Singer Billie Eilish’s new concert film, Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour, came about after award-winning director James Cameron emailed her mother to suggest the idea.
The 3D cinematic experience, co-directed and produced by Eilish alongside the visionary behind blockbusters like Avatar and Titanic, was released earlier this week.
Speaking on Capital Breakfast, Eilish recounted the project's surprising genesis. "It was James Cameron’s idea. He literally came to my mum," she told presenter Jordan North, admitting she "had no plans to make any kind of film of the tour."
She described her mother's astonishment: "My mum was at my house one day, after I’d already been on tour for like a year, and she goes ‘Billie I got an email from James Cameron.’"
The collaboration quickly materialised, with Eilish expressing disbelief: "So, then we just got on the phone and talked about it and I can’t even believe that that happened and now it’s done, and here it is."
The American artist, known for hits such as Ocean Eyes and Bad Guy, expressed her delight that the film ensures her latest headlining tour will "live on forever."
She told Capital, "I get to have this forever and the fans get to have it," adding, "It’s pretty cool that it’s going to exist forever for me to watch." Eilish highlighted the immersive quality of the 3D production, noting, "what’s really special about it being 3D is feeling like we’re right there." She called the tour "a really special... show that I felt really proud of and I’m really grateful and excited for it to live on forever."
Beyond the film, Eilish also reflected on her impromptu appearance with Justin Bieber at last month’s Coachella festival in California, an opportunity presented just moments before taking the stage.
She described the experience as a "life-changing dream," admitting the emotional intensity was such that "my legs gave out."
The moment remains almost too overwhelming for her to process. She confessed to North, "I can’t actually believe that I lived it. I can’t even think about it. I can’t even talk about it. I can’t even look at the videos, it’s too intense for me."
