All About Billie Eilish: Biography, Music, Childhood, Struggles, & More

Few artists have redefined the music industry quite like Billie Eilish. 

From uploading homemade songs to SoundCloud at 14 years old to becoming one of history’s youngest Grammy Award winners, her ascent from bedroom musician to global superstar happened at lightning speed.

It all started with “Ocean Eyes,” a song written by and recorded with her brother, Finneas, in his tiny bedroom studio. 

In this Billie Eilish biography, we will explore her remarkable rise to stardom, including the challenges, the triumphs, and everything else in between.

Are you ready? Let’s get started. 

About Billie Eilish

Born in Los Angeles, California, in 2001, Billie’s real name is Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell. Drawing from personal experience and observations, her music explores various themes, including mental health, self-identity, and social issues like climate change.

At just 17, Billie Eilish shattered industry records, becoming the first artist born in the 2000s to have a #1 album on the Billboard 200.

And that’s just the beginning!

Before turning 18, Billie collected nine Grammy Awards. And. Became the youngest artist in history to win a Grammy in all four major categories in the same year. She also became the first person born in the 21st century to receive an Oscar Academy Award. 

Struggling to categorize Billie’s distinctive sound, critics label her music with terms like haunting and weirdo-pop. Her airy, whispered vocals are similar to those of artists like Lorde and Lana Del Rey. Yet, her inspiration draws heavily from hip-hop innovators like Childish Gambino and Tyler, the Creator. 

Despite achieving global success, Billie and Finneas continue to write and record most of their songs at their Highland Park home.

Early Life and Homeschooling

Billie grew up in a modest Highland Park home, where creativity trumped convention and music could keep you up all night. 

Her parents, Maggie Baird and Patrick O’Connell, transformed their financial constraints into an opportunity, choosing homeschooling not just as an educational path but as a gateway to artistic freedom for Billie and her brother Finneas.

Despite their limited means, the family built their world around a simple yet powerful principle: if music was being made, nothing else mattered – not money – not bedtime – nothing. 

This unconventional approach proved transformative, as young Billie embraced one artistic milestone after another. 

At just 6 years of age, she was already strumming a ukulele. At 8, her mesmerizing vocals found their first home in the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. 

At 11, she wrote her first song while also exploring other creative outlets like dance and recording background dialogue (specifically ADR or Automated Dialogue Replacement) for films, including ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid.’

The family’s small home became an incubator for talent, with Billie’s mum teaching songwriting fundamentals and her father filling rooms with instruments. 

Free from traditional academic constraints, Billie’s world expanded beyond textbooks to include everything from horseback riding to painting. 

Reflecting on her unconventional upbringing, Billie tells Vouge in a 2020 interview:

“I’m so glad I didn’t go to school because if I had, I would never have the life I have now.”

Away from the pressures of conventional schooling and peer conformity, Billie developed not just as an artist but as an individual unafraid to chart her own course.

Family and Friends

Billie Eilish has a tight-knit family and a supportive circle of close friends. But it hasn’t always been this way! In the beginning, she lost all her friends. Keep reading to learn why.

Parents

Billie’s parents, Maggie Baird and Patrick O’Connell, were entertainment industry veterans long before Billie and Finneas were born. They met in 1984 during a theater production in Alaska but did not marry until 1995. 

Billies mum wore many hats throughout her career. She appeared in popular shows like ‘Friends’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’ Also, in 2009, she released a debut album of her own called ‘We Sail.’ 

But unlike Billie, Maggie sings folk, not pop music. 

And Billie’s dad? He’s an Irish artist and actor well known for his artwork and roles in T.V. series like The West Wing and NYPD Blue.  

Today, both parents are heavily involved in Billie’s career. Her dad helps with the technical aspects of touring, while her mum manages her daily schedule and provides emotional support.

Siblings

Finneas O’Connell is Billie’s only sibling. Born on July 30th, 1997, he is four and a half years older than her. But to Billie, Finneas is so much more than just a big brother – he’s her best friend – and the feeling is mutual. 

Finneas is also Billie’s producer, co-writer, and closest collaborator.

From Billie’s breakthrough song “Ocean Eyes” to her Grammy-winning debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, Finneas has been, and continues to be, instrumental in Billie’s distinctive sound.

Together, they’ve crafted a unique musical style that blends Billie’s whispered vocals with Finneas’s minimalist, genre-defying production.

