Musician and producer Finneas O’Connell has opened up about his journey in the music industry, sharing insights into his early inspirations, breakthrough moments, and collaboration with his sister Billie Eilish.
Speaking at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival: Storytellers series on June 9, Finneas joined composer Anthony Willis for a candid conversation about his artistic evolution and long-standing passion for music.
He revealed that his desire to become a musician began at a young age, sparked by a life-changing experience watching Green Day perform live.
“I really have always wanted to make music for a living,” he said. “I think I knew that from the time I was like 10 or 11 and I went and saw Green Day play a concert and I thought, ‘I can’t believe that’s a job. I want to do that job.’”
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Finneas also reflected on his early collaborations with Billie Eilish, noting how their creative partnership began at home when they were still teenagers. Their first major breakthrough came with Ocean Eyes, a song Finneas wrote and produced, which was later uploaded to SoundCloud and went viral.
From that moment, the siblings’ careers became closely linked, with Finneas continuing to co-write and produce much of Billie Eilish’s music across her albums.
He recalled how uncertain the early years felt, especially after choosing not to attend college to pursue music full-time. While he faced external skepticism, he said his family remained supportive as he navigated the pressures of early success.
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“At 18, I had decided already to not go to college,” he shared. “And I was like, ‘Oh s***, now I have to figure this out.’ Then that song started to do well, and I thought, I really don’t want to mess this up.”
Finneas’s reflections highlight the challenges and rewards of building a career in music from a young age, shaped by creativity, risk-taking, and a defining sibling partnership that continues to influence global pop music.