Billie Eilish – How did an overnight sensation in 2017 turn into a worldwide sensation of the 21st century?

 We’ve all heard the name Billie Eilish. Some of us know her from some of her more recent songs that arose to popularity like “WILDFLOWER” or “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”, from the Barbie movie, from “bad guy”, or from the song that started her career, “ocean eyes”. So how did an overnight sensation in 2017 turn into a name we all recognize today, with over 180 awards, 9 of which are Grammys and another two Oscars? 

Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell’s rise to fame began in 2017, when her older brother Finneas O’Connell wrote a song titled “ocean eyes.” It was originally meant for O'Connell's band, but thinking it didn’t suit his voice, it was recorded by Billie in her bedroom. At just 13 years old, Eilish uploaded the song to SoundCloud, where it went viral overnight. 

However, this success wasn’t just magical. Being homeschooled in Los Angeles, Eilish and O'Connell were encouraged to explore music and creativity. After this jumpstart, the pair continued writing and producing songs at home, creating a sound that felt raw, emotional and different from your usual pop music. She was influenced by many artists, some of which included The Neighborhood, Lana Del Rey, Tyler the Creator, and the Beatles. This helped Eilish stand out in an industry of increasingly similar sounding music. Later in 2017, her first EP, “dont smile at me” was released. It included “ocean eyes”, and seven more tracks including “idontwannabeyouanymore”, “COPYCAT”, and “bellyache”.  

 In 2019, Eilish released her debut album, “when we all fall asleep, where do we go?” The album was a huge success, featuring “bad guy” and earning Eilish an astonishing five Grammy awards in one night, which made her the youngest artist to ever do so. The cover for this album consists of Eilish in a dark room, sitting on a bed with a crazed look on her face and white pupils. It presents a scarier outlook into her album, and a lot of the lyrics do too, the color scheme and emotion a stark contrast from her first EP; 

As Eilish grew older, she released her second album in 2021, Happier Than Ever, which showed a more mature and emotional side of her artistry. This was the era where she stared to allow herself to take on her more feminine side, changing styles and dyeing her hair a light blonde. Before, Eilish mostly stayed close to a more oversized style, frequently appearing in large jersey shirts, The album explored topics such as fame, mental health, and personal growth, and was praised for its honesty and bold sound changes. She began making a name for herself beyond the music industry. In 2020, she managed to co-write the James Bond theme “No Time to Die” with her brother O'Connell. She sang this, and it ended up winning her her first Academy award. She later won a second Oscar for “What Was I Made For?” which was featured in the Barbie movie, which only proves that she has a wide range of musical ability that transcends just one genre. 

Following the Happier Than Ever era, Eilish entered a new phase of her career that focused less on eras and more on raw emotion. In 2024, she released her third studio album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT (HMHAS). Unlike her previous albums, she described this project as something meant to be experienced all at once rather than in individual songs. The entire album mixes many different feelings that hit you like a train. It reflects emotional highs and lows as hinted at by the title. 

HMHAS explores themes such as love, identity, self-reflection, and emotional vulnerability. Some of the songs transition into another, the beat at the end of one song turning into the start of another. This album contains two songs that were outstanding hits grabbed by social media, “Birds of a Feather” and “Wildflower”. During this time, Eilish also continued to resist traditional industry expectations. She avoided heavy promotion and allowed the music to speak for itself. Her fanbase was successful in popularizing these songs, “Birds of a Feather” and “Wildflower” surpassing 3 billion and 1 billion streams on Spotify as of late December in 2025. Many fans and critics noted that this album feels like Eilish stepping fully into adulthood, while still maintaining her ever-changing brand and the honesty she is known for. She continues to collaborate with O'Connell, and that remained central to the album’s production, maintaining the dynamic that has existed since the start of her career. 

Unlike many celebrities, and despite her growing fame, Eilish has remained open about the challenges that come with her success. She has spoken publicly about her struggles with anxiety, body image, and the pressures of growing up in the spotlight. Many young celebrities have struggled with issues because of all the media attention etc., and many are able to relate to Eilish on an emotional level. By sharing these experiences, she has helped normalize conversations about mental health and has become a role model for many young people around the world who have similar issues. Her concerts play a very important role in strengthening her bond with her fans. Her performances are known for their high energy, emotional honesty, and minimal distance between her and the audience. She always speaks to her fans and interacts with them, often speaking directly to them and creating an atmosphere that feels more personal despite the most times very large venues she performs in. This has helped build a loyal fanbase and strengthened a relatable public image.

Eilish has maintained a very close relationship with her fans, insisting to both them and others that they are friends and to not consider her superior or far away from them, which has indirectly helped grow her brand. 

Another aspect that went into her brand is the vast library of merchandise that she offers on tour and on her website. Everything that is sold has a huge variety and many different options. A mascot or logo that has come to represent her brant is something called a “Blohsh”. 

Below we can see what it looks like as a necklace: 

A “Blohsh” is a figure like the standard stick man we see in our everyday lives, except it is lopsided. Many fans have speculated as to what it means, but no one has come to a conclusion, Eilish herself never stating that her logo has a specific meaning. This further opens her brand to a wider audience. 

Through her music, style, visuals, and public honesty, Billie Eilish has created an identity that feels intentional, personal, and one that has carried her to be one of the most marking young artists of the early 21^st century. 

From recording her music in her bedroom to performing in sold out arenas, Eilish’s career reflects both artistic growth and cultural influence. Rather than following traditional paths to fame, she has built success through authenticity, vulnerability, and creative control. As her music continues to evolve or its statistics skyrocketing, Billie Eilish remains not only a defining voice of her generation but a remined that staying true to yourself can be the most powerful way to succeed. 

Bibliography:

Eilish, Eilish. Billie Eilish Official Website, www.billieeilish.com. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026. 

“Billie Eilish.” Grammy Awards, Recording Academy, www.grammy.com/artists/billie-eilish/251723. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026. 

Eilish, Billie. HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. Darkroom/Interscope Records, 2024. 

BillieEilishVEVO. “bad guy.” YouTube, uploaded by BillieEilishVEVO, 29 Mar. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyDfgMOUjCI. 

BillieEilishVEVO. “No Time To Die.” YouTube, uploaded by BillieEilishVEVO, 13 Feb. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=BboMpayJomw. 

BillieEilishVEVO. “What Was I Made For?” YouTube, uploaded by BillieEilishVEVO, 13 July 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW8VLC9nnTo. 

Doyle, Patrick. “Billie Eilish: The Pop Prodigy Who Changed Music.” Rolling Stone, www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/billie-eilish-interview. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.