Coming and Going: The Heartfelt World of Elijah Dallas 

Coming and Going: The Heartfelt World of Elijah Dallas

There’s a soft hum to the Sunset Strip in the late afternoon — cars rolling past, conversations drifting between tables, the clatter of cups behind the counter. On the patio of the Coffee Bean, singer‑songwriter Elijah Dallas settles into the moment with the same quiet sincerity that runs through his music. Thoughtful, grounded, and wise beyond his years, Elijah carries stories from Spokane to Westchester, from family memories to the stages of Hotel Ziggy, shaping them into songs that feel both intimate and universal.

Over the course of our conversation, he opens up about grief, growth, the comfort he hopes to give listeners, and the new album that’s already carving out its own emotional landscape. What emerges is a portrait of an artist learning to honor where he’s been while stepping boldly into where he’s going — one lyric, one memory, one moment at a time.

We’re here with Elijah Dallas. Where are you based now, and what is your local music scene like?
I’m based in LA now, around the Westchester area. Lately I’ve mostly been playing at coffee shops and restaurants — more of that intimate gigging — while also working on recording an album. So right now it’s a mix of performing in smaller spaces and spending a lot of time in the studio.

How did growing up in Spokane shape your songwriting or the themes you gravitate toward, if at all?
That’s a good question. I don’t know if Spokane itself shaped my songwriting as much as my family did — and they’re a huge part of what Spokane means to me. I write a lot about change, growing up, nostalgia… and I think that comes from the memories I have of home and my family. If Spokane influenced me in any way, it’s through the good memories it gave me to write about.

What brought you out to Los Angeles?
I moved here for college, and I just really wanted to be in LA.

What were your first impressions when you arrived?
I loved it. Spokane isn’t tiny — it’s a small city — but LA has so much more to do, so many places to go, and so many different kinds of people. It feels like a very accepting community, and I really appreciate that.

Tell me about your recent single “Valentine’s Day” and the inspiration behind it.
I wrote it for my grandma, who passed away last Valentine’s Day. It was really hard, but my family and I all felt it was strangely fitting — she was such a loving person, and she passed on a day that’s all about love. The song is really just about who she was and how loving she was.

It’s a beautiful song. Have you had a chance to play it live yet?
I played it at her funeral service, but not since. I originally wrote it on piano, then added violin and cello parts that my mom and our neighbor played at the memorial. Later, my grandpa and I expanded it into a full string quartet arrangement. He’s in the symphony, so some of his friends recorded the strings for the track. It was really special. I’d love to play it live someday, but I haven’t had the chance yet.

I’ve seen you post about your grandfather. How has he influenced you?
He’s influenced me a lot. We worked together on the composition for my first EP, and the generational differences in our musical tastes made things really interesting. We found this cool blend between our styles, and I think it made the EP more unique than if I had done it completely on my own.

Your EP is called “Black and White.” What inspired the title — especially since the cover is in full color?
I think the songs themselves feel like different emotional shades. One is happy, one is sad, and the last one sits in this gray middle area. So the title “Black and White” is kind of about those contrasts — but also about how things in life are usually more gray than they seem. That was the idea behind it.

Let’s go through each of the songs. Starting with “When You Get Home” — what inspired that one?
I wrote that one about my ex-girlfriend. I was a senior in high school and she had just gone off to college — she was a year older — so we were doing long distance. The song came from that experience.

And “Tired”?
That one came from a time when I felt overwhelmed — with school, work, activities, and just inner stuff I was dealing with. Looking back, it’s funny because I didn’t really know what was going on, but at the time it felt like a lot. That’s what the song is about.

The final track is “Long Day,” which you’ve released in two different versions. Tell me about that one.
“Long Day” is more reflective than “Tired.” It looks back on that period of my life and acknowledges that even though the end of high school isn’t the hardest time in your life, it can feel that way when you’re in it. It’s about recognizing that feeling.

Pick a song you’re working on now that isn’t on the EP and tell me about it.
I’m recording an album right now called Coming and Going. The title track is kind of a love letter to the people who have been in my life — past, present, and maybe future — even if they’re not always around. It sits in all those tenses at once. That theme of people coming and going runs through the whole album. I’m really excited about that song; I think it’s cool and different.

Okay — “I Didn’t Get to Say I Love You.” Tell me about that one.
That song is also about my grandma. The day before she passed — on the 13th — my aunt called and told me things weren’t looking good, and that if I wanted to talk to her, I should call right away. I tried, but I was so choked up that I couldn’t bring myself to say “I love you.” As the title suggests, that moment is what the song is about.

Tell me about the experience of playing Hotel Ziggy and Breaking Sound.
It’s been really fun. I’ve loved meeting the other artists and building relationships with them. Being part of that community — getting to immerse myself in the music scene here — has been really special. Everyone is so talented and supportive.

What can someone expect from an Elijah Dallas show?
Lots of good lyrics and acoustic guitar. Sometimes my friend plays bass with me, or I’ll have someone harmonizing on backup vocals. It’s a stripped‑back, acoustic singer‑songwriter, folk‑leaning vibe.

If you could open for any band — past or present — who would it be and why?
Okay, one past and one present. For the past, I would’ve loved to open for The Sundays. I think they have some of the best songwriting ever, and that would’ve been incredible. For now, I’d choose The Paper Kites. They’re a folk band, and I really love their sound. The album I’m working on leans more folky, so I feel like opening for them would be a perfect fit.

If the music of Elijah Dallas were a donut, what kind would it be and why?
I think it would be a maple bar with bacon on top. It’s pretty digestible, but then there’s that little bacon moment — something sweet and unexpected. That feels right for my music.

Have you ever considered acting?
Yeah! I did theater in high school and loved it. We did a lot of musical theater — Legally Blonde, Mean Girls, Big Fish, Frozen, The Little Mermaid. Now I’m working on submitting to some commercial agencies and seeing where that goes.

When someone hears your music for the first time, what do you hope they walk away feeling or understanding about you?
I love that question. I hope they feel a little less alone — a little more understood. Comforted, I guess. I want people to know that others are going through things too. I’d love to be an artist people turn to when they need comfort or feel isolated.

What do you hope the rest of 2026 brings for you?
I’m hoping to release the album I’m working on now. I also have a lot of music videos planned. By the end of 2026, I’d love to have the album out and three or four videos released.

What advice would you give another young songwriter from a small hometown who wants to make it — maybe even come to LA?
I’d say: just do it. Things will fall into place. I came here not knowing anyone, and while I haven’t made huge progress yet, it’s a really good community. Put yourself out there. That’s the best advice I can give — it’s what I did.

In Conclusion

As the sun dipped lower over the Sunset Strip and the patio crowd shifted around us, Elijah Dallas carried the same quiet honesty that fills his songs — a mix of reflection, gratitude, and the steady determination of an artist finding his place. His stories of family, loss, community, and creative growth reveal a songwriter who isn’t afraid to feel deeply or to share those feelings with the world.

With a new album on the horizon and a growing presence in the LA music scene, Elijah stands at the beginning of a journey shaped by sincerity and connection. Whether he’s performing in intimate rooms, composing with his grandfather, or offering comfort through his lyrics, one thing is clear: Elijah Dallas is an artist who leads with heart, and his next chapter is already unfolding in beautiful ways.

(Interview by Ken Morton – Photos by Scott Waters)

Elijah Dallas on Instagram