Watch Billie Eilish and Her Family Talk About How They Make Music | Diary of a Song

The fastest-rising pop star of the moment is 17 and writes off-kilter hits with her older brother from their parents’ house. Breaking down Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend,” we show a new model for making it big.
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[@nytimes]

Read Joe's full piece on Billie: nyti.ms/2UfhOMM

[@infinitejack2115]

No mention that she is a he.

[@abdirisakawes6544]

Hi :) I love Billie Eilish

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

GREAT BRO YEAHHHHH

[@SAMZIRRA]

Sir, this is a really cool video. Editing is awesome :)

[@aliceinwonderland3229]

@@infinitejack2115 because shes not ...

[@leonmohan1708]

I know she's a super star just being her, but props gotta be shown to her super talented bro. Writes, produces, sings, arranges. He really brought Billie out. The pair are fire.

[@TheBlashMusic]

She is the vehicle for his creativity.

[@alfwinnn4224]

Funny, since they are both fire signs. It was meant to be lol.

[@alangoodman3150]

@@alfwinnn4224 you all act like you cant walk and chew buble gumbo at the same time

[@sandrapereira5896]

Agree. Both very talented.

[@cazualty9965]

She isnt talented at all doesnt take much talent for your parents to be millionaire who can buy you into the industry.

[@reyl2230]

I'm so happy you guys put Finneas in this to because he such a great singer and he is incredibly talented too

[@TheBlashMusic]

Yeah. He's the guy who's actually *MAKING* the music.

[@kikko422]

He writes and produces Billie’s music. Edit: I didn’t mean that in a way to invalidate her talent btw. I’m sure she cowrites/ produces, etc. and she’s got a great voice.

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

YEAHHHHHH TOTES BRO! HES SOOOOO SICK DUDE YEAHHHHHH

[@RMLLcrazy]

The way I see it is that Finneas is really talented and knows a lot about song writing, but Billy has been working very closely with him from 13 to 17, and she strikes me as someone that cares and would learn a lot from that experience. So Ocean Eyes is probably more Finneas than bury a friend.

[@rmak5174]

Im confused did she sell her soul?(she said that in bury a friend) illuminati etc can you guys explain these billie and illuminati stuf

[@kaihinton6623]

They just look like your regular old family to the naked eye tbh

[@cIiffe]

They are a regular old family. Just because many people know of them doesn't make them aliens.

[@kaihinton6623]

cliffe I mean you just wouldn’t guess their kind of famous though

[@BlueOrangey1]

Put on my glasses and sun glasses, even tried a telescope. Can confirm they still look like a regular old family.

[@sd-cy2cl]

cliffe can we not pretend their lives aren’t insanely different from the rest of the world? treat artists like humans, but don’t ignore the fact their lives are INCREDIBLY different compared to other every day families

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

that's because it's fake

[@BiPhBiPhBiPhBiPh]

Nobody: Mom: "He lost like 15 pounds" Such a mom thing to say lol.

[@acharich]

💀🎯💀🎯💀

[@adnans3222]

Its the cocaine 😂

[@ikexbankai]

I know!!! I miss my Mom so much

[@ineednothin6373]

@@ikexbankai

[@dh1432]

@@adnans3222;-;

[@brooklynluna1626]

Maggie is being such a mom at the end😂😂

[@jesseshepherd5522]

The mother is adorable.

[@gabriellamoldaver159]

Lunaaa B I love mother Maggie

[@celticdruid8091]

Great Mom! Such an unusual and talented family.....the parents really sacrificed and supported their kids creativity.....both kids have such complimentary talents that their music is so different and it works.....”the total is greater than the sum of the parts”

[@moby1017]

"That's not how it happened." HAHA

[@fakshen1973]

Finneas makes some sick music. He's the evil genius behind Billie's sound. I like how they aren't using cookie cutter song structure.

[@akwizard1598]

fakshen1973 what’s the cookie cutter structure?

[@pseudoplotinus]

exactly. did you hear the new ed sheeran and justin bieber song? it's so bleeding generic. I absolutely hate it.

[@nachoherrera5678]

I'm not trying to hate, but his music may sometimes not follow every pop song structure, but her music still is musically poor, still I like some of her songs

[@jacobsmith3957]

I honestly don't think it is just the lack of cookie cutter song structure. They have some really interesting harmonizing and chord progressions that you just rarely hear from pop artists which really draw the ear in IMO.

