Is Billie Eilish's New Album ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’ A Double Album?

7 June 2024, 15:42

Fans are speculating that Billie is planning a double album launch
Fans are speculating that Billie is planning a double album launch. Picture: Getty/Instagram: @billieeilish

By Tiasha Debray

Fans are convinced Billie Eilish's ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’ is going to be a double album, here's why plus what Billie's said about the theory.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Billie Eilish’s latest album ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’ dropped on 17th of May 2024 and it's a 10 track album, but it really as simple as that?

There are many theories that have emerged surrounding Billie's third studio album ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’ which has fans certain that a second album is on the way.

It started with a simple internet theory about one of Billie's favourite songs she's ever written 'Ilomilo' and then in an interview with Zane Lowe Billie seemed to hint to it.

But now Billie herself has addressed the rumours, and it might not be what everyone expected. Here are all the clues and theories explained, as well as everything Billie's said about a double album.

Billie Eilish’s upcoming album ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’ is set to drop on the 17th of May
Billie Eilish’s upcoming album ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’ is set to drop on the 17th of May. Picture: Getty

Is 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' a double album?

At the end of 'Hit Me Hard and Soft' Billie says, “But when can I hear the next one?”. Naturally, fans jumped to the conclusion that the statement suggested the ‘next one’ was closer than we thought.

Some fans insisted that Billie may have just used the line ironically to suggest her fans' thirst for her music was unquenchable, something she has spoken about in the past.

A number of fans online are convinced the line tied in with another popular theory online which supports the idea that Billie is moments away from releasing two albums at the same time, this theory has been dubbed the ‘Red/Blue Ilo Milo theory.’

During an interview with Zane Lowe, he asked Billie: "“Why did you say what you said at the end of the album?” Billie covered her mouth to answer and the audio cut out. Then you hear Zane say, "“That’s f**king great, just end it," as the interview comes to an end.

But in a recent video that has surfaced, Billie seems to have shut down the double album theory, saying: “I can’t say. What can I say... Lower your expectations, I’m not a mastermind. You give me good ideas, but I can’t tell you.”

Billie said this during a live interview in France, and although it sounds like there's no double album, she definitely has something to tell us.

Billie has been in Europe recently
Billie has been in Europe recently. Picture: Getty

Billie's cover art for 'L'Amour De Ma Vie' [Over Now Extended Edit]

Five days after dropping her album 'Hit Me Hard And Soft' Billie released an extended version of one of her tracks, titled 'L'Amour De Ma Vie' aka 'The Love Of My Life'.

Fans were quick to spot that in the cover art for the extended edition song Billie's eyes are blue and red. This further supports the red/blue Ilomilo theory which first started the double album speculation. Is Billie tryna tell us something? Read on to find out all about the Ilomilo theory.

In the artwork Billie has one eye that is blue and another that is red
In the artwork Billie has one eye that is blue and another that is red. Picture: Music Artwork

The 'Red/Blue Ilomilo' theory explained

The 'Red/Blue Ilomilo' theory is the first theory that emerged about 'HMHAS' being a double album. ‘Ilomilo’ was a game that came out around 2011 that Billie has outwardly spoken about how much she loved. The musician even included a song in her album ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’ that was titled ‘ilomilo’.

The game stars two tiny little humanoid creatures named ilo and milo, one of whom is red and one of whom is blue. Can you see where we’re going with this? In the game the premise is to return the characters to one another which is why the title is their names joined together. At the time of releasing the song she said: "So the whole idea of the game is just losing the person you love and then finding them again."

Talking to Radio Energy about 'ilomilo', Billie stated that it's one of her favourite songs that she's "ever written". Since the album's promo and aesthetic is very blue, with a hit of red here and there, the theory predicted that Billie’s album ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’, would be dropped alongside another in a double album launch.

From the album art and CD design, to one of the songs literally being titled ‘Blue’, 'Hit Me Hard And Soft' isn't beating the blue album allegations.

Fans picked up that Billie’s profile on Instagram went from being red to blue ahead of the albums launch. And if you remember, Billie’s hair used to be red before her current black look.

Another clue that supports the ‘ilomilo’ theory is the CD designs for ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’, they have the album's blue ocean art splattered with red paint. So fans are suggesting that if another album drops, it may be red art with splattered with blue paint.

Billie Eilish has used red splatter paint on her CD designs for her upcoming album
Billie Eilish has used red splatter paint on her CD designs for her upcoming album. Picture: Instagram: @billieeilish

Another huge sign has been the number of tracks featured on ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft.’ There are only 10 songs listed in the album, which is unusually small for the artist, especially considering how long Billie’s been working on this specific launch.

It's been three years since Billie released her last new album so fans have speculated that another 10 songs will be co-released in a separate 'red album'.

Listen live to Capital, and catch up on any shows you missed, on Global Player.