- Let's get into our conversation with a Los Angeles native
and an incredible human being,
someone who can speak to this city so much,
she wrote a real love letter herself
to this beautiful place.
It's Billie Eilish.
(audience applauding and cheering)
I watched your documentary.
I've been following you for as long as I can remember.
And there there's a moment in your concert
when you snap your ankle and you walk off stage
and you come out and this is one of the reasons
why I'm so in love with you is because you say,
"Look, I just want to do it a certain way."
And people don't know how to usually be so honest
in those moments.
How do you just say it like it is?
How do you know to do that?
That is such an art.
- You know, I've always been very,
very strong-willed and honest,
which I think is like a blessing and a curse.
But the funny thing is that (chuckles)
the older I've gotten the less confident I've gotten
and it kind of made me like almost...
'Cause I rewatched the doc like a few weeks ago
and it made me cry\ because I was thinking
how like free spirited I was and how open-minded I was,
and then it's like the media
just like tears it away from you.
And it's like it's not fun right now
so it's like I'm trying- - I know.
- I know, I'm trying to like, I don't know.
But I'm figuring it out. - Believe me, I get it.
(Billie chuckling)
And I have such faith that you will
because even when you're struggling,
you're aware of the struggle.
You said something that really struck me in the documentary.
You really have this issue with the word "fans."
And I was wondering where that stems from.
- I think that the reason that it was so weird to me
was because one moment I was a fan and then suddenly
I was looked at as this like higher up suddenly,
even when I was 14 and it was so weird
because I was like "I'm not even anyone, I just make music"
and these kids that I feel like I already know
suddenly like, oh, they're Billie's fans
and then there's Billie.
And so that's why it was so weird to me
but I think of them as like literally my skin,
like part of me and like how I get through stuff
and you know, they always have my back
and like they're fans just as much as I'm a fan,
but that doesn't make them any less than me or anybody else.
You know?
- Now one of the things
that I'm also so in love with you for is your directing.
Why did you know that you would be the one to take control
and get your vision across?
- I mean, I've always, I've always had the ideas already.
I just didn't really know that I could do them myself
for awhile, but then after awhile I was just like,
"You know what?
I want to do this," because I think I've realized
that this is what I've wanted to do all along
and I can actually, like I have to prove myself
and I really had to prove myself
because who's gonna trust a little 15 year old kid
that doesn't have any experience at all?
But I did and it's been like-
- Someone did.
- Yeah. The best decision ever.
Ever, ever.
- And kind of like, you know,
do you know Pippi Longstocking?
- Yeah.
Hell yeah.
- The Go-Go's Beauty and the Beat album
and Pippi Longstocking were like these two things
that collided in my world when I was a little girl
right here in Los Angeles.
And they both showed me that I could do anything,
it didn't matter that I was a girl
and I didn't have to become a man or a man hater.,
I could be all things girl, but I could do anything.
- Yeah.
- And I loved how personal you were about the marketing
and putting out of your album.
How are you feeling about this album being out there now?
How does it feel?
- It feels good.
I was very, very, very nervous
and very worried and anxious.
'Cause also, you know, sophomore album is like,
has more pressure than the first one,
especially if people really liked the first one
and it's my favorite thing in the world
and I have so much trust and love shoved into this project.
And I mean, it's terrifying that it's out in the world.
It couldn't be scarier to me,
but I'm also very happy and pleased and hope that, you know,
people can actually listen to the lyrics
and actually understand them and listen to me (chuckles)
and contribute it to their own life
and like put it in their own situations
and I hope that it helps people
and just makes them make a difference in their life
and change something in their life
that's been bothering them or something
because that's what music is for.
- Well, I love you.
And I will be going to bed tonight as I usually do
playing the PJ party video in my head
and usually I'm there with you girls like.
- Oh my God, can we just...
Can we just be best friends, please?
- I would love it.
- I love you so much.
This is an insanely like surreal interview.
I don't know why it's a big deal for you
because it's an insanely enormous deal for me
and you're Drew Barrymore so shut up.
(laughing)
- Thank you guys so much.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
(audience applauding and cheering)
Her new album "Happier Than Ever" is available now
and accompanied by her cinematic concert experience,
"Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles,"
which is available on Disney Plus.
I'm gonna say something directly to Billie.
You deserve to be happier than ever.
It is a privilege to watch you on your journey.
You bring tears to my eyes at how much I love you.
Thank you for allowing me
to have a great conversation with you.
(upbeat music)