Fender Releases Billie Eilish Signature Ukulele
Ukulele players may be adding a new instrument to their holiday wish lists as Fender just announced the release of the Billie Eilish Ukulele. The instrument is described as a “bold take on the classic four string” Designed in collaboration with Eilish, it has a build in preamp and it’s adorned with Eilish’s “Blohsh” symbol.
The Blohsh symbol is a lopsided stick figure copyrighted by Eilish and it is a repeated pattern featured all over the guitar.
The ukulele was the first instrument Eilish picked up when she was six years old and it’s her main songwriting tool. She used it to learn her first song (The Beatles’ ‘I Will’) and she used it to write originals like “Party Favor” and “8”.
Eilish has spoken about her love of the ukulele many times. “I think the ukulele brings a different feeling to every single song, and it inspires a different kind of writing. Different instruments always make me write differently.”
“The rules of ukulele are: If you know three chords, you can play any song. Ever,” Eilish went on to explain.
The signature ukulele is built with sapless wood that is similar to mahogany. It is covered with a black matte finish and has the Blohsh symbol splashed all over it. The preamp feature allows you to go electric if you choose to.
Michael Shulz, Fender’s Head of Signature Artists described the ukulele as a stage ready instrument. “The great thing about this ukulele is that the one you see Billie playing onstage in front of 30,000 people is the exact same one you can buy in the store for under $300,” he went on to say.
The ukulele is currently selling for $299.99 on the Fender web site.
When speaking of the collaboration with Eilish, Fender released the following statement. “"As soon as she burst onto the scene with her 2015 single 'Ocean Eyes,' it was clear that Billie Eilish is a force to be reckoned with. In the years since, she has established herself as a new kind of pop culture icon, taking the fashion and music industries by storm on her own terms. Billie’s meteoric ascent to pop stardom started with the ukulele, the first instrument she learned to play. Designed in collaboration with Billie Eilish, her Signature Ukulele is a stage-ready instrument that embodies Billie’s bold, unmistakable style."
Eilish and Fender have also made a donation to Aloha Mele fund, a newly established fund of the Community Foundation in recognition of the history of the ukulele in the Hawaiian music community. The funding will be distributed to nonprofits supporting coronavirus relief efforts for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Hawaii.
In other Eilish news, the musician has been keeping busy during the pandemic teaming up with her brother for at home concerts. She was also among the artists to be commissioned to submit a logo design for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in L.A. Eilish’s version was inspired by the font she uses for her logo and she submitted a slanted green design.
