Photographer Austin Calvello – Fashion Editor SK Tang – Talent Elijah Woods – Hair by Drew Martin – Set Design by Kevin Carneiro – Lighting by Michael Irwin – Special Thanks to Nomad Studios Interview by Marco Martello // Jacket Ssstufff and Sunglasses Bonnie Clyde
Total Look Louis Vuitton – Necklace Rare Romance / Jacket Marni
First things first, what’s one song that instantly takes you back to your childhood?
There are so many songs that bring me back to my childhood, but the one that instantly comes to mind is ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac. I grew up listening to a lot of Fleetwood Mac. I have this vivid memory of a childhood friend picking up a guitar and singing it when we were about eight years old. It was the first time I cried while listening to music, and it felt really, really special.
Were your family supportive of you when you told them that you wanted music to be more than just a hobby for you?
My parents have always been incredibly supportive of whatever I’ve set my mind to. That said, I think they were a little nervous when I decided to drop out of school to pursue music full time. It wasn’t because they didn’t believe in me, they just wanted me to have a stable path, and at the time, success in the music industry felt like such a long shot. My mum actually enrolled me in a college music program and really encouraged me to stick with that. But my dad has always been a ‘passion first’ kind of person. He’s a musician himself, so I think he’s always really understood my mindset.
That being said, what are the top three songs on your Spotify playlist?
Lately, I’ve been obsessed with Bon Iver’s latest album ‘Sable, Fable,’ especially the song ‘Day One.’ I genuinely think it might be one of the best songs ever made. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Mk.gee recently, and I really love his song ‘Candy.’ And my third pick would be ‘Look at That Woman’ by Role Model—it’s from his 2024 album ‘Kansas Anymore’, which I absolutely love.
Jacket Ssstufff – Pants Milli Point Two – Shoes Stylist’s Own – Sunglasses Bonnie Clyde / Total Look Kenzo
You started writing to help process your grief after your older brother Matthew’s passing. If you close your eyes and think about himatthew’s the first thing you see?
Yeah, I think after he passed I started writing without even realisingmatthew’: ‘Skater shoes and faded Levi’s / A mixtape of your favorite B- sides / That Polaroid of us still lives beside my bed.’ That polaroid is the one I used for the ‘matthewame to understand that’s exactly what it was. I was so young, and I wasn’t tryirealiseurn anykickflipto music or lyrics. I was just trying to hold onto memories and little moments that felt important. Whenever something meaningful came to mind, I’d write it down. It was my way of remembering him and of processing everything the only way I knew how as a kid. I don’t think I fully began to understand or process his passing until I was in my twenties. That was the first time I really sat with it and started to grasp what it means to lose a sibling. It’s such a layered kind of grief. There are so many emotions tied up in it that it’s hard to give one clear answer. But when I do close my eyes and think of him, the first thing that comes to mind is actually the first few lyrics from the song I wrote for him, ‘matthew’: ‘Skater shoes and faded Levi’s / A mixtape of your favorite B- sides / That Polaroid of us still lives beside my bed.’ That polaroid is the one I used for the ‘matthew’ single artwork. It brings me back to this one memory of him trying to teach me how to do a kickflip on his skateboard. I was eight, and I couldn’t get it right, and I was so frustrated because he was so cool and so good at everything. We took that photo on our front porch that day. I’ll never forget it. That moment will always stay with me.
Elijah, do you remember what it felt like to share your music online for the first time?
I do remember! I first put out some pretty terrible EDM tracks around 2014. I just threw them up on SoundCloud. One of the songs got like 200 plays, and I was like, ‘Oh God, who are these random people listening to my music?’ It felt so raw and vulnerable, but also exciting. I wanted to know everything about these people who were listening to my songs. I’d just started learning how to use Ableton, and even though I had no idea what I was doing — the songs were super rudimentary — it was so fun and freeing to realise I could just make music and put it out into the world. In a lot of ways, my whole career has grown from that mindset of sharing things in real time, getting immediate feedback, and being able to connect directly with people through my music.
