to achieve such a feat. With her humble beginnings starting in Los Angeles, she was only a teenager when she and her brother, Finneas, began to work on music after the overnight sensation Ocean Eyes grew a massive following online on Soundcloud. But who exactly is Billie Eilish? What draws fans and new listeners to her music?

Origins

Billie Eilish, born Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell, is a native Los Angeles citizen born on December 18, 2001. Daughter of an acting family, she expressed that their house is always surrounded by musical instruments. She was also exposed to many hobbies, such as horseback riding, gymnastics, and dance (in which she actively participated). Until she became an teenager, she was home schooled, alongside with her brother, Finneas. At the age of 8, she joined a children’s choir. At just eleven years old, she started to write songs for herself. Despite her interest in music, she reveals that her ambition was to be a dancer. Unfortunately it was through a dance-related injury at just thirteen years old that she fully dedicated herself to making music. Before her injury, her dance instructor insisted Billie to create a music piece for their routine. That dance piece ended up being her first song, Ocean Eyes, which would be released on November 2015 on Soundcloud.

Music Background

After the debut of her first song, produced by her brother, she released another song called Six Feet Under with her brother as producer in 2016. In many of her songs, she often produces with her brother Finneas, and still collaborate in producing to this day. In an article in Vogue UK, she explains her deep relationship with her brother, citing:

“I mean, it’s the sibling thing, you know? We look at each other in silence, and we both know we’re thinking the same exact thing. It happens constantly, especially with other people around. He can also read my mind when writing and creating together. He knows what I’m thinking and feeling before I even know it.”

One of the most striking reasons why many people are captivated by Billie Eilish’s music is her vocals alone. Ethereal, smooth, and haunting are amongst the multitude of things that many fans laud her for, as well as her lyrics that often resonate with many young listeners. In August 2016, she signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records, and that same year, she released her second single. 

It would be in August 2017 that she would release her first LP Dont Smile at Me with her brother producing the entire LP altogether. The LP includes hit songs like idontwannabeyouanymore, Party Favour, and Bellyache. This LP would earn Billie a spot on Billboard 100 in the 14th spot in that same year. It will also be that year that she will be the youngest person to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify. In 2019, she would release her first album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? This album would hard launch her into stardom as hits including Bad Guy, When the Party is Over and Bury A Friend would reach 1 billion streams on Spotify, as well as reaching music charts.

The record would also earn her an award at the MTO Awards and the American Music Awards, earning her the title “Women of the Year” Award. She would also be the first woman artist to win four categories in the Grammys in 2020 for her album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? After these award accolades, she would release another album, Happier Than Ever, which includes hits like Happier Than Ever, My Future, and Billie Bossa Nova. It is different from her grungy atmosphere, but it still contains those ethereal vocals that Billie masterfully utilizes. Her most recent album, Hit Me Harder and Soft, contains her current hit song Birds of a Feather, Chihiro and Wildflower. 

Collaborations

Her collaborators with her music are usually produced with her older brother, Finneas. In 2018, she collaborated with Khalid on a single called Lovely (with Khalid). In 2019, she would collaborate with Justin Bieber on Bad Guy. In 2023, she would collaborate in creating a single for the hit movie Barbie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Reynold called What Was I Made For? This song would reach 1 billion streams on Spotify alone, as well as being a popular audio for TikTok videos. Her current collaboration is with Charlie XCX’s newest album, BRAT, with a song called Guess featuring Billie Eilish. 

Philanthropy

Billie has been involved in different activist movements, as well as spreading awareness of social and political causes throughout her career. She joined Woody Harrelson in a video in 2019 discussing the dangers of climate change. She also became an advocate for young people to be more politically active in the U.S., especially during the presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in 2024. In the 2026 Grammy Awards, Billie and Finneas spoke about their disdain for ICE, to which she exclaims, “F*** ICE” and adds, “No one is illegal on stolen land” on stage. 

As of now, her main advocacy is through environmentalism. In current times, she is currently partnering with musicians like Adam Gardner to create a more Eco-friendly concerts by targeting on reducing carbon emissions, as well as offering plant-based foods. To Billie, this incentive for her activism stems from her upbringing, which she wants to carry on forward in her music career, according to an interview with National Geography. With that, she continues to pursue music, and continue to hold her advocacy.