Billie Eilish on Glastonbury headline slot: “I remember thinking that I would never be able to headline anything”
nme.comBillie Eilish has commented on the expectations put on female performers to have “the biggest show”, sharing that she remembers thinking “I would never be able to headline anything”Speaking to NME for this week’s Big Read cover story ahead of her headlining performance at Glastonbury Festival, Eilish shared that she felt it “was so cool to be a young woman and headline festivals, because it’s so male-dominated,” adding that she had felt “hopeless” for the future of women in music in 2017 and 2018.“I would see these line-ups for festivals and it was all dudes.
And it was all artists I liked, but it was just like, ‘When will women be involved?'”, Eilish continued. “Women have to have a million back-up dancers and a million costume changes and their hair done, and crazy costumes and stage set-up.
I love male performers, but they barely have to do shit to have a show that people like, and women are expected to have the biggest show.”“I’m tired of feeling like we have to do that to feel adequate.
If you want to do that, then that’s so great, but I remember thinking that I would never be able to headline anything because of those expectations.”Eilish also touched on her struggles with Imposter Syndrome on The Big Read, describing her need to win over the crowd at Glastonbury. “I often feel like I don’t deserve to be here right now doing this show and on this stage.
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