[@superspark3257]

@@pseudoplotinus triggered beiber fans: *"i DoNt CaRE"*

[@maiag1855]

it just hit me...how surreal finneas and billie's success must be to their parents. from just singing in the school talent show and participating in small bands...to all of this. that's insane! it literally makes me so emotional. I love this family

[@Jo_Wardy]

They are all music orientated so maybe not too suprising but who knows lols

[@ihvha29]

How else do you get big though? I'm really confused about how you imagine someone is supposed to go about finding success?

[@maiag1855]

Haab Saab huh?

[@malhunt7]

They had a homeschool talent show! They were homeschooled.

[@misia3860]

its one of the best interviews i watched honestly and i watch a lot of billie's, it's just so great to include Finneas bc he's behind all of that song-writing and creation proces and he gets NOT ENOUGH RECOGNITION!!!! also it's informative, and real & i loved it

[@YouWillGetThereBuddy]

Are you watching the same interview? He isn't behind everything alone... They both are... She's just as much apart of the songwriting as he is... He definitely deserves WAY more recognition but DO NOT deminish her involvement in the process in order to give him the recognition he deserves. They both deserve it. She's the face so OBVIOUSLY people know her more.

[@irrelevance3859]

@@YouWillGetThereBuddy No one demonised her involvement? But Finneas does ALOT including production which is probably the most complicated part of it and makes up a huge part of a song. And he's written some of Billies songs on his own completely. For the amount of work he does he doesn't get the deserved recognition

[@misia3860]

@@YouWillGetThereBuddy yes I know she is just as much part of it and I love her work, but I think she IS already getting credit for that, and finneas isn't really, at least not enough - that's what I meant. Nice to see him in the spotlight for once

[@vp4744]

That's always been a knee-jerk reaction to any young girl's success: looking for reasons for success elsewhere, especially to another male. They never look for such reasons when it's a boy or a male talent. But a girl, you betcha. I'm afraid women are to blame for this more than men.

[@misia3860]

@@vp4744 I would NEVER claim woman's success is because of a man, I know a lot of people do that and I hate it more than anything. BUt in this specific case Finneas IS a huge part of Billie's art creating process and he doesn't get much recognition for that. She is a huge worldwide star now, everybody knows who she is, and when you ask people about Finneas most of them will respond by asking "who?". She is a wonderful artist and I would never disregard her work. I'm just saying her art is created by TWO people and one of them doesn't get enough recognition for that. Their genders' got nothing to do with it. Nothing.

[@sarahg2653]

If Timbaland is saying you're going to blow up, you can believe him. That guy is incredibly talented and has such an ear for great music, IMO.

[@acharich]

Oh wow, I was just thinking about him from 4:50 because he often uses real sounds.. Haven't reached him in the vid yet, but that makes sense..!

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

DUDE TITALLY, TIMBALAND IS LIKE GOD DUDE, YOU'RE SOOO SMART BRO. YEAHHHH DAWG. SO SICK DUDE.

[@mr559]

Timbaland is 2 years late to the Billie Eilish listening party. LOL.

[@sandrapereira5896]

Exactly. Finneas is hugely talented as is his sister. Well done to both of them

[@DeanithForeverYoung]

I really appreciate Finneas, without him I honestly think it would be way different. He is a vital part of the creation of a Billie song.

[@comuteamrgb]

without their parents they both would work at target and then make a carreer in biology and get alot of cash like together 5000 dollars a month

[@DeanithForeverYoung]

@@comuteamrgb nope, Billie has the voice so she would still be involved with singing

[@comuteamrgb]

@@DeanithForeverYoung yes but her entire house wouldnt be filled by instruments

[@acharich]

@@comuteamrgb 💀💀💀💀💀

[@Amelie-nu8qt]

srija sengupta I looked at the replies of this comment to see if anyone was gonna change it 😂😂

[@nickrachjames]

I'm 55 years old and I only recently discovered Billy Eilish. She's a mix of many genres that makes her music special. I have not loved an artist like this in decades! Her music appeals to all ages.!

[@tinalawrence9101]

57 yrs and proud to wear her logo on clothes.

[@jsswywh]

When Billie showed the camera her wall I genuinely started crying.

[@viviancat4857]

I know!!! I thought she would never show it. But you still can't really tell what it says

[@lauren3301]

billies growth is insane insane INSANE when her mom was explaining what started it i cried that’s incredible

[@used2jimnasiumm]

this made me emotional. ugh i love this family with all my heart.

