The Pits: Is FINNEAS a Nepo-Brother?

By Katlyn Mortimer

Today, everyone is a nepo-baby in some capacity. My familial connections got me a summer job at a local supermarket (shoutout to my aunt), and having someone put your name forward to a manager is a fortunate position to be in. However, some nepo-babies are more equal than others. Finneas O’Connell is what some may call a ‘nepo-brother’, and while his audience may be conjoined with that of his sister, he thanked them all the same for attending his first Scottish show which took place on April 20 this year, which… wait. No. His first solo show, where he wasn’t strumming guitar a few paces behind sister Billie Eilish. Got it.

Although, I won’t be too harsh on FINNEAS and his capitalised mononym – he did ultimately culture his own nepotism in his childhood bedroom like a tank of sea monkeys, producing early tracks for his sister such as ‘Ocean Eyes’, which catapulted the sibling duo from teenage Soundcloud stardom to the red carpets of Academy Award ceremonies. Aside from the siblings growing up in Los Angeles with parents working low-profile creative jobs, their status as classic nepo-babies is dependent on if you consider an encouragement to pursue artistic endeavours a nepotism affair. To a certain degree, their upbringing has contributed to the pair winning two Oscars each for their work on the soundtracks of James Bond and the Barbie Movie, which is probably a relief for their parents so that no jealous sibling bickering occurs. So, for my final edition of The Pits, allow me to talk about nepo-baby-ism (a phrase I already feel is overused and unfortunately conjures mental images of Gracie Abrams, daughter of Star Wars director J.J. Abrams, and this New York magazine article from 2022), and why industry executives and music fans alike accept and reject certain artists, and if having a famous parent is the real secret to a successful career.

I once again found myself in line at the O2 Academy in Glasgow, and was surprised to see the queue snaking far around the corner at the end of the street. Judging from the remaining tickets available online, and many Twitter users trying to sell theirs last-minute below face value, I expected tumbleweeds and a few Eilish-loving teens in line. I stood corrected (literally). However, the crowd were still decked out in jorts and baggy tees, suggesting that Eilish has influenced not just their style but listening tastes, enough so that they decided to purchase tickets to her brother’s tour.

A few songs into his set, he makes mention of his sister, to an overwhelming cheer, one unlike any other previously heard during the performance, and one only replicated when she was alluded to again later. FINNEAS remained unphased and absent of any bitterness as he performed track ‘Family Feud’ from his latest record, which is evidently about his love for his sister with lyrics “You’re only 22 / And the world is watching you”. The song sees FINNEAS reflecting on childhood memories with his sister, and pondering how different both of their lives could have been. In this case, it was the joint effort of vocalist and producer that saw them achieving success. The show concluded with a performance of ‘For Cryin’ Out Loud!’, the lead single off his latest album of the same name, and he gave thanks to his band and crew, which included his father joining him as a roadie. Like Lana Del Rey’s father, Rob Grant, recently taking up a music career and producing collaborations with his daughter, maybe ‘nepo-dads’ are on the rise too.

The aforementioned Gracie Abrams is a singer-songwriter with a new taste of success. Having opened for Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ and the campaign rallies of Kamala Harris, she appeals to an audience of young women and fans of the Tumblr-esque heartbreak ballad. Having a very Hollywood-oriented household growing up undoubtedly allowed Abrams a stepping stone into a music career, which only formally began six years ago. In this time frame, the artist has received Grammy nominations and topped global charts, and the question I ask is not if  Gracie and nepo-babies like her deserve their success, but of what would happen if label executives expanded their search beyond the children of their Chateau-Marmont-frequenting peers, to those struggling to gain traction with no connections and a surplus of talent.

The reality of nepo-babies is that they will always exist, and will continue to book roles and sell out arenas regardless of how we critique the unfair system that granted them their place in the spotlight. They continue to be a feature of fame, and celebrities will produce a lineage of talented creatives who follow in the footsteps of their parents. For every Lily-Rose Depp there exists a confused and soul-searching Brooklyn Beckham, unable to harness the niche their parent(s) dominated. For FINNEAS, it’s unfair for me to suggest an insincerity to his fanbase because they were introduced to him through his sister. Metaphorically speaking, he was the one who introduced them to her.