Behind the Scenes: Billie Eilish's 6-Hour Underwater Journey for Album Cover

Billie Eilish Was Weighed Down Underwater for 6 Hours for Album Cover

Billie Eilish. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty

Billie Eilish shared that she goes to great lengths for her art. She recently disclosed that she submerged underwater for six hours with a weight attached to her body to create the cover for her latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, which was released on May 17th.

"That cover image on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Tuesday, May 21, was really something," Eilish, 22, remarked.

"The day after the Grammys, I had a wild day. I went to bed at 7 a.m., woke up, dyed my hair black, and then headed to a random place in Santa Clarita. There was a huge tank, about 10 feet deep, and I decided to jump in. I ended up staying in there for six hours!"

Eilish shared that she was dressed in layers during the entire photoshoot. She wore big long pants, oversized Pro Club shorts, a thermal long-sleeved shirt, a button-up flannel, a tie, rings, arm warmers, and a weight.

She mentioned that she even had a weight attached to her to help her stay submerged in the water for the photoshoot to get the ideal shot.

Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard and Soft Cover

‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ album cover. Universal Music Group

Eilish admitted that she didn't have a nose plug, which resulted in her feeling like she was waterboarding herself for six hours. The singer, known for "What Was I Made For?", revealed that she willingly took on the risky photo shoot. During an interview with host Stephen Colbert, she mentioned that she has come close to death several times while doing photo shoots.

She expressed, "I want to challenge myself. It's not about seeking the most extreme discomfort. I envision the experience first, like being fully clothed underwater, eyes open, and upside down. Then, I confront the difficulty."

On her latest album, Eilish shares her feelings towards women in the track "Lunch."

In the opening verse, the 22-year-old artist and nine-time Grammy Award winner sings, "I could eat that girl for lunch / Yeah, she dances on my tongue / Tastes like she might be The One / And I could never get enough / I could buy her so much stuff / It’s a craving, not a crush."

In an interview with Rolling Stone in April, Eilish discussed how writing the track played a significant role in her journey towards embracing her sexuality.

She shared, "That song was actually part of what helped me become who I am, to be real. I wrote some of it before even doing anything with a girl, and then wrote the rest after. I’ve been in love with girls for my whole life, but I just didn’t understand — until, last year, I realized I wanted my face in a vagina. I was never planning on talking about my sexuality ever, in a million years. It’s really frustrating to me that it came up."

Eilish first said she was “physically attracted” to women in an interview with Variety last November.

Editor's P/S:

Billie Eilish's dedication to her art is both admirable and concerning. While it's commendable that she's willing to push herself to create