Billie Eilish & FINNEAS on Touring with Parents & EXCLUSIVE Clip Writing “What Was I Made For?”

Summary

In this entertaining interview, siblings Billy Eilish and Phineas O'Connell discuss their creative collaboration and family dynamics. They share insights into their unique music process, including how they write songs like their smash hit 'What Was I Made For.' The siblings reveal their close bond, their parents' involvement in their touring life, and how they navigate disagreements. Phineas explains how they thrive under a prompt or assignment to create music, and Billy reflects on the unexpected personal connection she found in writing the song. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at their artistry and family life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Phineas and Billy Ish, sibling duo, are Grammy and Oscar-winning singer-songwriters.
• 😀 They both have a unique approach to music, often working with prompts instead of writing based solely on personal experience.
• 😀 Phineas goes by 'Phineas O'Connell,' while Billy decided to simplify his name to 'Billy Ish' from 'Billy O'Connell' for ease.
• 😀 Their father is heavily involved in their tour, working as a set carpenter and even building the stage, though he avoids revealing his full name to prevent any nepotism.
• 😀 Billy and Phineas have a close relationship and have learned to handle disagreements in a healthy, sibling-like manner, knowing they can't truly separate from each other.
• 😀 They revealed that the song 'What Was I Made For' was an assignment at first, and only after the song was written did they realize how much it resonated with their personal emotions.
• 😀 Their parents often travel with them on tour, with their mother staying in a separate hotel but accompanying them, while their father works with the crew.
• 😀 When writing songs, Phineas and Billy value their creative process, and they film their sessions to document their work and capture raw, unscripted moments.
• 😀 They are both critical of artists who express disdain for their own work, stating that they appreciate and are proud of their music, even if it evolves over time.
• 😀 'Bad Guy,' despite its seemingly simplistic lyrics, is one of their most successful songs, and they acknowledge its catchy yet 'goofy' nature that works well in the context of pop music.

Q & A

Why did Phineas choose to go by just one name, Billy Eish?

Phineas felt that his full legal last name, O'Connell, sounded too clunky when combined with his first name. Inspired by artists like Cher, he decided to go by Billy Eish from a young age, a decision he made very early on.

What is Billy Eish's relationship with his dad during the tours?

Billy's dad is highly involved in the tours, where he helps with set carpentry. Initially, he helped drive the van and carry equipment, but as the tours grew, he took on a role as one of the set carpenters, building stages and other structures.

Does Billy Eish's dad embrace nepotism within the crew?

No, Billy's dad goes out of his way to avoid nepotism. He doesn't want anyone to know he's related to Billy and does his job with complete professionalism, ensuring he receives no special treatment.

How do Phineas and Billy Eish handle conflicts and disagreements while working together?

As siblings, they can have passionate arguments, but they understand each other deeply. They resolve disagreements by making their arguments and, typically, one person lets go of their position, allowing the other person’s perspective to prevail.

Do Phineas and Billy Eish ever cringe at their old songs?

Yes, they admit to cringing at certain past songs, especially lyrics they feel were less refined. However, they also appreciate their music, acknowledging that growth over time allows them to view their past work differently.

What’s their opinion on artists who dislike their own music?

Phineas and Billy Eish find it frustrating when artists express dislike for their own work. They believe it’s important to appreciate what you create, even if it evolves and changes over time.

How did Phineas and Billy Eish come to create the hit song 'What Was I Made For'?

The song started as a creative assignment, and during a particularly uninspired day, they tried writing with a new approach. Phineas played chords, and Billy wrote the lyrics in a burst of creativity. The song came together in just a couple of hours.

How do Phineas and Billy Eish approach songwriting?

They thrive when given a prompt or assignment. Writing about personal feelings can be challenging for them, so they prefer working with a story or prompt that sparks their creativity, making it easier to express emotions through music.

Do Phineas and Billy Eish record their creative processes?

Yes, they have recorded their sessions, especially in the past year, using their own cameras. This helped them document the creative process for their next album, though it has also led to humorous moments as they sometimes forget they are being filmed.

How does Phineas feel about the success of their song 'What Was I Made For'?

Phineas finds the success of the song, with over 600 million streams, mind-blowing. Despite the numbers, he reflects on the creation process as something deeply personal and fulfilling, especially given how the song was born from a simple idea.