Releasing her sophomore pop album, “Happier Than Ever”, Billie Eilish has taken her musicality to the next level. This album consists of 16 songs which all were written alongside her brother, songwriter Finneas. The central theme touches on her struggle to find contentment which could make the title of the album come off as a little deceiving and ironic.

Her new style is more somber than most of her well known hits. Eilish strived for a vibe that is very slow and vulnerable, which branches away from the carefree sound many of her fans have anticipated for this album. Underneath all the exposed feelings is a maturing artist. 

Eilish also takes a stance on many controversies through her music which is a big risk for music artists, especially for a young artist like her at age 19. Some topics she specifically spoke out against include breakup and abuse. She also touches base with her own identity crises and the pitfalls of fame. This is great use of a platform considering the influence she has across many of her listeners and followers.

Some of the musicality devices Eilish uses in the album are remarkable, especially coming from her so early in her musical career. Her vocals vary from whispering, to yelling, to jazz. The amount of synthesizers used in this album is unconventional and should be listened to through headphones for full effect. Eilish also orchestrated occasional fading of guitar and piano to contrast from a flashy type beat. 

“Happier Than Ever” is her most recognizable song off the album. The track has made it on TikTok and users have been using it in their videos a day after the album was released. This is due to the song’s great use of melodies and vocals that are always uniform. The biggest part to the song is the transition to being gentle to more confronting, then back to the original. However, she executed it with such professionalism and that is very honorable. 

In track five, “Oxytocin”, Eilish fabricates a techno pulse, atonal synth, and vocals that all come together melodically. Even though the track is very techno it almost feels like it could start it’s own genre of music. There are moments where she whispers or yells and it feels like she is breaking the fourth wall. All the components began to blend together, creating a muffled sound that has a scary and discomforting vibe. As the song came to a close, Eilish replaced all the depressing vibe with a lo-fi ballad and ended with more intense screaming and loud electronic blares. This song stood out the most due to its irregularity compared to the rest of the track list. 

Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” separates her from the rest of other pop artists and the projects they have worked on. Considering how early in her musical career, she appears to be on the right track and proves to have a bright future in the pop industry.