# Noah Kahan: From Vermont Roots to Global Music Sensation
Discover the inspiring journey of Noah Kahan, the folk-pop phenomenon who transformed from a small-town Vermont musician to a Grammy-nominated global star. In this captivating episode, we explore Kahan's humble beginnings on a 133-acre tree farm, his early musical influences from Paul Simon to Mumford and Sons, and the pivotal moments that shaped his authentic songwriting style.
Learn how Kahan's breakthrough album "Stick Season" captured the hearts of millions worldwide through its raw, honest portrayal of rural life and emotional landscapes. We dive into his career evolution from viral TikTok success to sold-out arena shows, platinum certifications, and his powerful mental health advocacy through The Busyhead Project.
Whether you're a dedicated "busyhead" fan or discovering Noah's music for the first time, this episode offers an intimate look at the artist behind chart-topping hits like "Stick Season," "Hurt Somebody," and "Dial Drunk." Join us as we uncover how Kahan's New England upbringing and personal struggles shaped one of music's most authentic voices in folk-pop today.
#NoahKahan #FolkPopMusic #StickSeason #MusicJourney #VermonArtist #MentalHealthAdvocacy
Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs
For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
Discover the inspiring journey of Noah Kahan, the folk-pop phenomenon who transformed from a small-town Vermont musician to a Grammy-nominated global star. In this captivating episode, we explore Kahan's humble beginnings on a 133-acre tree farm, his early musical influences from Paul Simon to Mumford and Sons, and the pivotal moments that shaped his authentic songwriting style.
Learn how Kahan's breakthrough album "Stick Season" captured the hearts of millions worldwide through its raw, honest portrayal of rural life and emotional landscapes. We dive into his career evolution from viral TikTok success to sold-out arena shows, platinum certifications, and his powerful mental health advocacy through The Busyhead Project.
Whether you're a dedicated "busyhead" fan or discovering Noah's music for the first time, this episode offers an intimate look at the artist behind chart-topping hits like "Stick Season," "Hurt Somebody," and "Dial Drunk." Join us as we uncover how Kahan's New England upbringing and personal struggles shaped one of music's most authentic voices in folk-pop today.
#NoahKahan #FolkPopMusic #StickSeason #MusicJourney #VermonArtist #MentalHealthAdvocacy
Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs
For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Noah Cahan was born on January first, nineteen ninety seven,
in Strafford, Vermont, a small rural town nestled in New England.
His upbringing took place on a one hundred thirty three
acre tree farm, and this setting deeply influenced his artistry
and perspective from an early age. Noah was the third
of four children in a family whose creative influences shaped
(00:22):
much of his future direction. His father, josh Chaon, was
Jewish and taught Noah to play guitar when he was
just ten years old. His mother, Laurie Birkencamp, a Christian
who wrote parenting guides for a living, inspired a love
for writing and self expression. This blend of cultural backgrounds
had a profound effect on Noah's identity and creative voice.
(00:45):
From childhood, he was exposed to both music and literature,
which fostered a spirit of storytelling and an emotional clarity
that would later define his lyrics. By the age of eight,
Noah was already writing songs and using the family computer
to upload them to SoundCloud and YouTube. He attended Hanover
High School in New Hampshire, often drawing on his small
(01:07):
town experiences for creative fuel. Early on, Noah found inspiration
in artists such as Paul Simon, Counton, Crows, Hosier, and
Munford and Sons, whose songwriting and folk approaches echoed in
his first forties into music composition, Noah began collaborating with
high school friends embudding music producers around age seventeen, steadily
(01:31):
attracting attention beyond his immediate community. Ultimately, his growing online
presence and raw folk confused pop style caught the year
of Drew Simmons at Foundation's artist management. Soon after, he
was also noticed by established songwriters, including Dan Wilson, known
for work with Adele and other major Firefights writer artists.
