It's been nearly a year since Billie Eilish last blessed us with an album, but something tells us that new music could be brewing. Yes, the singer is still in the midst of touring her most recent album, Hit Me Hard And Soft, but we promise we're not getting ahead of ourselves. And we're not alone: online, fans are growing increasingly convinced that Eilish is working on a new sound. Throw into the mix several easter eggs dropped by Miss Eilish herself (and her brother and co-producer, Finneas), and we have more than just a gut feeling that a fourth album is just around the corner. Allow us to explain.
What is BE4?
Some fans subscribe to the theory that Eilish is working on a deluxe, or sequel edition to Hit Me Hard And Soft (HMHAS). According to the singer's existing release timeline, these theory checks out. Previously, Eilish has waited around two years between albums, so one year on from HMHAS feels fitting for a second half of this chapter.
And this theory wasn't born from nothing. At the end of her song 'THE DINER', Eilish reads out a phone number: 310-807-3956. Fans quickly called the number in question, which answers via a pre-recorded message from Eilish herself, in which she says: “Hello, hello? Wait, I can’t hear you… Hello, hello? Hold on, let me call you back.” Unsurprisingly, fans took the notion of Eilish 'calling back' to mean that a follow-up to HMAS is on the cards.
Strengthening this theory, the album's notes frequently feature the phrase: “but when can I hear the next one?” And, at the end of 'BLUE', Eilish even quickly utters the phrase herself. Coincidence? We're not convinced.
If you're not sold on the idea of a deluxe album, there's also the possibility that Eilish will deliver a whole new sound before too long. Mid-way through a recent performance in Berlin, Finneas took a break from singing to say he and Eilish had planned their current tours "so we'd both be home at the same time, so we can make another album for you." If you ask us, that's basically confirmation that BE4 is around the corner.
When would Billie Eilish's fourth album be released?
An exact release date really depends on whether you subscribe to the idea of a HMHAS sequel of sorts, or a fourth album that takes an entirely new direction. The former would likely land before 2025 is out, but for an entirely new concept, a mid-2026 release date is looking more likely. We'll keep you updated.
