Finneas Discusses Producer Evolution, Billie Eilish, and 'Beef' Score

Finneas O'Connell, a respected pop producer, recently discussed the evolution of record production and his personal process on Billboard's "On the Record." Known for his work with sister Billie Eilish, Finneas has also collaborated with artists such as Justin Bieber, Halsey, Kid Cudi, and Ashe. He has released two solo albums, "For Cryin' Out Loud!" in 2024 and "The Dream" in 2025, in addition to creating original music and scores for film and television, including the score for the latest season of the TV show "Beef."

During the discussion, Finneas traced the transformation of record production from the era of tape recording to the present day, where recording is widely accessible. He detailed his own professional development over the past decade, from his beginnings in the SoundCloud era to his current projects.

Finneas likened the role of a record producer to that of a film director, an analogy he connects to a quote by Quincy Jones. He emphasized that while he acts as a director, he considers the artist to be the "superior director." His approach involves encouraging artists to be purely imaginative, even when they lack technical terminology. He finds that metaphorical descriptions allow for more creative interpretation on his part.

He cited his collaboration with Billie Eilish as an example, noting that her non-technical requests, such as wanting a vocal to sound "falling apart," provide him with a creative challenge. Finneas explained that interpreting such imaginative input often leads to more exciting and open-ended musical outcomes than direct technical instructions.

(Source: Billboard)