What Your Favorite Noah Kahan Song Says About You

Graphic by Anika Dua

Whether you’re a long-time Noah Kahan fan or a new listener, there’s no denying that his popularity has skyrocketed over the past year. As part of his Stick Season Summer Tour ‘23, Kahan performed in Syracuse on September first at St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheatre, drawing a record crowd of over 18,000 people (and a two-hour-plus long traffic jam). 

Kahan’s nonchalant and casual attitude about his music and story, along with his genius songwriting come together to create deeply relatable songs. So today, we’re here to tell you what your favorite Noah Kahan songs might suggest about you.

Stick Season:

If “Stick Season” is your favorite, you probably only discovered Noah Kahan through TikTok after this song went viral. You likely really miss someone (specifically from your hometown), and are trying your best to cope, although rather unsuccessfully. Even still, you remain hopeful that change is coming your way.

Northern Attitude:

The first song on the Stick Season album, “Northern Attitude” relates to the idea of being lost and unsure how to find your way back. If this is your favorite, you want to build a new life for yourself but feel restricted by your past. You’re apologetic about your past and may be hesitant to get close to people, but you remember that there’s hope somewhere out there.

Call Your Mom:

Added to the album as part of Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever), “Call Your Mom” is both melancholy and soulfully supportive. If this song is you’re favorite, you’re scared of losing someone, but even moreso, scared of losing yourself. You’re still searching for the little things that make life worth living.  At the end of the day, just know you’re not alone.

You’re Gonna Go Far:

Also part of Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever), “You’re Gonna Go Far” is an extremely emotionally charged song. You’re probably from a small town with very deep ties, and are scared to leave someday, but know you must. You’re both hesitant and excited to get out and explore the real world, and the uncertainty you feel might make you spiral. At the end of the day, your roots can't be untethered and will always be there for you.

Growing Sideways:

When introducing this song at the concert in Syracuse, Kahan got candid about his experiences going to therapy from a young age, calling himself a “child of divorce.” If this song is your favorite, you might be a little sad at times but recognize that you have to process your emotions. You feel like you don’t know yourself, and neither does anyone else, but you’re still looking for your own ways to heal and thrive.

Dial Drunk (with Post Malone):

If this song is your favorite, you probably like Post Malone and think this version is better than the original, but wish Post Malone’s part was longer. In Kahan’s own words from the Syracuse concert, this song is about a “drunk piece of sh*t.” The song highlights someone who isn’t proud of their past mistakes, especially because they cost them someone they care about. If this song is your favorite, you’re probably both self-aware and indifferent, depending on the circumstances.

Homesick:

If this is your favorite song, you’re most likely from a small town in New England and proud of it. This song is the anthem for people who grew up in small towns, and you scream the line “I’m mean because I grew up in New England,” with pride. You’re torn between feeling like you have to go back home and not having a good enough reason to go elsewhere. You have a love-hate relationship with your hometown that is ultimately overshadowed by New England supremacy.

False Confidence:

From Kahan’s 2019 album Busyhead, if “False Confidence” is your favorite song, you’re a rare long-time Noah Kahan fan, and love to tell people that you listened to him before he got popular. Kahan feels similarly, introducing this song at the Syracuse concert by telling those who didn’t know it to “get f*cked!” This song highlights the challenges to being authentic, and you likely feel like you’re constantly putting on a false front to fit in. You recognize that you occasionally tear yourself down, but you’re now trying to build yourself back up.

The View Between Villages:

“The View Between Villages” is a heartfelt story about going back to your home and all the feelings that come along with returning. If you feel both a sense of loss and belonging when you go home, this is likely a favorite song of yours. It’s filled with the overwhelming memories attached to where you’re from, both good and bad that get stirred up while on your journey back “home.”

A Troubled Mind:

Even lesser known, “A Troubled Mind” is from Noah Kahan’s 2020 EP Cape Elizabeth. If this is your favorite, you definitely have listened to every single song Kahan has ever produced, and know all of the hidden gems. This song is about being overwhelmed with worry resulting in feelings of hopelessness. You long for advice as well as a way to get out of your own head, but your feelings are constantly contradicting themselves.

​​Noah Kahan's songs have a unique ability to foster a sense of mindfulness, immersing the listener in a profound journey of self-discovery. Acting as a therapeutic experience, his music helps listeners confront challenging emotions and navigate internal battles, ultimately providing solace and healing through the power of music. Noah Kahan is without a doubt an artist to keep an eye on, especially with his We’ll All Be Here Forever 2024 Tour. The more you listen to his music, the more you’ll find songs that accurately encapsulate your individual journey.