It's been nearly a a year and a half since Billie Eilish last blessed us with an album, but now we finally have confirmation that new music is brewing.
Yes, the singer is just days away from the end of her Hit Me Hard And Soft tour, 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 has Billie confirmed so far?
At one of her recent tour dates, she addressed the crowd to say: "I know that usually I finish tours and then I add a bunch of dates, but that is not happening this time, because I've got an album to make and I got sh*t to do."
You can watch the full clip on TikTok below.
@notion @BILLIE EILISH fans, it’s time to get excited, as the pop star announced a new album at one of her recent Hit Me Hard and Soft tour dates… 📹@kiana.kain #NOTION #billieeilish #billieeilishedits #billieeilishfan #fyp ♬ original sound - NOTION
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.