[@camerontaylor7471]

Jimena Tangassi I’m glad, just so you know they are apart of the free Masonic satanic cult... they literally just explained how brother and sister have xxx to get inspiration for songs...and how he never eaten because he’s obviously using drugs... and then all the sounds they are sampling are all used in torture rituals so it’s just programming trauma in your head...

[@user-lq7pn5bi2i]

@@camerontaylor7471 wth--

[@sheikh5711]

@@camerontaylor7471 wtf

[@okuzakiakira7173]

Interviewer: What music genre do you make? Billie Eilish: *YES*

[@MichaelRockfez]

Okuzaki Akira Didn’t work here.

[@okuzakiakira7173]

@@MichaelRockfez Yes I didn't.

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

POP POP POP

[@DavidJackTumusiime]

Impressed with the interview format of a video call in! Simple but so effective.

[@leilanidru7506]

And a lot more personal but in a very good way. Instead of more lights camera flashy professional stuff or pre written opinions thoughts and just overall look. Her mom is FaceTiming about her superstar kids from the comfort of her own bed with said superstar kids interrupting in the background😂 it’s all so wholesome but still raw and real.

[@DavidJackTumusiime]

@@leilanidru7506 I agree! Have ended up watching just about every interview they have conducted this way.

[@musicalimagination5406]

Thank you very much for this to be in my recommended

[@ThatLEGOBoi]

Love how Billie's mom is so chill with her writing this horrifying concoction. If I wrote something that had the tone of Bury a Friend, my family would either call up an exorcist or be trying to put me in a mental hospital :l

[@CommentCritic]

I always like these "Diaries of a Song" videos. They give so much context, not in the lyrics, but in the structure and making-of of the song and album. Always love a little behind the scenes of this duet of a mastermind.

[@blueberry3662]

I cant unhear the "easy bake oven" and the drill sound now Edit: I've never gotten likes above 5 😂

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

that's sad tho

[@ereristark425]

I love your pic! Hisoka!!!! Yasssss

[@vi6ilanteshit]

I absolutely effin love how Billie has been right beside Finneas the entire time. Never in front, never behind. Always beside each other. The artistic freedom, the fraternity, the realness of it all. They are going to own the next decade like they did 2019.

[@RayatoTV]

This is a great series. Y’all really need to do this more often than just two episodes a year.

[@chanteladiel]

I love that finneas and maggie were included💓💓

[@angelaanonymous]

I adore Mama Eilish. This was a fantastic interview. ❤️

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

you would

[@jfl7204]

That interview just made me feel so happy for Billie and Fineas wtf

[@fruitoson4227]

billie: i don’t wanna be boxed into one genre y’all: pop

[@MichaelRockfez]

It’s sort of sad that she doesn’t want to be alt since most of her big fans come from there. “alternative” is so broad that it can easily incorporate her, plus I wanna see her collaborate with some other great artists from there.

[@keeganechevarria]

I dont see her as one genre, i see her as all of them.

[@violeth7703]

T O A S T girl explain how she country then

[@superspark3257]

@@violeth7703 she didn't mean litterly

[@16GHunter]

in their defense, all pop means is popular. and billie is certainly popular.

[@strawwberryyy]

this was really cool! it's great to know that despite everything billie has a safe and supportive family to lean on

[@Annalippo98]

i thought it was so weird because she said in an other interview that only a few close people had seen that wall, shook

[@strawwberryyy]

@@Annalippo98 me too!!

[@sarahdenis1650]

Well, it's not really a secret wall now

[@sarahdenis1650]

I still don't know if showing the wall was intentional or if it was a mistake

[@WeAreWellness]

She did an Instagram live and showed the wall but the camera was super blurry

[@julipnk4029]

"We can do whatever we want now" true, and now you own the world🥺💖

[@NothingButAComment]

goooddd she is so freaking great. saw her at coachella and ive never been so blown away by a live performance

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

Dude calm down, that set was corny, were you on drugs? I guess on drugs it would be sick dude!!!

[@JohnLevis]

One main reason the song is so great is because there wasn’t any record company exec trying to make it “poppy” with only sales in mind. It’s so great that people have access to technology to develop their creativity. Bravissimo!!

