Billie Eilish is a new, upcoming artist raved about by many teens. Born and raised in Highland Park, California, Eilish always has been into music since she was very young. She was raised under a very musical and creative household where her talent and creativity were nurtured. She did dance for most of her life and finds her voice and inspiration through dance. For some music videos like “Ocean Eyes”, she performed dance sequences to really make her song come alive. In addition to dance, she loves horseback riding; she once worked at a ranch so she could take riding lessons. Besides these hobbies, she loves songwriting with her brother Finneas. In fact, almost all her songs are written with her brother. She became a mainstream artist in 2018, but she was already popular among my peers in 2017, especially her hit single “Ocean Eyes.”

Now Eilish’s music doesn’t specifically target an audience. She once said that there is no need to experience something in order to write about it, so her music is just what she feels and all true emotion. Her first EP is called Don’t Smile at Me, which contains the popular tracks “Bellyache” and “Copycat.” I personally love Billie’s music, because it connects with aspects in life that a lot of singers and songwriters have not been able to express before, and Billie gives that aspect and perspective in life we need to hear. If you are interested, her first album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? is now out in all streaming platforms. This album has a darker and more “spooky” vibe about it, but nevertheless an excellent album, a 20 out of 10!

Sophia Sasu is 15 ½, and in tenth grade. When she’s not hanging out with friends, she volunteers at the Porter Ranch Branch Library and a nearby Kaiser Permanente hospital. Sophia dreams of being a medical doctor someday. Her hobbies include painting, skating, and reading, just to name a few. Check out Sophia Sasu’s Fashion Notebook on the first issue of 11371 Magazine, written when she was 13.

—Michael Baradi, Porter Ranch YA Librarian