Billie often credits Finneas for his ability to understand and translate her thoughts into music, making their collaboration feel effortless. In the video below, at the Variety Hitmaker’s Award 2019, we hear Billie say: 

“Finneas is my best friend, my big brother. He’s four years older than me, and we’ve been best friends kind of forever.”

Friends

For Billie, fame came with consequences. 

On the “Miss Me?” podcast with Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver, she tells listeners how she struggled with loneliness when she suddenly became famous. 

“I could no longer relate to anyone anymore, and I lost all my friends,” Billie admits.

Watch the podcast below or listen to it on the BBC website. 

But it’s not all bad! 

Billie goes on to say that since then, she has reconnected with old friends and built new relationships – so now, she has more friends than ever before.

Relationships

When it comes to romantic relationships, Billie is famously private – and it’s easy to see why. No one wants their love life splattered all over the media, right? 

In an interview, Billie told Capital Breakfast, “I definitely want to keep relationships private.” So. To respect her boundaries, let’s talk about how she became famous instead. 🙂

How Billie Eilish Became Famous

A bedroom, a SoundCloud account, and a song that changed everything – that’s how Billie’s journey to superstardom began in November 2015. 

At just 14 years old, Billie and Finneas uploaded “Ocean Eyes” to SoundCloud. Finneas originally wrote this song for his band but later realized it fit Billie’s vocals better. 

Within 24 hours, the song had 1000 plays, and from that moment on, the rest is history.

Billie’s Breakthrough Song: “Ocean Eyes”

The song was never meant to go viral, and neither Finneas nor Billie knew it would change their lives forever. It was simply uploaded to SoundCloud for Billie’s dance teacher as part of a class assignment.

But almost overnight, it quickly gained traction, creating a buzz. And just weeks later, Justin Lubliner, founder of Darkroom Records, discovered the track and saw potential for something truly special.

After that, the song became SO successful that multiple artists remixed it, including Astronomyy, Blackbear, Goldhouse, and Cautious Clay. It also led to the release of Billie’s debut EP, which we’ll talk about very soon.

Darkroom and Interscope Records

August 2016.

That’s when Billie and Justin Lubliner joined forces. 

It’s when Billie signed with Darkroom and Interscope Records, leading to a life-changing moment she will never regret.

The day Lubliner (founder of Darkroom) heard “Ocean Eyes” on SoundCloud, he saw something in Billie that others in the music industry missed – her fierce independence and unique sound. He believed she could redefine pop music, and that’s exactly what she has done. 

As for Billie? She was promised creative control and the freedom to continue writing and recording songs with Finneas at home in their makeshift studio, which is a promise that sealed the deal for her. 

Billie’s Career-Defining EP: “Don’t Smile At Me”

When Billie released her EP Don’t Smile At Me in 2017, it proved she wasn’t just a one-hit wonder.

She was here to stay. 

How? It peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200 and stayed in the charts for an impressive 254 weeks. Plus. It delivered three Billboard 100 hits, including “bellyache,” “idontwannabeyouanymore,” and “Watch.” 

With raw, honest lyrics, Billie’s genre-blending sound, and her signature breathy vocals, Don’t Smile At Me revealed different facets of Billie’s artistry and resonated with millions worldwide.

Albums

As I write this biography, Billie has released three studio albums. 

When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (2019)

Billie’s debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, was released in March 2019 by Darkroom and Interscope Records in the U.S. and Polydor Records in the U.K. 

Now. Do you remember what I told you earlier? Well, this is the one!

This is the release that made Billie the first artist born in the 2000s to have a #1 album on the Billboard 200. 

And that’s not all. 

The album’s first lead single, “Bad Guy,” became her first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Pretty impressive, right?

But here’s something even more remarkable: almost the entire album was recorded in Finneas’s bedroom at their family home. It:

• bagged four major Grammys, which we’ll talk about shortly,
• topped the charts in multiple countries worldwide,
• sold over 1 million copies in the U.S. alone, and
• made Billie the youngest solo female artist to reach #1 on the U.S. charts.

And let’s not forget about Finneas! He won the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical – acknowledging his behind-the-scenes talent. 

With Billie’s distinctive style, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? explores various themes, from mental health and modern youth to surreal dreams, substance abuse, and heartbreak. 

EVERYTHING about this album challenged the norms of pop music. But still, fans and critics loved it, making Billie one of the most innovative voices of her generation.

