Billie Eilish, who gained fame at the age of 13 with her breakout single “Ocean Eyes” on SoundCloud, reflects on her remarkable rise to global superstardom. Speaking to WIRED, Eilish, now 24, expressed uncertainty about the future of emerging artists. “Oh my god!” she exclaimed when asked where the next Billie Eilish might emerge. “I have no idea.”
At the time Eilish debuted her music, SoundCloud was still an underutilized platform for discovering pop talent. Nowadays, while many new artists share their work on similar sites, Eilish remains curious about the future landscape of the music industry. “I don’t know where the next whoever is gonna come from. I can’t wait to see them and I can’t wait to cheerleader them, whoever it may be,” she stated.
The environment for aspiring musicians has transformed significantly over the past decade. Ten years ago, artists like Eilish built substantial followings through platforms like livestreams and social media. In 2026, however, the focus has shifted. Many claim to understand how to navigate algorithms for streams and engagement, but Eilish observes that much of the output lacks authenticity, especially in an era saturated with AI-generated content. Though Eilish and her fans grew up online, she points out a changing sentiment; they may not desire to be as immersed in that space as before.
Eilish maintains a belief in the enduring power of genuine talent to rise above the clutter. She argues that art should be “attainable for everyone,” and acknowledges the internet’s role, despite its chaos, in democratizing creativity. “There are all sorts of technologies now where it seems like we’re all doomed, but we’re not,” she asserted. “If we keep making real stuff, real art made by humans—live music, live audiences—I don’t see that ever dying.”
