Elliott Douglas grew up as a “sheltered” homeschooled kid of a pastor in Buffalo, New York. He listened to primarily Christian music or anything else that was acceptable for the church he grew up in. Luckily, 60’s and 70s folk/singer-songwriters like James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and Carol King made the cut. He wasn’t aware of much popular music until he was older and started seeking out his own music. Being homeschooled did have its benefits for Elliot though. It made for a pretty flexible schedule which allowed him to practice drums and learn to record music even in the middle of the day. He would hang out in his basement during his lunch breaks and play along to my favorite records every day. 

The first album he ever bought with his own money (when he was about 14) was by P.O.D. If you’re unfamiliar P.O.D. stands for Payable on Death which is a Christian nu-metal band from the 90s. He also became a fan of Underoath. It was down the rabbit hole and he got into more rambunctious music from there. His distinct punk rock and hardcore phase shows through in his own music.

He describes his writing process as being centered around percussion. As a drummer first, he’ll sort of start a song with them, getting down the rhythm first and locking in a structure. Then he figures out the melody and lyrics, then fills in the guitar and bass as he goes. That’s interesting because a lot of songwriters work in the opposite order starting with guitar and ending with a good beat. His music is described as garage rock or (spicy) alt-pop.

He learned to play drums when he was 12 years old. He was in several bands as a teenager, he’d join a band, they’d play a couple of shows and then inevitably break up. Even though he was the dedicated drummer he’d teach himself how to play the other parts. As a result of copying or learning from his bandmates his style emerged as a conglomerate of different styles and influences from the musicians around him.

He went to college for audio engineering for a semester and then decided he could teach himself everything he needed to know about recording on Youtube. There’s never a shortage of information available for free.

Just five years ago Elliott had never been to LA, and in 2022 he moved across the country. Moving from Buffalo to LA was a big turning point for his own personal growth and for his songwriting. It sort of pushed him out of his comfort zone and has led him to explore more pop-driven songs and drive deeper into his own sound. He feels since moving his way of thinking and his interests have changed so much that he feels very different. Not only has there been a lot of internal change for Elliott in the last few years, but he mentions that the political and social climate has been chaotic as well. 

Being away from everything you’ve ever known and starting something new it’s always easy, but it’s certainly relatable. You can listen to his experiences and changing feelings in his first album titled Say Things That Matter. His goal is generally to write songs about how he’s feeling for people to relate to.

M.A.G.S. is excited to announce that he’s been signed to Smartpunk Records. An independent record label based out of Orlando, Florida. Their website says: “WE HAVE THE BEST BANDS. PROBABLY WEARING HAWAIIAN SHIRTS. EATING CRAPPY FOOD. LOVE TO PARTY.” They’ve got a few punk and rock bands on their roster including Wounded Touch, Clearbody, Motives, and Rivals to name a few. They’re a label that picks up new artists, prints vinyl, and has a brick-and-mortar record store! “If you’ve seen M.A.G.S. live, you know the absolute raw power that Elliott brings to the stage. If you haven’t, his performance will certainly fill a void you might not know you had”- Matt Burns, label manager.

Be sure to listen to his new single “Elephant” released on Smartpunk Records. He unleashed his imagination on this song, combining different styles that inspired him through the years.

“Elephant is really about staying true to yourself and trusting your gut. In a lot of ways, Elephant represents a peek inside my mind at any given time.” 

– M.A.G.S.

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