Happier Than Ever (2021)

On July 30th, 2021, Billie reemerged with a fresh look – swapping her iconic neon green hair for platinum blonde – and a more mature sound that blended elements of jazz, bossa nova, and folk on her second studio album, Happier Than Ever.

Created during lockdown and inspired by Billie’s personal experiences with fame, heartbreak, and self-discovery, this album marked a significant evolution in her sound and storytelling.

Soon after its release, the album’s vinyl edition broke a 30-year record for the most sales in its first week, pushing it to #1 on the Billboard 200. It also topped the charts in 27 other countries, cementing its global impact.

Praised for its sophisticated style, innovative production, and lyrical depth, fans and critics loved Billie’s second studio album SO MUCH, it was nominated for seven Grammy Awards. 

And.

The album’s promotional singles, “Therefore I Am,” “My Future,” and its title track, “Happier Than Ever,” peaked in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The title track also became an anthem of self-empowerment.

Let’s continue.

Hit Me Hard and Soft (2024)

Billie’s third studio album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, was released with a BANG this summer on May 17th, 2024. And just like her first two albums, it was a HUGE success, topping the charts in more than 20 countries.

But this time, it didn’t quite reach #1 on the Billboard 200 – it peaked at number #2 instead. It’s too early to know if this new album will snag any awards in 2025, but I’ve got a good feeling it will. And here’s why …

“Birds of a Feather,” the album’s second single to be released, has dominated the U.S. and global charts for almost four months now. And its lead single, “Lunch,” rocked the charts too. In an interview, Billie tells Zane Lowe from Apple Music:

“This is the most “me” thing I’ve ever made.”

Billie Eilish Songs

To date, Billie has released 66 songs across a combination of singles, EPs, studio albums, collaborations, and film and soundtrack contributions — far too many to cover in one post. Instead, we’ll focus on her albums and notable singles. Use the collapsible table below to explore the songs.

You may also enjoy my article: 10 Best Billie Eilish Songs.

Awards and Nominations

212 awards out of 445 nominations. Wow! That’s a staggering 48% success rate, and it’s how many awards Billie has won so far, including major honors from the American Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.

She also holds two Guinness World Records.

There are too many accolades to list in detail here, so we’ll focus on her biggest wins. For the complete list, click here.

Grammy Awards

As of October 2024, Billie Eilish remains the youngest artist – and the first person ever since 1981 – to win Grammys in all four major categories in the same year.

At just 18, she dominated the 2020 Grammy stage with wins for:

• Album of the Year,
• Record of the Year,
• Song of the Year, and
• Best New Artist.

She won all four awards for her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

During her acceptance speech, Billie humbly says:

“I never thought this would ever happen in my whole life. I grew up watching all of you.” 

Since that historic night, Billie continues to add to her Grammy collection, including Best Pop Vocal Album and additional Record of the Year honors.

Also, her song “Everything I Wanted” bagged the Best Pop Solo Performance award, and her James Bond soundtrack, “No Time to Die,” won Best Song Written for Visual Media.

Academy Awards (Oscars)

In 2024, Billie Eilish became the youngest person in history to win two Oscars for Best Original Song. 

Her first Oscar was in 2022 for the James Bond theme, “No Time To Die,” which Billie wrote with her brother, Finneas. We’ll talk more about this track soon – so stay tuned. 

Billie’s second Academy Award came in 2024 for “What Was I Made For?;“ a song she and Finneas wrote for the 2023 movie Barbie. 

Of course, it was a HUGE success. It shot to #1 on the Billboard charts and stayed there for 14 weeks. And. It was streamed over 2 billion times, explains Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. In the video below, Billie does a beautiful job of capturing the film’s themes of self-discovery and identity.

Golden Globe Awards

“No Time to Die” is a song that just keeps on giving for Billie! 

In 2022, this James Bond theme also won her a Golden Globe award for Best Original Song.

Winning a Golden Globe (or any other award!) for a James Bond theme song is rare. So rare in fact, only 4 out of 13 nominations, including Billie, have gone on to win it. 

This puts Billie on a prestigious list of artists with Adele (Skyfall) and Sam Smith (Writing’s on the Wall), who also received Golden Globes for their contributions to the franchise.

But there’s more. 

Alongside Lady Gaga’s hit “Shallow” and Adele’s “Skyfall,” “No Time to Die” is one of only three songs to win an Oscar, a Grammy, and a Golden Globe Award.

