When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? - A dive into Billie Eilish's spooky debut album

Cover Artwork for 'WHEN WE FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO'

Billie Eilish’s career began in 2016, when she released her first single 'Ocean Eyes' on Soundcloud. Growing up in a creative household, it’s no surprise she pursued a career in the music industry. A trained dancer, it was a video of her technical choreography of 'Ocean Eyes' that helped the single become a viral hit. 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where We Go' is Eilish’s long-awaited debut album.

The album title is borrowed from a lyric from 'Bury a Friend', one of three songs released prior the album. The song is spooky and tensional yet calming. It wouldn’t seem out of place in a horror film, only it’s hard to tell whether Billie is the mad man trying to kill us or the saviour we need to fight him off. It’s Generation Z’s answer to Kanye West’s 'Black Skinhead'.

Her disregard for keeping within a single genre really shows with 'Wish You Were Gay', a controversially named track, that showcases Eilish’s vocals. 'Bad Guy' is a bass-heavy pop-infused record that will no doubt be welcomed on the radio. 'My Strange Addiction' appeals to this generation of teens’ obsession with The Office. It features interludes of the Dundler Mifflin staff reacting to Michael Scott’s creative efforts. Life imitating art?

Sombre-ballad 'Xanny' tackles this generation’s obsession with anxiety medication. The lyrics include, “In the second-hand smoke, still just drinking canned coke, I don’t need a Xanny to feel better”.

The final three tracks 'Listen Before I go', 'I Love You' and 'Goodbye' tug at the heart-strings and are clearly influenced by Lana Del Rey, a pioneer of sad songs for this generation. You’ll start the album dancing to the thumping beats and end it crying to melancholy ballads.

Listen to WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? here on Spotify.