Billie Eilish and BLACKPINK’s Jennie Share Emotional Interview: “My First Work as an Adult, I Became Stronger”
American pop star Billie Eilish (23) and K-pop icon Jennie (28) of BLACKPINK met at Spotify’s listening event for Eilish’s third studio album, ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,’ in Korea. This highly anticipated meeting captivated music fans, with Jennie acting as the interviewer and engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Eilish.
When asked by Jennie about her comfort food, Eilish responded with a smile, citing white rice and soy sauce as her go-to choices, easy to consume even while traveling due to her vegan diet. Jennie, resonating with Eilish’s sentiment, suggested bibimbap, a Korean dish full of fresh vegetables, as a vegan-friendly option.
This album marks Eilish’s first project as an adult, and she candidly shared the challenges she faced during its creation. She spoke about the confusion and struggle with her identity, which she overcame by having extensive conversations with her brother, Finneas O’Connell, drawing inspiration from difficult situations.
‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT’ achieved remarkable success, debuting at number one on the UK Official Albums Chart and number two on the US Billboard 200. Eilish emphasized that music serves as a pure means of communication, even among people who speak different languages. She noted that through this album, her preferences became more defined, and her vocal skills improved significantly.
The listening event took place in a dome-shaped venue, enhancing the multisensory experience as images corresponding to each song surrounded the audience. Starting with the video for ‘SKINNY,’ the visuals flowed in sequence with the album’s tracklist. ‘BIRDS OF A FEATHER’ featured black birds covering the screens, ‘WILD FLOWER’ displayed dancing flowers, and ‘THE GREATEST’ showcased swirling water.
Eilish shared that if she hadn’t become a musician, she would have pursued a career as a dancer or gymnast. Jennie, in turn, revealed that she once dreamed of becoming a panda caretaker, prompting laughter. Eilish also mentioned that she enjoys singing her song ‘WILD FLOWER’ and tracks by the piano rock band Parachute loudly in her car.
The album title, ‘HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,’ is written entirely in capital letters, a deliberate choice by Eilish to express the feeling of shouting. In the interview’s closing moments, Jennie asked Eilish how she performed as an interviewer. Eilish hugged Jennie, saying, “You were perfect. Thank you for coming today. I love you, Jennie.”
During her visit to Korea for her third studio album promotion, Eilish appeared on tvN’s ‘You Quiz on the Block,’ meeting hosts Yoo Jae-suk and Jo Se-ho, and participated in the recording of KBS 2TV’s music program ‘The Seasons – Zico’s Artist.’
This interview and listening event highlighted the deep connection and mutual understanding between the two artists, leaving a lasting impression on fans.