Elijah Woods’ Music is What You Didn’t Know You Needed
Sitting down with Elijah Woods feels like you’re catching up with an old friend, someone who’s lived through some deep stuff and is now on the other side of it, ready to share. He just released his new EP, Hey There Elijah, and the excitement in his voice is infectious. “This EP is my quest for maturity,” he says, and it shows. Across six tracks, Elijah takes listeners on a personal journey, reflecting on the ups and downs of life, love, and that transition into his 30s.
One thing’s clear—this project is more than just music to him. “It’s a combination of the emotions tied to turning 30, introspective lyrics about love, and personal stories,” Elijah explains. Listening to it, you can almost feel the weight of those experiences in his lyrics, like in the high-energy track “Elijah Woods,” where he challenges himself to be unapologetically authentic. With lyrics like, “Would you try to hide the guy you are inside ya? Would you bite your tongue and just shut up and sing?,” it’s clear he’s grappling with the idea of staying true to himself while navigating the world around him.
We get into the nostalgic vibes of “2 Thousand 10,” which is practically a time machine back to summers spent with friends, carefree and alive. “Take me back to the end of summer 2010/ When I was just getting high with my friends/Young, dumb, and in love, face up to the sun” he sings, and if you close your eyes, you’re right there with him, basking in the sun and feeling that youthful freedom. It’s that aura of nostalgia and introspection that makes this EP so relatable. Elijah admits, “I wanted to capture the feeling of growing up, looking back, but also embracing what’s ahead.”
Another standout track is “We Should Stick Together.” With its catchy beat and empowering lyrics like “We should stick together, the go and I’m the getter, trend and you’re the setter,” the song is all about loyalty and staying by the side of those who matter most. Elijah tells me,
“It’s a fun one, and it’s really about those people who are with you no matter what. I wanted to write something upbeat but meaningful, something that celebrates those relationships.”
Then there’s “Sunlight,” a personal favorite of mine—it’s got that early One Direction, Maroon 5 vibe that just screams feel-good pop. It’s impossible not to feel uplifted as Elijah croons, “Someone give me the sunlight, it’s been a long night/And it’s time to shed my skin oh God I know” It’s a track about shedding the weight of the past and stepping into the light. You can tell Elijah is all about that growth.
The tempo of the EP slows down as we move into introspective tracks like “January Eyes” and “Wash Away,” and Elijah lets his emotions breathe. “We didn’t ever want to change, but I guess we couldn’t stop the rain,” he reflects in “January Eyes,” a song that feels like a bittersweet goodbye to something, or maybe someone, that couldn’t weather the storm. It’s these quieter, more tender moments that balance out the high-energy tracks, giving the EP a well-rounded emotional feel.
As we discuss his journey to this point, Elijah’s humility stands out. Despite amassing over 1 billion streams, four JUNO nominations, a SOCAN 2022 Pop Award, taking the stage at the Seoul Jazz Festival alongside artists like Lauv, Jeremy Zucker, and JP Saxe, and international acclaim, he’s still very much in touch with the core of his artistry—connecting with people through honest storytelling and catchy melodies. “I’ve been lucky,” he says, talking about his recent sold-out Canadian tour and his performances across Asia. “Opening for Niall Horan in Jakarta and playing at the Seoul Jazz Festival? That was wild.” And yet, it’s clear he hasn’t let that success go to his head. “I’m still learning, still growing,” he says with a smile.
The EP closes with “Wash Away,” a hauntingly beautiful track that feels like the calm after the storm. The lyrics, “Blinded in faith as long as you ain’t the devil, and I watch you wash away,” leave you with a sense of closure, a reminder that even the toughest moments in life eventually pass.
Elijah shares one final thought: “This EP is me, it’s where I’m at right now. But I’m excited for where I’m going next.”
Listen to Elijah’s new single Hey There Elijah!
Read more Music articles from KLATMAG
Photography by George Pimentel
Written by Angel Joanne Okonkwo
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