Tom Odell says a middling 2016 show helped set Finneas and Billie Eilish on their path
Odell, whose song 'Another Love' is one of his biggest hits, says a performance he judged harshly in 2016 inspired Finneas O'Connell to begin releasing music under his own name.
Tom Odell said a gig he wrote off as a disappointment helped change the course of two young musicians' careers after Finneas O'Connell later credited that performance with prompting him to start releasing music.
Odell, whose 2012 song "Another Love" is among his most-streamed tracks and has been widely used on TikTok, recalled playing Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles in 2016 and feeling dissatisfied with the show. "I was really dissatisfied with that show," he said. "I was frustrated, and I don't think it went how I wanted it to go. I don't even think it was a full crowd." Unknown to him at the time, an 18-year-old Finneas and his sister Billie Eilish were in the audience.
Months earlier the siblings had uploaded a demo to SoundCloud. On stage in Manchester this April, Finneas — by then a well-known songwriter and producer working with his sister — told the audience that Odell's performance was the reason he wanted to begin putting out music under his own name. "I credit that show as being the reason I wanted to start putting out music under my own name," O'Connell said. Odell, who was in the audience that night, said he was moved and "dumbfounded" to hear the endorsement.
The anecdote underscores a recurring theme in Odell's reflections about performing: even shows a musician views as underwhelming can have unforeseen influence. Odell's own career has included both critical acclaim and mainstream reach; "Another Love" has become one of his signature songs and has been widely used across social media platforms and in political contexts, notably as a soundtrack for protests in Iran on TikTok.
Finneas and Billie Eilish's rise from posting demos online to global success highlights the unpredictable pathways of modern musical discovery. O'Connell went on to produce and co-write much of his sister's breakout work, while also pursuing a solo career. The Manchester appearance earlier this year marked his first UK solo tour and provided the moment when he publicly attributed part of his early inspiration to Odell's 2016 performance.
Odell's remarks, made recently to a music correspondent, reflect both humility about live performance and an appreciation for its ripple effects. He emphasised that artists and their teams can underestimate the impact a single concert can have on members of the audience, especially aspiring musicians.
The exchange between Odell and O'Connell also illustrates how live music encounters can influence creative decisions long after a gig ends. What an artist perceives as a poor night onstage can nevertheless catalyse decisions that shape careers and broader musical landscapes, as demonstrated by the subsequent success of Billie Eilish and the expanding profile of Finneas as a songwriter and performer.
Odell's reflections arrive as artists continue to navigate the interplay between live shows, online discovery and social media-driven cultural moments. His account serves as a reminder of the often-unseen influence concerts can exert on audiences and fellow artists alike.