Everything You Need To Know About Ottawa’s Own, Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine
2019 JUNO award nominees for Breakthrough Group of the Year and JUNO Fan Choice, Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine open up for Marianas Trench this Saturday, at TD Place, and we had the chance to get to know them through some fun questions! From attending Algonquin College in Ottawa to preparing for the JUNOS. Check it out.
You have won and been nominated for amazing awards. Recently, The JUNOS, Breakthrough Group of The Year. Can you describe how this nomination feels in 3 words?
Really. Friggin. Weird.
The award show is on March 17th, the day after your show here at TD Place. How do you prepare for a major award show like this? Do you fly right out after the performance?
Award shows are very new for us! We kind of nod our head and smile throughout the whole process– hah. After our show on the 16th, we’re sleeping in our own beds, finally, then we fly out earlier in the morning of the 17th.
You have undeniable musical chemistry and infectious energy. How did you meet? Was it a hit right off the bat?
We met at college, taking separate programs. As soon as we stepped in the studio and started writing together, it felt very organic. We had previously been working with other artists/producers but the instant ease of collaborating made it an easy decision to pursue this together.
How did you choose your programs and Algonquin College specifically? Do you have any advice for younger students either choosing a program or going into college?
Elijah: The MIA program at Algonquin was definitely the obvious next step for me, given the fact that I knew I wanted to pursue music. There’s lots to learn and I definitely refer back to some lessons. The professors from the program have continuously been supportive and helped us along the way, whether it’s asking them for advice or referrals, or just reaching out to say they’re following along. It’s really cool see the sense of pride the school has for everything we’re trying to accomplish.
Jamie: Culinary school was definitely the right decision for me. It allowed me to pursue music while doing something I was still extremely passionate about – cooking. College, in general, was a really important step for me. Initially, I was planning on attending University and had been accepted into all of my programs. Last minute, though, I realized that it wasn’t the best fit for me academically. I wanted a hands-on learning experience and Algonquin was an incredible school for that. They really want you to succeed and be passionate about what you do but they don’t hold your hand to do it. It definitely prepared me for the next chapter of my life.
Do you have any advice for young musicians, singers or producers? How did you get your music out there?
The most important part of this for us is realizing that not only are we pursuing a music career, but we’re also building a business. Just as any other business is built, one of the most important steps is building a ‘core team’. We have an incredible group of people surrounding us and it has definitely been a team effort to get us where we are. I think we’d say that patience really is key. It’s about quality over quantity and it takes patience to stay true to that.
It is amazing that you are from the area. Anyone from here would be curious about some of our favourites around the city.
Favourite restaurant in Ottawa?
Two Six Ate
Favourite place to see music/concerts or local music?
The 27 Club
Favourite coffee place/café? Don’t worry, if it’s Starbucks, that’s totally OK!
Elijah: Starbucks
Jamie: Bridgehead
What’s your coffee order?
Elijah: Drop Coffee with Almond Milk
Jamie: Decaf Half Sweet Vanilla Iced Latte
Favourite song to perform?
Off of our new EP – Love Strong
Your rise in the industry has been crazy fast and impressive! What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way?
To the public eye, it definitely seems like a quick rise! In reality, we’ve been working together for about four/five years and separately for about ten, so sometimes it feels like we’ve been working forever at this. It’s definitely been an intense year where we’ve finally reached the public eye, so-to-speak. It’s a huge adjustment! There are a lot of ups and downs where the ups are very high and the downs are very low. Luckily, we have an amazing support system around us to keep us grounded.
You two have been crushing it on the charts. Can you give us any insights for upcoming projects, collaborations, or music?
We were really excited to drop our first EP – 8:47 – on March 8th! It’s really nice to finally have a body of work to put out into the world. We say it all the time, but we’re writers first and so writing and creating the music is the easy part for us. We think that’s how most artists get their validation, or feed their inspiration to keep creating.
Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine perform live this Saturday, in The Arena at TD Place right before Marianas Trench. If you haven’t seen these guys live, get your tickets today. Click here to get them!