“Can We Talk” about Elijah Woods, The Kid From A Small Town In Canada?
An overview of the Canadian singer’s upcoming album
Elijah Woods, the pop singer-songwriter from Perth, Ontario, is on the brink of releasing his debut album. Set to release on October 14th, Can We Talk? is a major milestone in his journey under his independent label, and listeners have been given a taste of this new album with four singles.
Ghost on the Radio is the lead single and it encapsulates the album’s themes of romance, relationship struggles, and bittersweet growth. The song is a staple of his style, featuring synths, a catchy chorus, and an upbeat rhythm that contrasts the more downcast lyrics. It also uses radio static to set the moods while reminiscent of OneRepublic and a young Justin Bieber, who Woods cites as a big inspiration growing up as a Canadian pop singer. I Miss You, the latest single released, complements Ghost on the Radio, even sporting a matching cover. The theme of a lost love continues as a common thread throughout the song, with matching instrumentals and heartfelt lyrics. Listeners have been quick to point out that the first letters of the lines come together to create a message: “DO YOU MISS ME CAUSE I MISS YOU I MISS YOU CAN WE TALK”.
However, this pining turns resentful in the next single, Could You Love Me? While the song’s title may initially suggest themes of insecurity in a relationship, Woods makes it clear that the issue is the other person in the relationship: “Could you love me like you love yourself?” The song has an overall slower pace, signifying his acceptance that the relationship won’t work out.
This catharsis gives way to the final single, the upbeat Slicked Back Hair. A voice note Elijah Woods left in The Morning Woods, his Instagram broadcast channel, explains the story behind the song’s lyrics: “[Slick Back Hair] is me dressing extremely poorly, then meeting my now wife, Hannah, and her telling me that maybe I shouldn’t wear skinny jeans, and slick back hair […] and how she effectively changed my life.” Quick drum rhythms and synths convey this message well, and listeners can expect a similar style for the rest of the album.
His interview with Esquire revealed that Can We Talk? will have big atmospherics, reverb inspired by Kacey Musgraves, and a generally dreamy sound profile. The ability to create his own records, with full control over the production is important to Woods. When asked to describe the album in three words, he told Vogue that it was, “vulnerable, honest, perfect”. Vulnerable and honest serve well to describe Woods himself since despite having over 5 million listeners, several platinum and gold records, and four JUNO award nominations, he remains accessible and true to his roots, still considering himself “just some kid from a small town in Canada.” He continues to perform locally; just this past Canada Day, he performed in Richmond Hill, Ontario, where fans and residents were able to see him free of charge, similar to Canada Day 2022 where he performed here in Mississauga.
These performances strengthen his connection to the people and places where he grew up. The coming-of-age album, Can We Talk? serves as the ideal backdrop to the start of Elijah Woods’ venture into independent music, and paves the way for future aspiring Canadian singers and songwriters.
