I Was / I Am Noah Kahan

• 1 Part of Me 03:57
• 2 Animal 03:40
• 3 Caves 03:21
• 4 Bad Luck 03:12
• 5 Godlight 04:07
• 6 Someone Like You 03:07
• 7 Fear Of Water 02:52
• 8 Hollow 04:32
• 9 Bury Me 03:15
• 10 Howling 04:45
• Total Runtime 36:48

Info for I Was / I Am

Noah Kahan’s latest project, I Was / I Am, represents a deep dive into his psyche and mental life, as the folk-pop artist grapples with his past and present, while also trying to find his inner balance. Kahan’s newest release illustrates the ways he’s grown, both sonically and as an honest and eager songwriter, since his debut album, Busyhead, in 2019.

I can split my life into two parts. There is a defined and pronounced before and after within my consciousness that has become ever so clear to me in these long months of forced self-reflection. I started my journey here so fearful of changing, of losing the part of me that I felt was vital to staying grounded and unique. Somewhere in the last few years, I’ve had to let go of that fear, and allow growth, for better or for worse, to happen. This album is about examining that growth and measuring the difference from who I was when I started and who I am still becoming now. I’ve spent 4 years touring, traveling, experiencing things I would have given limbs for when I was a kid. I’ve lost friends. I’ve made lifelong connections with people I would never have otherwise gotten a chance to meet. I have failed so often and have had small successes that make it all worth it. I’ve fucked up, and I’ve lost people close to me. I don’t know if I’m ‘better’ or if I’ve regressed, I just know that I’ve grown. This album is about acknowledging that growth.” (Noah Kahan)

“While writing this record, I’ve taken stock of who I am as compared to who I was when I started and what that means, for better or worse,” Noah shared when the album was announced. “I do have some perspective. I’ve also lost a lot. I’ve lost people close to me for different reasons. I’ve lost friendships. I lost my dog. Those experiences haven’t necessarily hardened me, but they’ve made me incredibly grateful for what I have now.” (Noah Kahan)

The songs on I Was / I Am explore the themes brought to the surface by these events. “The biggest change is a little bit of clarity in terms of who I am and the person I want to end up being,” he continued. “The songs on the record represent a new understanding of myself.” (Noah Kahan)

Noah Kahan

Noah Kahan
No matter how far you go, you bring home along too.

Within two short years, music quite literally carried 22-year-old singer, songwriter, and artist Noah Kahan around the world—a long way from his native Strafford, VT (pop. 1,045) and the 133-acre tree farm where he resides. On the trip, the alternative troubadour notched an international hit in the form of “Hurt Somebody” [feat. Julia Michaels], which tallied 200 million-plus streams in the span of a year, went triple-platinum in Australia and gold in six other countries, and was the third most played song on Australian Top 40 radio in all of 2018. Additionally, he performed the single on Late Night with Stephen Colbert during his late-night television debut.

As Noah steadily averaged over 5 million-plus monthly listeners on Spotify, his songs “Young Blood” and “False Confidence” racked up millions of streams and he sold out tours in North America, Europe, and the UK. Not to mention, he garnered acclaim from Billboard, Stereogum, Clash, Idolator, and more. In the midst of this whirlwind he assembled his highly anticipated upcoming debut album Busyhead to be released on 6/14.

For as much as the road twisted and turned, the journey led right to the album...

“My life has taken a 180° turn,” he admits. “I’m on a very different path than what I thought I would do. I feel nostalgic for a time when I was younger and had less to think about. I had the latitude to be whimsical, free, and young without knowing what’s going to happen. I get nostalgic for the locale where I grew up, because the scenery is so beautiful. Going from this to bigger cities and tours is crazy for me. The transition informs the storytelling. I’m getting a little more cunning and self-deprecating. The truth is—regardless of where I’ve gone—my parents still yell at me to pick up the dogs’ shit when I’m back home,” he laughs.

The first single “Mess” illuminates his marked growth as a songwriter and storyteller by way of its biting lyrics and undeniable sing-a-long. The song underscores a heartwarming and often hilarious portrait of hometown longing.

On the hook, he chants, “I’d move back home forever, I’ll feed the dogs, and I’ll put all my pieces back together where they belong, and I’ll say, ‘I’m mess!’”

“I was really overwhelmed with a lot of the stuff going on in my life,” he goes on. “I was super happy, but it was a lot to process. So, I went home from the studio for a bit. I relaxed and started writing. In doing so, I came up with this cool idea about actually going home and what that means. I’m wondering if I should go home and leave everything behind. Would it bring me more happiness? Would I be able to connect with others? I think it brings the whole concept of the record together for me.”

In the end, Noah makes the kind of music that can travel with you forever, but it feels even better at home.

“I’d love for everyone to hear this true and honest description of my life and maybe come away being more honest with themselves,” he leaves off. “That’s what I love about music. I feel less vulnerable and alone when I hear something I relate to. I hope it can inspire people on their own journeys.” (Noah Kahan)

This album contains no booklet.