News : Marina on Billie Eilish being a fan of hers: “It’s flattering, especially when the artist is amazing”

Marina has reflected on what it’s like to have Billie Eilish as a fan, and explained that she finds it “flattering”, particularly when the “artist is amazing”.

The comments were first made by Eilish earlier this year, when she took part in a discussion on Apple Music show Me & Dad Radio, and was asked to reveal which artists she finds the most inspiring.

“I’m about to play Marina and the Diamonds, ‘Primadonna’. I found this song because of a makeup tutorial. But it wasn’t for makeup, it was for a Halloween costume. And the song she used was ‘Primadonna’ by Marina and the Diamonds,” she said.

“I was like, ‘This is such a weird song. Her voice sounds so interesting’. I looked it up and was like, ‘Oh my God, this is my favourite artist ever.’ She was my favourite artist for years and years and years and all her albums I just… I know every lyric to this entire album and to like her next three albums or whatever, all of her albums from then, I know all of them. They’re so good. She’s amazing.”

She continued: “She, Lana Del Rey and Nicki Minaj are the inspiration that I’ve gotten over the years, I love and adore them and have gotten so inspired by them. The way that they do different voices and they change it up… Marina is like a God at that.”

Now, Marina herself has discussed what it was like to see Eilish share such high praise for her music, and said that she was happy to hear the praise from such a successful artist.

“It’s flattering, especially when the artist is amazing – I’m a fan of Billie,” she told Attitude. “It feels like a nice cycle of life in music, when someone like Kylie has inspired me, and my music has inspired another generation of artists.

“Honestly, it’s part of an artist’s purpose to be part of culture, and feel like you’re contributing in some way.”

The comments about Kylie refer to Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue – who Marina recently joined as a special guest at her headline slot at BST Hyde Park over the weekend.

“It was amazing. I love her as a human, and the crowd were pretty loving,” Marina said of supporting the singer. “Kylie has been one of my icons since I was 15 years old. I’ve been listening to her a lot in the last year. I think we manifested this gig!

“I haven’t played a show for a year and a half, so it has been interesting, the run-up to this show, being put on a stage when you haven’t for a while.”

As for new material from the artists, Marina has announced that her sixth album will be arriving in 2025 – and isn’t related to her forthcoming poetry book, Eat the World (pre-order here).

Eilish, on the other hand, shared her highly-anticipated album, ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’ earlier this year, and has announced details of a world tour, scheduled to begin this autumn. The UK and Ireland leg will take place in July next year and includes six nights at The O2 in London. Find any remaining tickets here (UK/Ireland) and here (North America).

The album scored a four-star review from NME, with Thomas Smith writing: “‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ remains distinctly unique, a portrait of a singular talent entering young adulthood, exploring her queerness and experiencing the emotional thrill and (sometimes) catastrophe of chasing passion or falling in love. In trying to write an album for herself, she’s made one that will resonate harder than anything she’s done before.”