I was born In Jerusalem, Israel in May of 1986. That same year my family moved to Columbus, Ohio where I grew up in an unusually creative household. My father is a professional artist, creative arts teacher, as well as a professor of art. My mother is a nurse practitioner at The Ohio State University Hospitals. Columbus is a typical American town and I have always thought of myself as a real midwesterner.

When I was a child I would sit next to my father in his art studio, drawing and writing poems. Creativity was a way of life in our home, and The Creative Spirit runs deep in my heart and soul.

Early in middle school I began playing the drums. Day after day I would practice, creating rhythms in the basement of our modest home. In high school I was accepted to The Fort Hayes Performance and Creative Arts School. It was here that I began to take the study of percussion seriously. I also fell in love with the acoustic guitar and singing my poems. While I was in high school I  produced my first home recorded album entitled, "Purple Underpants".  My friends loved it! This was all the encouragement I required.

I was accepted into Berklee College of Music in Boston. It was the only school I applied to. I studied drum set & world percussion. During my time at Berklee I wrote, produced and performed two more albums of my work, "Them Days" (2006) & "Good Morning, Goodnight" (2008) under the name Elijah Aaron (Aaron is my middle name.) (Click the LISTEN tab under MORE to hear some of the songs).

At Berklee I studied with Jamey Haddad (percussionist for Paul Simon), and singer song writer Livingston Taylor. (Brother of James Taylor).

After graduating I met up with my old friend Jeremy Shanas and we started an acoustic duo called The Northwoods. Our duo gave me an opportunity to sing my acoustic based songs, with delicate and interweaving vocal harmonies. We quickly released an album called, 'Morning, Noon, & Night' (2009).  Within a year we were performing in the biggest clubs and music venues in St. Louis.  The Riverfront Times (the city's most respected music newspaper) named us "Best New Band of St. Louis" & "Best Local Album of St. Louis."

Just as we began experiencing real success, my band mate Jeremy, for personal reasons, could no longer continue in the group. I decided to press ahead, as my musical creative life is after all an expression of my own soul. I can never quit.

With highly publicized shows on the schedule, I quickly turned The Northwoods into a one man show. With the help of a looping pedal, I was able to create a one man band while performing and layering multiple rhythms on stage. Its very exciting!

In my music, I want to break out of specific musical genres. I love incorporating percussive rhythms and acoustic guitar parts, while keeping the main emphasis on the gentle and spiritual message in the lyrics. 

I am currently recording a new album that will be available soon. With your friendship and kind support, the sound and soul of The Northwoods music will continue to share the beauty and simple joy of life.