Lila P./Staff

On Friday, November 8, Billie Eilish performed at the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati as part of her “Hit Me Hard And Soft” World Tour, an event fans have anticipated since the release of her third studio album “Hit Me Hard And Soft” last May, which was her first full-length record since Happier Than Ever in 2021.

Inside the arena, the intense, excited energy was palpable. Bright blue lights overtook the crowd and perfectly matched the aesthetic of her new album. Fans chanted “Billie” and almost immediately she emerged from below the stage to begin the night. She opened with “CHIHIRO,” a danceable song, followed with “LUNCH.” Next, she performed two fan favorites from Happier Than Ever: “NDA,” a dark, intense track that featured distorted vocals and lasers, and “Therefore I Am,” which lit up the whole arena with fire that shot out from the stage during the chorus. The shifts in mood between songs were quick, displaying the artistic range that Billie’s albums are known for.

Two of my favorite moments were when Billie stopped and asked for quiet to create a live loop for “when the party’s over.” In an arena filled with thousands, you could only hear the hum of the air conditioning and her live vocals. Later, she performed a medley of three songs from her early career, including one she wrote at 13 years old.

Eilish was more than a performance: it was an experience, a testament to her brilliance.