With the world shutting down, there weren't many things to do in quarantine. There was making bread, reading a book, working from home, or taking online classes. Billie Eilish decided to do what she does best and make music. Living near Finneas O'Connell, her brother and songwriting partner, was an advantage, as the two of them could get together without it being risky and get some great music out of their meetings.
She also used her free time to educate herself on political and social issues, raise awareness of important causes, work on audiovisual content, and lots of other things. Here's what Billie Eilish was up to during quarantine.
10 She Released A Short Film
In early 2020, Billie Eilish announced on social media the release of her short film titled Not My Responsibility. It's a conceptual piece with the purpose of promoting body positivity and how uncalled comments on a person's appearance, weight, or body in general can be damaging and needs to be stopped. The video depicts Billie slowly undressing before going into a black pool. Billie has been widely criticized for her sometimes unusual choice of clothing, so she used the opportunity to address her own insecurities caused by those comments that should've never existed in the first place. The project was greatly praised both by critics and fans.
9 She Actively Promoted The BLM Movement
Billie and her brother Finneas were both very involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, writing and fighting with people who don't see how important the issue is. In May, Billie wrote a statement on Instagram addressing how white privilege affects everyone, and before saying All Lives Matter people should think about whose lives are actually in danger.
8 She Released 'My Future'
Billie would never leave her fans high and dry, not even during a pandemic. In July, she and Finneas announced the release of their new song, My Future, and its music video. The video shows an animated version of Billie walking away from what she knows and reflecting on her future.
The song was written on a rainy day in quarantine at Finneas' studio, and the lyrics tell the story of a girl who needs to know herself before diving into a relationship. A perfect song for those days of solitude and self-discovery.
7 She Got Her Own Signature Ukelele
The first instrument Billie learned how to play, the first one she used to write a song, and the one that's been with her for her whole life is the ukelele. Fans always go crazy when they see her take it out during shows because they know great things are coming. Billie was so excited when Fender gave her the opportunity to have her own signature ukelele. The instrument obviously means a lot to her, and now it will to everyone who buys it.
6 She Promoted Voter Registration
Many artists and celebrities have used their platforms to encourage people to register and vote, and Billie was one of them. In August, she made a video expressing her concern about the state of the country and how she wanted leaders that took issues like climate change and the pandemic seriously. She also put emphasis on the importance of being politically active in order to effect change and asked repeatedly for her followers to check their voting status and to vote with those concerns in mind.
5 She Put Out A Music Video For 'No Time To Die'
On December 2019, Billie and Finneas were offered the possibility of writing the song for the new James Bond movie, and they were beyond stoked.
"The day after my birthday, we flew to London for a week, and we worked with Hans and the entire orchestra, they recorded all of the orchestra when we went there," Billie explained. The song didn't take long to write, and it was released at the beginning of 2020. It was months later, however, that the video was released. It was definitely worth the wait, though.
4 She Announced She Would Release A Documentary
In September 2020, Billie made the announcement that a documentary about her creative process would be released in February 2021. It seems like a lifetime ago, but that moment is only a few days away now. According to what Billie said, trying to give some clues without spoiling anything, fans will be able to learn a lot about her and Finneas' songwriting process, their time on the road, and how being away from home affects the way they work. It sounds very promising. It'll be available via Neon and on Apple TV+ on February 26.
3 She Joined An Online Event To Raise Funds For A Rare Disease
Epidermolysis Bullosa is a rare skin disease that does not have a cure... yet. Lots of artists and celebrities like Laura Dern, Adam Sandler, Bradley Cooper, Jimmy Kimmel, and many others joined the online event Venture Into Cures to raise funds to develop a cure for this disease. It was hosted by the EB Research Partnership, an organization founded by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and his wife. Billie was, of course, happy to help promote a good cause. She participated in the event to help raise awareness and she donated one of her signature ukeleles signed for it to be auctioned, and the money put towards research.
2 She Did An Online Concert
Every performer and music fan misses being able to play and attend concerts, so Billie wanted to give her fans the next best thing. She announced in October that she would be doing a live stream show, and for the next few days, she posted pictures and little clips to give people an idea of what they could expect.
"In the show i’ll be bringing you inside my head in crazy xr environments," she wrote. "And there’s gonna be a pre-show before with trivia and a never before seen scene from the doc."
1 She Released 'Therefore I Am'
Billie's latest single, Therefore I Am, came out last year and it was a total surprise to everyone. It was another one of her quarantine projects, and she even put out an amazing video for the song. It features her running around an empty mall, picking different snacks, and taking whatever she likes. In the end, she runs out when a security guard finds her. The song is open to interpretation, but there seems to be one clear, universal message: do not care about what people say or think and just be yourself.