by sara welden
With each new release, elijah woods showcases his versatility as an artist and his ability to produce an authentic and distinct sound. With his vivid and earnest lyricism, elijah has quickly been capturing the attention of listeners all over the world and continues to do so with his newest single “last girl” (feat. MacKenzie Porter). After just wrapping up a sold out tour across Canada this fall, elijah took the time to chat with us about all things music. Read more about him below!
You released the track “last girl” as part of your bright orange everglow EP, and you're now releasing an alternative version that features MacKenzie Porter. What was that collaborative process like and how did it initially come about? Did you always want this song to become a duet?
elijah: “As soon as we wrote ‘last girl’ I knew I wanted it to be a duet. I first discovered MacKenzie through some mutual friends and I absolutely loved her voice and songwriting. She was in Nashville at the time, so the collaboration happened virtually, but as soon as she sent through a rough version I knew she would be perfect for the song.”
In addition to being both a pop artist and a singer/songwriter, you are also a producer and recording engineer. How has being knowledgeable in those areas influenced you as an artist and the music that you make?
elijah: “I think having a broader tool set helps me express my ideas more clearly when it comes to my project. I do think it’s kind of a double edged sword though. Because I can record myself and make it sound ‘commercially presentable,’ sometimes it’s misleading to know if the song is actually good, or if the elements of the song are just well produced/recorded. Lately I try to just rely on feel rather than sonic perfection.”
There is such a uniquely distinctive sound to your music and production, so how did you go about establishing that? Has it evolved over time?
elijah: “I think it’s always evolving. Something I heard recently that resonated was that it’s not what genre or style of music you make that defines you, it’s the way you come across in your music that matters. For me, music has always been a direct expression of what’s going on in my present life, so it naturally shifts and changes as I do. My end goal with every song or project is simply to be as honest and vulnerable as I can.”
You’ve just wrapped up your first, sold out Canadian tour this fall which is huge! What was that experience like, and is there a favorite memory you have from being on the road?
elijah: “Thank you, it was definitely a special experience. I still can’t believe people would take time out of their busy lives to come hear me sing songs, but I’m so thankful they do. I think the biggest takeaway from this tour was that even my songs that haven’t streamed as well still find their audience. It gave me some level of creative permission in a way.”
Who are some of the artists that inspire you today, or have inspired you in the past? Are there certain aspects of their music that you find yourself drawn to?
elijah: “Troye Sivan, Kacey Musgraves, JVKE, Taylor Swift. I think overall what inspires me the most is the willingness to try something and stick by it.”
As a highly sought-after collaborator, are there any artists that you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
elijah: “Taylor Swift, I think my fiancée would have a heart attack out of excitement.”
Does your latest project bright orange everglow set the tone for what’s in store next for you, or hint at future creative choices?
elijah: “I think it’s a good reference for the level of intentional songwriting, but outside of that, I’m very open to new horizons. The songs are what matter to me, not how they’re packaged. I could make a dance project, or a country EP, doesn’t matter to me. As long as the songs get the best light then I feel accomplished.”