Billie Eilish partners with Fender to launch new ukulele
Billie Eilish has partnered with Fender to design and launch her own signature ukulele.
Described as “a bold take on the four-string classic”, the new instrument has a built-in preamp and its body is adorned with Eilish’s signature “blohsh” symbol.
The ukulele was the first instrument Eilish picked up when she was six years old, on which she learned to play her first song — The Beatles‘ ‘I Will’. She’s since used the ukulele on her own songs, such as ‘Party Favor’ and ‘8’.
Speaking about her sustained love of the ukulele, Eilish said: “The ukulele was the first instrument I learned: it’s where I started writing, and where I found new ways of writing that I had never tried before. It inspires a different kind of writing.
“The rules of the ukulele are simple, and basically if you know three chords you can play almost any song. I hope my Fender Signature ukulele inspires people to start playing, and start writing — anyone can do it.”
Speaking about the new “stage-ready instrument”, Billy Martinez, VP of Fender’s Category Manager Acoustic & Squier Divisions, said that Eilish has “inspired a new generation of players, and now this uke gives her fans around the world a new reason to get excited about playing.
“Billie established herself at a young age, transforming the music industry and inspiring people both young and old. She is unconditionally herself and the ukulele she designed is a perfect reflection of her spirit and iconic style.”
You can find out more about the ‘Billie Eilish Uke’, which is retailing for £239, here.
Eilish and Fender have also made a donation to the Aloha Mele Fund, a newly-established fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation, in recognition of the history of the ukulele in Hawaii.
The funding will be distributed to nonprofit organisations that are working to support coronavirus relief efforts for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in Hawaii.
Last week, Eilish was among the artists to submit a logo design for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in LA.