[@KayEeEss]

Omg somehow billie and finneas's mother being an aerialist makes so much sense to me

[@arvindepaudhon6932]

they're so precious, i'm crying.

[@rozanoff6175]

Behind their songs, it looks like there’s always an enormous amount of work !!

[@sondra4954]

Can't fake real talent these two are amazing artist

[@rebekahlindroos4171]

This is beautiful. Thank you for taking the time to talk to Billies family as well. This song can have many meanings. When I first heard it I felt it was saying your mind and thoughts can be your worst monster.

[@fourtoraise3183]

Dude I love this chick! Love how different she is and her own person is so inspiring I wish more people would embrace themselves! You go girl!

[@aidanandco]

what i learned: maggie basically made bury a friend

[@spongebobtrianglepants2081]

😂

[@shamaperveen3756]

Best siblings duo. Love it😘😘

[@AnjaliKumari-md5ph]

This made me cry, I have tears rolling down my cheeks. The way Maggie put things and the way she said it made me wanna cry. They have seen alot of hardships and now that they are getting some recognition makes me so proud I've seen them grow for a long time and I think they deserve the world.

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

Sorry to hear that, I hope you find happiness.

[@faithgiadolor920]

Just watching this just shows how hard-working and talented and how far they have come. They’re both so talented and so creative and they both just have such Powerful minds!!! I’m so proud of you Billie and Finneas!!!!

[@jiffywaxjesus1951]

As a hip hop producer when I was younger I have an ear for talent and songs that'll be big. Billie was being played by my daughter this into small underground singers and rappers, I knew instantly she was it

[@lk7097]

Lorde was the predecessor of Billie. Lorde really paved the way for unconventional pop (in the way that low notes are used and there isn't the conventional climax and arrangement)

[@MichaelRockfez]

L K Lyrically, it’s been a breakout from the pop monotony of sad = breakup, happy = love song.

[@gianmarcoperez3249]

Lana del Rey was first.

[@lk7097]

@@gianmarcoperez3249 hmmm i do like lana very much but i still feel lorde is one of the more known artists who brought unconventional beats and lyrics into the pop scene

[@ralphrichter4976]

@@gianmarcoperez3249 lana del rey is NOT pop.

[@elaine2862]

nah grimes.

[@GrifGuy123]

ive seen like three if these music interviews so far and i gotta say the NYT has the best producers and editors for these kind of videos. everything is so presentable and easy to follow.

[@hijabzahra562]

Every time I watch this my love for her and bury a friend increases💕💕

[@mjmatthews4168]

this added so much more to the listening experience of her songs

[@kennedylauren1642]

I love them so much omggg talent runs in their whole family 💖💖

[@miamonae9585]

I literally almost started crying. I love Billie❤️😭

[@candelajordi7703]

Now I love this song even more

[@carlosfreitas7551]

THAT ENDING finneas is so cute

[@ryanpatrickwhite97]

TOTES DUUUDE BRO YEAHHHHHHH

[@mirandasgarden]

Crazy geniuses. Love their artistic chemistry.

[@paizleyisjusttryintostaysane]

I absolutely love the side of all their music this video shows...... I LOVE SEEING THIS!!! Billie!!! Finnease!!! You are my creative heros!!! Your parents raised you right!!! Pls don't stop!!!

[@cindiserrahn3138]

Loved this, first time watching it. To hear where her inspiration for the beats and sounds in her music came from is just 😍. All in all, great interview with her Brother and Mom

[@folkloreenthusiast]

Thank you for including Finneas and Maggie!💓

[@gibtshiermate]

wow these 3 persons are the cutest I've ever seen

[@infinitecuriosity9210]

geniouses, true originals, looooooooove their music, and her voice is beyond amazing

[@jiminshii55]

billie’s perspective in art is amazing, as an art lover myself im really intrigued with her style in music, fashion and how she visualizes things she’s just ugh definitely my role model

[@Urfavegirlali]

Awww! I love this a lot! Thank You for including all of them

[@uditisinha305]

Her pure vocals on bury a friend on itself is so beautiful!

[@heatherhoang3835]

So grounded. Billie & Finneas are like a breath of much needed fresh air. I am excited to see what the future brings for these guys and what they share with us.

[@airida8478]

im in love with her ok crying bye

[@nurulhabibahhassan6318]

3:51.. omg BEAUTIFUL !!

[@eilishmiller]

They're all so precious 🤧💕

[@vaughancello]

I got goosebumps when I heard her version of Hotline Bling. Her voice is so beautiful!!!