Media Contributions

James Bond Theme Song: “No Time To Die”

Impressed by Billie’s unique sound, in 2019, James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson approached Billie Eilish and Finneas to create the theme song for No Time to Die. They believed the brother-sister duo could capture the emotional depth needed for the film.

The opportunity was a dream come true for Billie. After all, she and Finneas grew up watching Bond films and listening to iconic soundtracks, so it’s no surprise to know that Billie told Vulture: 

“We’d been telling our team for years that we want to do something with Bond.”

Talking of surprises, here’s something that will likely shock you. Billie and Finneas recorded the song’s vocals on a bus in the dark while on tour. 

Barbie Movie Soundtrack: “What Was I Made For?”

When Greta Gerwig reached out to Billie and Finneas in early 2023 to create a song for the Barbie movie, Billie was in a dark place. She was struggling with self-doubt and feeling disconnected from life. 

And if that wasn’t bad enough already, at that time, she and Finneas were feeling stuck and uninspired to write anything, so they didn’t even know if they could create something meaningful for the movie. 

But thankfully for us, when the siblings sat down to write the ballad, Billie was inspired by her own battles with self-discovery, and the words just came pouring out. 

Sidenote: I bet Billie and Finneas are also thankful because this soundtrack is one of their most successful songs.

Documentary Film: “Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry”

In February 2021, Billie gave fans an intimate glimpse into her life through a documentary film directed by R.J. Cutler.

The documentary film, Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry, focuses on Billie’s life leading up to the release of her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? …

… It also explores her relationship with her brother Finneas and her experience with fame, mental health, and the pressures of stardom.

But unlike most other music documentaries you may have seen, this one is unfiltered. There are no ‘edited out’ parts, and the production isn’t polished. Instead, you get a ‘real’ look into Billie’s world. No lies. No fluff.

Want to watch it? Apple TV+ offers a 7-day trial if you don’t already have an account.

Soundtrack Contribution: “13 Reasons Why”

In the early days of Billie’s career, the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why introduced her music to THEIR fanbase of primarily teens and young adults.

Why? (Pun intended!). Because just like Billie’s music, the series explores dark and emotional themes like mental health, trauma, and self-discovery.

So. In 2017, Billie’s song “Bored” was featured on the soundtrack of the first season. Exposing her music to fans of the series played a key role in putting Billie on the map.

Collaborations With Other Artists

“Lovely” With Khalid

Billie teamed up with R&B singer Khalid, and with her brother, they wrote “Lovely.” This chamber pop ballad was released in 2018 by Darkroom and Interscope Records and featured on season two of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why.

To portray the song’s theme of feeling depressed and trapped with another person, the music video shows Billie and Khalid confined in a glass box, symbolizing the struggle to break free.

“Bad Guy” Remix With Justin Bieber

Billie’s collaboration with Justin Bieber was another dream come true moment for the young pop star because Bieber has always been Billie’s childhood idol. Together, they released a remix of Billie’s hit single “Bad Guy” in 2019, just months after her original version dominated the charts. 

Fans went wild, and the track was streamed millions of times in just a few days of its release, making the remix an instant success. 

“Lo Vas a Olvidar” With Rosalía

Billie stepped outside her comfort zone when she collaborated with Spanish singer Rosalía to create “Lo Vas a Olvidar.” 

This beautiful track, created for the HBO series Euphoria and featured in a special episode titled Part 2: Jules, blends English and Spanish lyrics, showcasing Billie’s versatility.

Billie and Rosalía wrote the song alongside Spanish musician and producer El Guincho and, of course, Billie’s brother Finneas. Exploring themes of heartbreak and emotional release, the song aligns with Euphoria’s intense, moody vibe.

“&Burn” With Vince Staples

This collaboration was one of Billies first cross-genre partnerships.

Exploring themes of betrayal and toxic relationships, “&burn” by Billie Eilish and Vince Staples is a reworked version of her solo track “Watch.” 

The collaboration, led by Vince’s admiration for Billie’s music, combined Billie’s unique style and Vince’s sharp, lyrical flow, attracting both pop and hip-hop fans. 

In late December 2017, “&Burn” became a standout track on Billie’s EP Don’t Smile At Me. But before that, it was released as a single, available only for digital downloads and streaming. 

Music Influences

The Beatles

In this interview with NME, Billie says:

“The Beatles were what raised me. My love for music I feel 95 per cent owes to the Beatles and Paul.” 

