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Finneas O'Connell, the Grammy-winning musician best known for his work with sister Billie Eilish, is still haunted by a slip-up he made at Taylor Swift's birthday party, one that he calls his most "cringeworthy" celebrity encounter.
Speaking to The Guardian alongside his The Favors bandmate, singer-songwriter Ashe, Finneas recounted the moment from Swift's 32nd birthday celebration in 2021. The event was co-hosted with Alana Haim of the band Haim, whose birthday falls just two days after Swift's.
According to Finneas, the interaction started innocently enough. "She said, 'Thank you so much for coming,' and I said, 'Thank you for coming!'" he admitted, laughing at the memory. "I said thanks for coming to Taylor Swift. At her birthday party."
The musician explained that he had actually intended to say "thanks for inviting me" but the wrong words slipped out. The awkward moment has stayed with him, and he has even shared it before — during a 2022 Instagram Q&A, he listed it as his most embarrassing moment.
Ashe also joined in on the theme of awkward celebrity run-ins, recalling how she once approached actress Margot Robbie at a costume party to point out that people often said they looked alike. "Total cringeworthy over-excited fan behaviour" was how she described it, though she noted Robbie handled it graciously.
Finneas revealed other personal titbits in the interview, including his unusual childhood job in Los Angeles: participating in market research. "They're like, do you want to watch a show or play a game and then talk to a panel of adults... in exchange for literally $15?" he recalled. "You're probably eight. You're very young. And you get a dial that you turn as you watch the show for like, 'I'm enjoying it' or 'I'm not enjoying it.'"
He also shared that he has a hidden talent for impressions, with Benny Blanco being the one he imitates most, though he refused to demonstrate during the interview.
When asked about the best advice he has ever received, Finneas quoted a mastering engineer who once told him, "Listen man, if something ever goes wrong, you just rock out." He said he's carried that mindset into performances and even frustrating travel delays.
Recently, Finneas directed the music video for his song 2001, casting actress Kate Hudson in the lead role.
