Billie Eilish, the chart-topping pop phenomenon known for her genre-bending music and captivating visuals, has never been one to shy away from pushing creative boundaries. Her latest album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” is a testament to this artistic fearlessness, featuring not only impactful music but also a hauntingly beautiful album cover that demanded a commitment to discomfort.
Beyond Photoshop: The “Real” Story Behind the Cover Image
In a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Eilish shed light on the creation process behind the cover image for “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” Many fans speculated that the image, featuring Eilish submerged underwater in a fully clothed state, was the result of digital manipulation. However, Eilish revealed a surprisingly “real” approach to achieving the image.
Diving into the Deep End: A Six-Hour Underwater Ordeal
Eilish recounted a whirlwind day leading up to the shoot. Fresh off her Grammy win, she dyed her hair black and ventured to a “random place” in Santa Clarita, California. There, she encountered a 10-foot-deep tank – her stage for the next six grueling hours.
Fully Clothed and Weighted Down: A Commitment to the Vision
The details surrounding the shoot paint a vivid picture of dedication and perseverance. Eilish went underwater fully clothed, sporting a layered ensemble that included long pants, shorts, thermals, a flannel shirt, a tie, and various accessories. To ensure she remained submerged, a weight was strapped to her body. This commitment to realism, however, came at a cost.
“Almost Died in These Shoots”: Embracing Discomfort for Artistic Expression
When host Stephen Colbert jokingly inquired about the seemingly dangerous nature of the shoot, Eilish’s response was characteristically blunt. She admitted to a recurring theme in her creative process – a willingness to embrace discomfort in pursuit of a powerful visual. “It’s not like, ‘What can I do that will be the most uncomfortable that I could dream of?'” she explained. “It’s more that I think about the visual before I think about how it’s gonna make me feel.”
Waterboarding for Aesthetics: Pushing the Boundaries of Endurance
Adding another layer of intensity to the experience, Eilish revealed that she didn’t use a nose plug during the shoot. This essentially subjected her to a self-inflicted form of waterboarding for the entire six-hour duration. Despite the physical challenges, Eilish emphasized the importance of the visual concept. “A lot of my inspirations for the visuals on this album were optical illusion-type things,” she explained. “Things that just make you question it or think about it for longer.”
Hit Me Hard and Soft: A Deep Dive into Music and Visuals
“Hit Me Hard and Soft,” a 10-track album created in collaboration with Eilish’s brother Finneas, is a sonic journey that complements the captivating visuals of the album cover. Eilish’s dedication to artistic expression is evident in both the music and the imagery, offering a cohesive and thought-provoking experience for fans.
