Billie Eilish: I want to use my fame to speak up for younger generations

Billie Eilish wants to use her fame to speak out on issues such as climate change because “so many things are being determined by people who are going to die soon”.

The US singer, 17, is one of pop’s biggest rising stars and her debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? topped the charts worldwide this year.

When asked about using her influence, she said: “I really don’t want to waste my platform. I’m trying not to but I think all of us in the spotlight — or whatever you want to call it — can be more vocal about climate change and things that need to be talked about.

“I still think I can do more. There are so many things being determined by people who are going to die soon anyway because they’re old as f***. It makes me so angry.

“There are so many things I wish I could snap my fingers and make better. There is so much that needs help and people who pretend they care and don’t and people who could do something, but don’t. I’m here and I can actually try.

“I suddenly have a platform and a spotlight that I can maybe, maybe, maybe make a difference to something.”

Discussing her rapid rise to fame, she told Vogue Australia: “Everyone [in the music industry] is ready to tell you what to do ... It’s weird that the hard thing to do is do what you want to, because everyone wants to make a product.”

Eilish also spoke of the importance of fashion to her. “My whole personality is based off my clothes and what I’m wearing that day,” she said. “If I’m wearing something I don’t feel comfortable in I will turn into a totally different persona that I hate.”

Read the interview in the July issue of Vogue Australia on sale on June 24 and at vogue.com.au