[@llnjwrg]

It's wild to me that this video doesn't even have 500K views (yet) because it's what made me finally do a deep dive into Billie's music after hearing about her for so long. Within 8 minutes I was completely enamored not only with Billie but also Finneas and their mother and then fell head over heals in love with the new album, inevitably spending way too much on a concert ticket to see her at Red Rocks. So thanks, NYT!

[@adoratan]

so special so inspiring

[@gauravdubey8549]

This is beautiful I've already watched it 5 times

[@ohnoZomBri]

This was super interesting! Great questions & interview

[@Meriale46]

Billie Eilish is a phenomenon. She breaks through barriers other artists haven't been able to do. She has something for everyone. And she sings about issues that are real and nothing sexually charged like other female singers. She doesn't need to sell herself to anyone to be successful. She's very relatable.

[@phruityphizzler1896]

5:54 I know it’s cos she has perfect pitch but I always find it so cool how she can just pick the right note out of nowhere like that It’s so smooth

[@gabriellamoldaver159]

they’re incredible 🤩🤩🤩

[@MandyS108]

this was such a good interview wow

[@NunoTorpedo]

6:15 the breakdown of the song structure and it's comparison with other songs is brilliant! It shows how much they know about music and how their success isn't a lucky strike

[@user-ux1vj9vx7s]

Nah.. It just shows how little you do know.

[@solalbuquerque3249]

Ugh I can’t explain how much I love them ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@paulinebrus7580]

they have such a sweet mam :) also amazing their parents are so creative! Looks like a great dynamic

[@kkpaine]

When you’re family, the creative force can really be focused. Brother’s command of editing is just a big as Billie voice. A great duo, like other sibling groups/duos.

[@Plaanetszero0]

LOVE THIS

[@Joannefibracs9994]

When I hear her songs I’ve never thought of a genre. Just... Billie!

[@strawwberryyy]

happy birthday billie, you have made my life a whole lot better

[@stuffnuns]

Go Billie and Finneas. Creating music w/o the industry breathing down their necks. Making their own sounds, music, art. Go! Blessings on the whole Eillish family.

[@yardenoved599]

I really loved how he interviewed Finneas and Maggie and the questions weren't just BILLIE BILLIE BILLIE

[@ashley-uu6ss]

i love finn and bil sm, they r both so talented

[@burgundyandblue3905]

The bridge was stuck in my head all of last night

[@rose-he4uv]

i cried when their mom talked about them oh my god i love this family and i’m so proud of billie & finneas ♥️

[@JordanStuddard]

So well done man! I watched it twice. love the little emojii accents

[@Needassistance]

Great interview and good interviewer. Nice to have some one who asks a question and just listens

[@ericamae7287]

Two amazingly talented musicians

[@sal_213]

I love that Finneas and Maggie were included!! 💕💕💕

[@girlyblackgirl]

"what kind of music do u listen to" "billie eilish type music" i most definetely just say her name when ppl ask WHAT i listen to i love her sound

[@JustinLHopkins]

But her music isn’t a genre and never will be, so don’t say that. You should research what you like so you can put a name to it and be specific. Otherwise, it just looks like you’re uninformed about what you say you’re passionate about.

[@jaxketpocket7147]

I loved the one guy!!! He just like rocking out like “ this is THE album of 2019!!Lol loved that!

[@TheEllenMellon]

The mom cred at the end is such a mood! Love it

[@filippafj4732]

I just love Maggie’s “but it happened” in the end

[@GetFitGamer]

Their mom is amazing LOL. love the last part.

[@sakacreative1229]

THE EDITING! GOSH WHY IT"S SO ADDICTING WATCHING THIS VIDEO! LOVE

[@banshaishabong6522]

me and bullie feel like we're 16 our whole lives, that i can relate. I've been 16 yrs old for 5yrs now lol i love her

[@ramenoodles241]

billie and finneas smiling 😍😍😍

[@rikhiamoore6185]

My cute lil baby

[@Chaem]

thanks so much! love those interviews!!

[@kvinettaf09]

This was really cool. Well made vid NY times..and I lovee hearing them explain their processes like that, and from their three perspectives too, love it.

[@Kuyjac258]

They really are defining their own genre, very much like the Beatles come Revolver era. and as a major Beatles Freak I mean that in the highest compliments.