Ears Wide Open: Billie Eilish

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Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish

The dreamy but distant vocals on the song “Ocean Eyes” suggest a singer who has seen some things, who might be giving in to her emotions despite experience that cries out for caution. Don’t be deceived: Billie Eilish is 13 years old. Chew on that while she sings “burning cities / in napalm skies / fifteen flares / inside those ocean eyes.” The song is produced and co-written by her big brother, Finneas O’Connell (singer-guitarist for the L.A. pop quartet the Slightlys and Alistair on “Glee”). And he’s all of 18. They are the children of actor/musicians Billy O’Connell and Maggie Baird; Eilish began singing in the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus when she was 8 and has now moved on to original material. The song, along with an even chillier remix by the U.K.’s Astronomyy, has been getting plenty of online love. File under: true teen dreams.

||| Stream: “Ocean Eyes” and “Fingers Crossed”