BILLIE EILISH

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

Billie Eilish still remains one of the most polarising mainstream pop artists in 2019, a title that is ongoing for her throughout her career. There’s an unspoken uncomfortability with her, perhaps because of her age, perhaps because of her emo-esque style and mannerisms. Make no mistake, on WWAFA, WDWG? Eilish is incredibly edgy. However the edginess of the sound textures, lyricism, thematic elements and overall package the album comes in only support its excellence.

Mention must be given to producer and Eilish’s brother FINNEAS, a fantastic and detail-oriented powerhouse on the album. From splitting vocals into fragments to creating demonic sounds through vocal processing, Finneas shapes the album in a way mainstream pop producers lack the courage to do. It’s almost a lesson in the spectrum of sounds that can be popularised. Eilish is not an indie artist- she’s arguably the biggest artist of 2019 worldwide with one of the biggest songs of the year. Yet her sound is incredibly indie-leaning.

An element often omitted from the discussions of WWAFA, WDWG? is the self aware lyricism that the artist is able to achieve at only seventeen. On xanny, Eilish laments the drug use of those around her:

I'm in their secondhand smoke

Still just drinking canned Coke

I don't need a Xanny to feel better

On designated drives home

Only one who's not stoned

Don't give me a Xanny, now or ever



Please don't try to kiss me on the sidewalk

On your cigarette break

I can't afford to love someone

Who isn't dying by mistake in Silver Lake

On listen before i go, Eilish personalises depression and suicide in a very dark manner:

Taste me, the salty tears on my cheek

That's what a year-long headache does to you

I'm not okay, I feel so scattered

Don't say I'm all that matters

Her lyricism is elevated and extremely impressive thematically and technically. i love you sounds like a modernised Hallelujah. bad guy is the second biggest song of 2019, only behind Old Town Road which is a formidable opponent. If Billie Eilish’s career continues at its current trajectory, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? will become a landmark in modern pop music.