Total Look Diesel – Necklace Rare Romance
Two years ago you proposed to your girlfriend Hannah in New York’s Central Park, and last July you two got married. What does your married life look like?
Married life has been amazing! It’s one of those clichés where people say the honeymoon phase eventually fades…but honestly, we’ve been married for a year now, and it still feels like we’re in it. Actually, I think we’ve been in the honeymoon phase for the past six years. We communicate really well, and it feels like our connection keeps deepening and evolving with time. One of the most exciting things lately is that Hannah has become much more involved in my music. She’s been helping creatively direct this next chapter and has executive produced a bunch of the new songs I’m releasing. It’s like we’ve unlocked a whole new level in our relationship—one that didn’t even exist a year ago. I used to keep my music pretty separate from my relationship, but I’ve really come to value having her listen and give feedback. Having her be part of the creative process has been so much fun, especially since music has always been such a personal part of my life. We also became dog parents, which has been great, and we’re really loving our life together in California.
Going back to your career, would you say your style and approach to song-writing has changed since you started making music?
Yeah, I think it’s evolved in a really natural way. When I first started, I was just creating whatever came to me. Over time, I’ve definitely become more drawn to pop and I’ve become a lot more pop-sensible. I wouldn’t say I’m trying to chase trends, but I do love the idea of making music that connects with people on a wide scale without compromising who I am or what I want to say. There’s something really fulfilling about knowing that a song you poured yourself into can mean something to someone else too. That doesn’t mean I’m making music just for the sake of validation, but I do think there’s value in crafting songs that invite people in. I’ve found a good middle ground where I’m still experimenting and making music that feels true to me, but also thinking about how it might resonate with others. At the end of the day, it’s about connection—and if more people can see themselves in what I’m making, then that feels like a win.
Turtleneck Marni – Pants Milli Point Two
As an independent artist and a young man, what are the most difficult challenges you’vefaced so far?
Being an independent artist is honestly the best thing ever for me because I’m a bit of a control freak, so I love having full creative control. But it also comes with a lot of pressure. You’re not just making music, you’re running a business, and that means making a lot of sacrifices and constantly juggling a million things at once. It’s demanding and nonstop. Still, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m really proud of where I am and where things are headed. I have an amazing team that believes in the vision and supports me in everything I do, and that makes a huge difference. One of the hardest parts, though, has been navigating friendships and relationships in the music industry. Songwriting sessions, for example, are super intimate spaces. You have to be vulnerable and open, often with people you’ve just met. There’s this deep emotional exchange, but at the end of the day, it’s work. Sometimes you leave a session feeling like you’ve built a real connection, only to realise a couple weeks later that it was just a moment and it’s passed. If you’re lucky, you might get another chance to work with that person and pick it back up, but that’s not always the case.
Last July, you opened for Niall Horan. What did that moment mean to you?
Opening for Niall Horan was an incredible experience! I grew up listening to One Direction and had been a fan of Niall’s for years. My wife and I actually have this running bit where we sing ‘Slow Hands’ to each other and make up silly lyrics on the spot—it’s one of those songs that just never gets old for us, it’s just so good and so catchy. What’s wild is that at the start of last year, I randomly wrote in my journal that I’d love to open for a member of One Direction someday, and that it would be this huge, amazing opportunity. A month and a half later, I got the call asking if I wanted to open for Niall Horan in Jakarta. It was one of those moments where the universe just does something strange and beautiful for you. The show itself was incredible. It was probably the first time in a long while that I felt real stage fright just because I was getting to share a stage with one of my idols. It was such a special experience that I’ll cherish forever.
Going off of this, this summer you’re going on tour in Asia. What are you most looking forward to?
As for this summer’s Asia tour, I can’t wait to see the fans again—the ones who truly changed my life last year. That tour was such a whirlwind of firsts, and while I was trying to soak it all in, there were so many new experiences happening all at once that it was hard to really slow down and appreciate everything. This time, I’m looking forward to spending more time in a few key places, getting to know the culture, trying the food, and being more present in each city. I don’t want to sound cliché, but I genuinely want to experience life the way my fans do over there, and take it all in as deeply as I can.