And Billie’s mum, Maggie Baird, tells Variety:

“I always say it was actually the Beatles who taught them to write songs.”

Need I say more?

The Beatles have clearly played a pivotal role in shaping Billie’s approach to songwriting, inspiring her to craft melodies and lyrics with the same timeless quality.

Lana Del Rey

Billie has always been open about how much Lana Del Rey’s distinctive style has influenced her music. She even says that her breakthrough song, “Ocean Eyes,” wouldn’t exist without her, according to Far Out Magazine and Billboard. 

More recently, in a 2023 podcast, Billie tells English singer-songwriter Dua Lipa that Lana’s 2012 debut album “Born to Die,” is the first of five albums to shape her musical tastes.

But it’s not just Lana’s music that inspires Billie — it’s her unapologetic individuality and how she’s paved the way for a new generation of female artists.

Justin Bieber

Billie was one of Justin’s biggest fans long before their “Bad Guy” collaboration. As a teenager, her bedroom walls were covered in his posters, and in a 2018 interview with KROQ’s Kevin and Bean Show, she said that in her head, he was her ‘first love.’

You can watch the full KROQ’s interview here.

As seen in the video below, when Billie met Justin for the first time at the 2019 Coachella festival, where she performed a song from her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? she was totally overwhelmed by Bieber’s surprise appearance.

And Justin?

He’s taken on a big brother role in Billie’s life. As he told Entertainment Weekly, he wants to protect her because he’s been in her shoes:

“I definitely feel protective of her. I don’t want her to go through anything I went through. If she ever needs me, I’m just a call away.”

In the interview, Bieber is referring to his own struggles with early fame and his desire to shield Billie from its darker sides.

Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne is another artist who has influenced Billie’s music and style. 

That’s why, on July 12th, 2019, Billie shared a heartfelt Instagram post with her now 121 million followers, featuring a photo of herself with Avril and a message saying:

“Thank you for making me what I am.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BILLIE EILISH (@billieeilish)

And Avril has a lot of respect for Billie, too. 

According to Alternative Press, in a Billboard interview, the Canadian singer-songwriter acknowledged the authentic similarities between herself and Billie. She also responded to one of Billie’s compliments:

“It’s an honor any time – especially when someone as talented and cool and creative as Billie – mentions that I’ve had an impact on their music career.” 

Finneas O’Connell

Without the inclusion of her brother, this section of my Billie Eilish Biography would not be complete because he is her BIGGEST influencer of all time. 

Not only is he her creative partner, producer, co-writer, and No. 1 supporter – he is at the foundation of everything Billie has achieved.

Here’s what Billie says about Finneas at the Variety Hitmaker Awards in 2019: 

“We started writing music together when I was 13 and he was 18 or 17. And, erm, he produces everything. I think he’s the only reason I’m anywhere in the whole world. He’s probably the only reason I’m alive.”

Personal Struggles

Depression and Anxiety

Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that celebrities are just ordinary people like you and me and that they, too, can struggle with mental health issues.

In a Rolling Stone interview, Billie opens up about her lifelong battle with depression, saying:

“I’ve never been a happy person. I’ve suffered with a lot of depression my whole life.”

Thankfully, when a dark cloud of depression strikes, Billie knowns it’s only temporary and that it will soon pass.

Although Billie Eilish has never said so, I suspect the darkness and despair behind many of her song lyrics are inspired by her own personal experiences with depression and anxiety. 

For example, in her song “idontwannabeyouanymore,” Billie shares her struggles with self-image and self-criticism. Songs like this one and “Listen Before I Go” offer reassurance to fans facing similar mental health issues, reminding them they are not alone.

Tourette Syndrome

Bille was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome when she was 11 years old. But she didn’t speak about it publicly until November 2018 – and according to The Fader, she had no plans of telling anyone about it, ever, because she doesn’t want it to define who she is.

Bravely. On The Ellen Show, Billie tells viewers how she can often suppress her tics on camera. And how, usually, the questions are cut out if she does have an episode during pre-recorded interviews.

But this one time, the episodes were not cut out. Instead, video compilations of Billie’s facial tics were uploaded to YouTube. And that’s when Billie spoke about her Tourette’s on Instagram for the very first time.

In the video above, we hear Billie say that most people just think she’s being funny and they laugh at her, which she finds highly offensive.