Billie Eilish covers the November issue of Vogue. She’s promoting her album (Hit Me Hard and Soft) and her new tour. This is her first tour where her brother and her mom will not be at her side at every concert. This is Billie all grown up at 22 years old and spreading her wings. Given the last seven years of her life, it’s remarkable that she’s as well-adjusted as she is at the moment. Having covered Billie’s interviews over the years, this Vogue piece is probably the most “healthy” and forward-looking she’s been, ever. You can read the full piece here. Some highlights:
She’s begun to study the actual art of singing. “I never felt like a singer. I’ve never had that as my identity,” Eilish tells me. But things have changed. In the past two years or so, she has started taking lessons with a vocal coach. “The truth is that literally the love of my life is singing. And I didn’t realize that you can train that instrument and have even more fun with it… It’s f–king awesome to learn.”
Her most important tour accessory: The most important element is the sports bra, she says. Her preferred make and model is the Ultimate by Shefit, which she likens to a bulletproof vest—“for us girls with girls…it’s serious.”
She’s been living with injuries & pain since an early age: “I’ve basically been in pain since I was nine.” She has said that for years she felt like she was at war with her body. “Growing up, I’d always hear people be like, ‘Just wait until you’re older! You’re going to have so much pain!’ And I remember being so furious. I’ve had some really dark times on tour. For a long time I was kind of living like it was temporary. Like, yeah, I’m touring for now and it’s kind of unpleasant, and whatever. It’ll be over. And the truth is, it’s the rest of my life.”
She wants to enjoy her tours: “I didn’t realize that I could make touring enjoyable. I just was very lonely for many years, and I’m not interested in that anymore. I want to enjoy the show as well as my days.”
She wants to pursue things outside of music: Maybe acting, she says later: “I really secretly love it…I got famous at 13 and suddenly had to live a really weird life, and I never went to school,” she says now. She’s been learning about how to best nurture and sustain herself: to regularly work out with her trainer, to read books (“I know how that sounds—like, all people read books”), to see her therapist, to cook her own food. “My mom is an amazing cook and I thought I was a bad cook, but now people are like, ‘You can cook!’ ” Eilish says. “It’s just that I don’t really know a lot of recipes.” Like many women in America, she’s had body image and “eating issues,” she says, and cooking really helps. “I definitely am like, Oh my God, I deserve this meal.”
She’s trying not to be too online: “If I was happy in my life, it was because people loved me on the internet. And if I was upset in my life, it was usually because people didn’t. [Now] I’ve learned to not base my life around that.”
She wishes she had never confirmed anything about her sexuality: “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. And I’m never talking about who I’m dating ever again….I guess I also underestimate that things I say will be blown up into the biggest news of the whole world… We’re all babies. We’re all little kids growing up and learning ourselves.”
On voting: “I mean, this is the most important election of our time, maybe and it’s so easy to be like, I don’t want to think about it…. I have that same kind of feeling: I’m one person, I can’t make any change. But the truth is, we can all make change. And I have this platform and I’m going to use it.” What issues are important to her this time around? She gestures with both of her palms up, like, here you go. “Really big fan of human rights. Really big fan of women’s rights and women’s reproductive rights and social justice and gun laws.” To that end, along with actively rallying her fans to register to vote, she works with Power the Polls, encouraging her followers to sign up to be poll workers. “A lot of my fans are going to be able to vote for the first time. So I’m like, Do you like freedom? First female president? Would be really amazing. I would love to feel safe as a woman in my country.”
I’ve said this before, but considering how many celebrities have made asses out of themselves over politics this year, it’s so refreshing to see Billie Eilish’s youthful and straight-forward political pragmatism. She was like this in the 2020 election too – she endorsed Biden/Harris with no drama, got a speaking slot at the virtual DNC, and spoke out about getting young people to vote. I admire that about Billie so much. Also: the hunt for the perfect sports bra when you’re stacked should not be underestimated. Billie’s recommendation probably comes after years of trial-and-error with dozens of sports bras.
Cover & IG courtesy of Vogue.
Can confirm the SheFit recommendation. As close to bulletproof as they come.
She sounds both sensible and sensitive. In a good way.
Re: Billie being well-adjusted: From what I’ve seen, she’s got a solid relationship with her mom and brother. It’s good to have a supportive family.
Must look into the SheFit as I too am a girl with girls.
I took my niece to her tour last month. She is so talented! Wasn’t expecting to enjoy myself that much but it was one of the best nights ever. And she is a great role model….work hard, be yourself!
I went to see her tour earlier this month with my 13-year-old son and my 21-year old niece. I was amazed by her! She is incredibly talented, and I hope she is able to protect that talent and herself.
I took my niece to her tour last month. She is so talented! Wasn’t expecting to enjoy myself that much but it was one of the best nights ever. And she is a great role model….work hard, be yourself!
She’s Legit and I say that with my whole self.