Elijah Woods’ New EP, Hey There Elijah, is an Upbeat Record Made For Easy Listening
Singer-songwriter Elijah Woods makes his highly anticipated return to music with the release of his brand-new 6-song EP, Hey There Elijah.
Offering listeners an intimate glimpse into his personal and professional life, the EP reflects on themes of self-discovery, change, and the challenges of growing older.
The opening track, Elijah Woods, immediately sets the tone for the EP with a dreamy, atmospheric pop sound. The song begins with ethereal, echo-laden vocals that evoke a sense of introspection, drawing listeners into Woods’ contemplative mindset. Woods is reflecting on his life, addressing himself and asking intrinsic questions such as “I’m on top of the world or is it on top of me?” or “Would you like to have an existential crisis?”.
The second song on the album, 2 Thousand 10, follows the same theme, but this time looks into Woods’ past as he reflects on how he has become the person he is today. The listener is invited to share in this moment of pure, unfiltered nostalgia – those times when the world felt wide open, and the only thing that mattered was the present moment, filled with laughter, love, and unbridled energy., “Take me back to the end, Of summer 2010, When I was just feeling high with my friends, Young, dumb and in love, Face up to the sun, At the top of our lungs screaming.”
We Should Stick Together stands out on the album as a song with the potential to become a chart-topping hit. Its infectious energy is matched by an underlying sense of freedom and release, perfectly encapsulating the feeling of letting go and living in the moment. The song itself is ultimately about letting go, and the kind of track you can imagine blasting on full volume, windows rolled down, with the wind rushing around you as you cruise along.
“I’m thinking about it, I know you don’t doubt it, no, Oh, I’m unclouded, So would you freak out if I said, We should stick together, Like glue and I’m a feather, Tan and you’re the weather, The cold and you’re a sweater, We should stick together,” sings Elijah on We Should Stick Together.
Sticking to the theme of feel-good pop, Sunlight!, brings a fun listen to singing about making decisions that may feel out of one’s control. Both January Eyes and Wash Away stay true to their pop roots, but beneath their upbeat sound, they delve into more profound themes. Wash Away explores the heartache of losing a loved one, while January Eyes reflects on the inevitable passage of time and the bittersweet nature of fading memories. Despite their catchy melodies, these tracks carry a deeper emotional weight, adding layers of introspection to the EP’s bright, pop-driven exterior.
Hey There Elijah is, overall, a strong and cohesive record that highlights Elijah Woods’ growth as an artist, while still leaving plenty of room for growth in the future. There’s a sense that he is laying the groundwork for future musical exploration, leaving fans, of which there will be many more after this release, eager to see where he will go next.