(01:53):
Noah deferred his college admission to Tulane University to pursue
his music career, despite initial plans pointing him to a
more traditional academic path. In twenty seventeen, at just nineteen
years old, Noah signed with Republic Records, marking the official
beginning of his professional career. By this time, he had
written hundreds of songs, steadily building up a catalog of
(02:16):
emotionally resonant material. His debut single, young Blood, was released
in early twenty seventeen and quickly racked up millions of streams,
highlighting his potential as a breakout artist. Later that year,
he released Hurt Somebody, a song he later re recorded
with Grammy nominated artist Julia Michaels. This duet climbed the
(02:36):
charts and achieved gold certification in the United States, catapulting
Noah onto the international music scene and representing a watershed
moment in his career trajectory. According to interviews, Noah initially
experimented with pop influenced ballads, believing that was what the
broader market wanted. Getty consistently found himself drawn back to
personal folk songs that reflected the New England's setting an
(02:59):
emotional honesty he cared about. Noah's debut extended play, Hurt Somebody,
came out in early twenty eighteen and included the compelling
title track. That year, he also made his late night
television debut, performing Hurt Somebody on The Late Show with
Stephen Colbert. Over the next year, he spent time living
and working in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville,
(03:22):
environments that exposed him to various strands of the music industry,
but never dimmed his ties to Vermont. June fourth, twenty
nineteen saw the release of Noah's first full length album,
Busy Head Doctor Falcon. The singles Hurt, Somebody, Ask, Confidence,
and mess. Though the project leaned somewhat toward the pop mainstream,
(03:44):
it began to showcase the lyrical vulnerability and care for
place that would set Noah apart in twenty twenty, as
the COVID nineteen pandemic shifted the world's routines, Noah returned
to Vermont. During this period of isolation and reflection, he
wrote and re corded the five track extended play Cape
Elizabeth at his friend Finn Chokis's home studio. The resulting
(04:07):
songs offered a raw, stripped down look at Noah's songwriting,
highlighting the comfort and melancholy of home. In September twenty
twenty one, Noah released his second album, I Was I Am,
a work recorded largely in Los Angeles. While the album
did not yield mainstream hits, it further solidified his penchant
(04:27):
for storytelling and honest self assessment. Between albums, Noah collaborated
with various artists and continued to cultivate a close connection
with fans, many of whom referred to themselves affectionately as
busy Heads. During this period, he grappled openly with feelings
of anxiety and depression, and in time he resolved to
(04:49):
use his platform to advocate for mental health. In twenty
twenty three, Noah launched the Busy Head Project, a non
profit initiative supporting mental health awareness in resources inspired directly
by his journey and struggles. The biggest breakthrough in Noah's
career arrived with the twenty twenty two release of Stick Season.
The album's songs, especially the title track, resonated widely thanks
(05:13):
to their New England imagery and exploration of homesickness, longing,
and the grip of seasonal change. The phrase stick season
refers to the bleak gray period between the vibrant fall
and the arrival of winter air, snow and Vermont. This
motif served as an app stand in for the emotional
landscapes Noah explored in songs both plaintive and anthemic. Stick
(05:37):
Season's success was turbocharged by viral sharing on the social
media platform TikTok, where snippets and teasers of the title
track and other songs fanned eager anticipation. Stick Season debuted
at number fourteen on the Billboard two hundred in the
United States and quickly became a cultural touchstone, especially among
listeners from rural and suburban areas across North America and
(06:00):
the United Kingdom. Its simplistic, even conversational lyrics captured something
universal about uncertainty, nostalgia, and the complexities of growing up
in small towns. Stick Season's deluxe edition, Will All Be
Here Forever, arrived in May of twenty twenty three, adding
seven more songs and riding the wave of Noah's steadily
(06:21):
rising profile, and twenty twenty four, he released the final version,
Stick Season Forever, which included features and collaborations with various
artists from different genres, highlighting both Noah's versatility and appeal
across musical boundaries. Singles from this period, including Dial Drunk
featuring Post Malone, found commercial and critical success, with Stick
(06:44):
Season topping charts in the United Kingdom and Australia and
peaking high on the Billboard Hot one hundred in the
United States. Over the past two years, Noah has played
to sold out arenas and historic venues like Red Rocks, Amphitheater,
and Radio City Music, with a Grammy nomination for Best
New Artist in twenty twenty three, and multiple RIA certification,
(07:07):
including Stick Season, reaching double platinum by July first, twenty
twenty four. Noah Khan's rise continues to astound list
Noah Cahan was born on January first, nineteen ninety seven,
in Strafford, Vermont, a small rural town nestled in New England.
His upbringing took place on a one hundred thirty three
acre tree farm, and this setting deeply influenced his artistry
and perspective from an early age. Noah was the third
of four children in a family whose creative influences shaped
(00:22):
much of his future direction. His father, josh Chaon, was
Jewish and taught Noah to play guitar when he was
just ten years old. His mother, Laurie Birkencamp, a Christian
who wrote parenting guides for a living, inspired a love
for writing and self expression. This blend of cultural backgrounds
had a profound effect on Noah's identity and creative voice.
(00:45):
From childhood, he was exposed to both music and literature,
which fostered a spirit of storytelling and an emotional clarity
that would later define his lyrics. By the age of eight,
Noah was already writing songs and using the family computer
to upload them to SoundCloud and YouTube. He attended Hanover
High School in New Hampshire, often drawing on his small
(01:07):
town experiences for creative fuel. Early on, Noah found inspiration
in artists such as Paul Simon, Counton, Crows, Hosier, and
Munford and Sons, whose songwriting and folk approaches echoed in
his first forties into music composition, Noah began collaborating with
high school friends embudding music producers around age seventeen, steadily
(01:31):
attracting attention beyond his immediate community. Ultimately, his growing online
presence and raw folk confused pop style caught the year
of Drew Simmons at Foundation's artist management. Soon after, he
was also noticed by established songwriters, including Dan Wilson, known
for work with Adele and other major Firefights writer artists.
