Billie Eilish on the Inspirations for Her Grammy-Nominated ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’

Writing in character is “one of my favorite tools of empathy,” Eilish said, and was often easier than writing unadorned about her own life, although the album also has moments of directness. The opener, “Skinny,” addresses online conversation about her weight, while “The Diner,” a noirish, “Stan”-like track from the perspective of a stalker, is the only song Eilish refuses to elaborate on. “It’s very literal,” she said.