Noah Kahan was nominated for the 2024 Grammys as Best New Artist, alongside Gracie Abrams, Fred Again.., Ice Spice and others. In 2023, Kahan had what some would call a breakthrough in the music industry. Kahan released his third studio album “Stick Season” on Oct. 14, 2022 and ever since, he has been quickly gaining new fans and followers giving him his rightful recognition.
Since the title track “Stick Season” went viral on TikTok prior to the full album’s release, Kahan has collaborated with a variety of artists and released extended versions of the album’s songs. On June 9, 2023, Kahan released an extended version of the album, “Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever),” featuring seven additional tracks and an extended version of the previous release. Kahan collaborated with amazing artists on the album, including Post Malone, Lizzy McAlpine, Kacey Musgraves, Hozier, Gracie Abrams and Sam Fender. Amidst the positive attention and uproar, he was also featured on the Zach Bryan song “Sarah’s Place,” released in 2023.
Kahan recently announced the third and final version of “Stick Season,” titled “Stick Season (Forever),” which will be released Feb. 9. The album will feature the original tracklist and previously released collaborations, as well as new songs– two collaborations with currently unrevealed artists and a solo track that has been circulating already on TikTok.
Kahan made two studio albums that were released before “Stick Season.” In 2019, Kahan released “Busyhead,” a 10-track album. In 2021, he released “I Was / I Am” with 10 more tunes. Prior to those releases, Kahan had created music since 2017, including the popular track “Hurt Somebody,” released in 2018. Despite being in the industry for six years, Kahan never has hit such a high point in his career as he is experiencing now.
2023 was a year of sold-out shows for Kahan, going viral on social media and attention from fans– both new and old, which has led him to the Grammy nomination. The 27-year old singer-songwriter from Strafford, Vermont shares not only his music and voice with fans, but also vulnerable struggles and relatable experiences. The album “Stick Season” has become one of my favorite albums of all time because of the rawness of each song, in addition to its catchy music and incredible collaborations.
In the eighth song on the “Stick Season” tracklist, “Orange Juice,” Kahan has a conversation with an alcoholic loved one. The track opens with the most powerful, yet mundane lyrics– “Honey, come over, the party’s gone slower/ And no one will tempt you, we know you got sober/ There’s orange juice in the kitchen, bought for the children/ It’s yours if you want it, we’re just glad you could visit.” This song, and even just these introductory lyrics, show simple acts of love, such as sharing orange juice and understanding one’s needs.
In the song “You’re Gonna Go Far,” off the album’s extended version, Kahan reassures someone that it’s okay to do what is best for them, even if that means moving far away. “So, pack up your car, put a hand on your heart/ Say whatever you feel, be wherever you are/ We ain’t angry at you, love/ You’re the greatest thing we’ve lost.” All of Kahan’s lyrics make me emotional, but as a college student in my 20s, it especially hits home when I think of change and moving on from people and places. This is a song that many college students and young adults alike can understand and relate to.
Kahan confronts the hardships of life and tells his experiences with authenticity that is difficult to find in many rising artists today. I saw him perform live at The Fillmore Detroit and was blown away by his overall performance, his dedication to connecting with the audience and his ability to crack the best jokes during his set.
Kahan, who has been open about his struggles with depression, has always found music to be an escape. While working on his own mental health, Kahan created The Busyhead Project– an initiative that he and his team created to raise money for mental health awareness. He has raised over $2 million since announcing it on World Mental Health Day back in Oct. 2023.
The complete version of “Stick Season” will be an exciting culmination of work, while simultaneously being a bittersweet close to Kahan’s greatest era yet. Since I started listening to Kahan back in 2020, Kahan’s discography has helped me through my own mental health struggles and I will forever hold his music close to my heart.
As Kahan would say, he has “all my love.”