(01:53):
Noah deferred his college admission to Tulane University to pursue
his music career, despite initial plans pointing him to a
more traditional academic path. In twenty seventeen, at just nineteen
years old, Noah signed with Republic Records, marking the official
beginning of his professional career. By this time, he had
written hundreds of songs, steadily building up a catalog of
(02:16):
emotionally resonant material. His debut single, young Blood, was released
in early twenty seventeen and quickly racked up millions of streams,
highlighting his potential as a breakout artist. Later that year,
he released Hurt Somebody, a song he later re recorded
with Grammy nominated artist Julia Michaels. This duet climbed the
(02:36):
charts and achieved gold certification in the United States, catapulting
Noah onto the international music scene and representing a watershed
moment in his career trajectory. According to interviews, Noah initially
experimented with pop influenced ballads, believing that was what the
broader market wanted. Getty consistently found himself drawn back to
personal folk songs that reflected the New England's setting an
(02:59):
emotional honesty he cared about. Noah's debut extended play, Hurt Somebody,
came out in early twenty eighteen and included the compelling
title track. That year, he also made his late night
television debut, performing Hurt Somebody on The Late Show with
Stephen Colbert. Over the next year, he spent time living
and working in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville,
(03:22):
environments that exposed him to various strands of the music industry,
but never dimmed his ties to Vermont. June fourth, twenty
nineteen saw the release of Noah's first full length album,
Busy Head Doctor Falcon. The singles Hurt, Somebody, Ask, Confidence,
and mess. Though the project leaned somewhat toward the pop mainstream,
(03:44):
it began to showcase the lyrical vulnerability and care for
place that would set Noah apart in twenty twenty, as
the COVID nineteen pandemic shifted the world's routines, Noah returned
to Vermont. During this period of isolation and reflection, he
wrote and re corded the five track extended play Cape
Elizabeth at his friend Finn Chokis's home studio. The resulting
(04:07):
songs offered a raw, stripped down look at Noah's songwriting,
highlighting the comfort and melancholy of home. In September twenty
twenty one, Noah released his second album, I Was I Am,
a work recorded largely in Los Angeles. While the album
did not yield mainstream hits, it further solidified his penchant
(04:27):
for storytelling and honest self assessment. Between albums, Noah collaborated
with various artists and continued to cultivate a close connection
with fans, many of whom referred to themselves affectionately as
busy Heads. During this period, he grappled openly with feelings
of anxiety and depression, and in time he resolved to
(04:49):
use his platform to advocate for mental health. In twenty
twenty three, Noah launched the Busy Head Project, a non
profit initiative supporting mental health awareness in resources inspired directly
by his journey and struggles. The biggest breakthrough in Noah's
career arrived with the twenty twenty two release of Stick Season.
The album's songs, especially the title track, resonated widely thanks
(05:13):
to their New England imagery and exploration of homesickness, longing,
and the grip of seasonal change. The phrase stick season
refers to the bleak gray period between the vibrant fall
and the arrival of winter air, snow and Vermont. This
motif served as an app stand in for the emotional
landscapes Noah explored in songs both plaintive and anthemic. Stick
(05:37):
Season's success was turbocharged by viral sharing on the social
media platform TikTok, where snippets and teasers of the title
track and other songs fanned eager anticipation. Stick Season debuted
at number fourteen on the Billboard two hundred in the
United States and quickly became a cultural touchstone, especially among
listeners from rural and suburban areas across North America and
(06:00):
the United Kingdom. Its simplistic, even conversational lyrics captured something
universal about uncertainty, nostalgia, and the complexities of growing up
in small towns. Stick Season's deluxe edition, Will All Be
Here Forever, arrived in May of twenty twenty three, adding
seven more songs and riding the wave of Noah's steadily
(06:21):
rising profile, and twenty twenty four, he released the final version,
Stick Season Forever, which included features and collaborations with various
artists from different genres, highlighting both Noah's versatility and appeal
across musical boundaries. Singles from this period, including Dial Drunk
featuring Post Malone, found commercial and critical success, with Stick
(06:44):
Season topping charts in the United Kingdom and Australia and
peaking high on the Billboard Hot one hundred in the
United States. Over the past two years, Noah has played
to sold out arenas and historic venues like Red Rocks, Amphitheater,
and Radio City Music, with a Grammy nomination for Best
New Artist in twenty twenty three, and multiple RIA certification,
(07:07):
including Stick Season, reaching double platinum by July first, twenty
twenty four. Noah Khan's rise continues to astound list
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