We had the good fortune of connecting with Eliana Rubin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eliana, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursue an artistic and creative career because I don’t have a choice. I originally began my artistic pursuits as a young actor, eventually studying theatre in undergrad. I entered thinking I wanted to be an actor, and left thinking I wanted to be a writer/director. Both of those things were and are true, but what I’ve noticed within myself is that my artistry has shifted over time. I’m currently in graduate school for a master of educational leadership, where I intertwine Jewish, theatre and LGBTQ+ education. At the same time, I’m a musician, having just released my debut album, Bones. Within my education work, I write what I call “Jewsicals”, musical numbers based on Jewish texts. No matter how much I think I’m drifting away from my artistic endeavors, they always find a way to come back to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My music focuses on storytelling through pop. My lyrics are both deeply personal and widely universal. Once my mom asked me if I keep a journal; I told her that music was my journaling. (I do keep a journal, though.)

What sets me apart from others is my authenticity. I am unapologetically myself. My music is queer at the forefront and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s taken me time to get to that place, though. I used to fear these parts of myself being a hindrance to my work. That fear still rears its ugly head sometimes, but I’m learning how to navigate through it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh, this is an excellent question! There are a lot of vegan restaurants I’m obsessed with: Sage Plant Based Bistro, Gokoku, Burgerlords, Jewel, Kitchen Mouse… I’d take them to all of those. We’d go to the Griffith Observatory and have a picnic at sunset. We’d drive down the PCH and crack the windows to let the ocean breeze in. We’d go out on Sunset Blvd in Silverlake and Echo Park for a night on the town.

To my friends from out of town, come visit me! Let’s do these things!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to give two shoutouts. One is to my close friends, who constantly support me in all that I do, helping me to find my ground while simultaneously teaching me how to fly. I’d also like to shoutout my many, many journals, which are markers of the (sometimes small. but) tangible growth within my artistry. So I suppose, in essence, I’m shouting out little me.

Website: elianashirarubin.com

Instagram: @elianashirarubin

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elianashirarubin/

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2COBW11tKSlT6mECRbZRnP?si=b365d2b992f54975 https://music.apple.com/us/artist/eliana-rubin/1513852214 https://linktr.ee/elianashirarubin

Image Credits
https://www.huebnerheadshots.com/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.