“Hit Me Hard and Soft” by Billie Eilish Leaves an Imprint: Watch It Now

The pop star’s third studio album features 10 new tracks.

The official release of Billie Eilish’s new album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, occurred this Friday, May 17, at midnight on streaming sites.

The 10-track album is Eilish’s third studio album, following 2019’s When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? and 2021’s Happier Than Ever, both of which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It was produced, as usual, by the pop star’s brother and frequent partner, Finneas. The 22-year-old singer told fans she wanted to deliver the project to them all at once as soon as she announced it, without releasing any songs before it.

This meant that on Friday, fans who were fortunate enough to attend one of Eilish’s listening parties in New York City or Los Angeles received the entire record all at once. For others, it was available as early as two days before it was officially released. Hit Me Hard and Soft is without a doubt the young star’s most varied and sophisticated album to yet, with songs covering everything from the mushy early stages of a relationship to the painful aftermath of a breakup, embracing sexuality and self-confidence, and navigating life under the spotlight. But the new album is especially for her fans from her debut period; in April, Eilish told Rolling Stone that she saw it as a return to the mysterious, blue-haired adolescent she once was.

She remarked to the publication, “This whole process has felt like I’m coming back to the girl that I was.” “I’ve been feeling her loss.” I have been searching everywhere for her, and it seems as though the media and the world have sucked her dry. I’m not sure when she vanished.