I Was / I Am Explained

I Was / I Am
Type:	studio
Artist:	Noah Kahan
Cover:	I Was.I Am.jpg
Length:	36:49
Label:	Republic UMG
Producer:	Joel Little Stephen Kozmeniuk Mark Rankin
Prev Title:	Cape Elizabeth
Prev Year:	2020
Next Title:	Stick Season
Next Year:	2022

I Was / I Am is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan, released on September 17, 2021.^[1] The album was released through Republic Records and UMG Recordings, Inc.^[2] Three singles "Godlight", "Animal", and "Someone Like You (featuring Joy Oladokun)" were released prior to the album's release.^[3]

Background

Kahan states this album was created with the idea of "who I am as compared to who I was" in mind.^[4] The album was released more than a year after Kahan's EP Cape Elizabeth, and demonstrates Kahan's ideas of personal growth and reflection, and was developed during the COVID-19 Pandemic.^[5] Kahan developed this album after he returned to Los Angeles in late 2020.^[6]

Kahan started developing the album with producers Joel Little and Mark Rankin over Zoom meetings. Kahan was able to write about his mental health issues, breaking some of the stigma's surrounding mental illness, connecting with many listeners and helping them feel less alone.^[7]

Kahan embarked on the 'I Was / I Am Tour' spanning from October 14, 2021 in St. Louis until 19 December 2021 in Phoenix.^[8]

Reception

After the album was released, I Was / I Am was described as a "powerfully and unapologetically honest personal statement" by Mitch Mosk of Atwood Magazine and many of the songs "took on a life of their own".^[9]

Personnel

Musicians

• Noah Kahan - lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano
• Joel Little - backing vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, drum programming, electric guitar, keyboard, percussion, sythesizer
• Mark Rankin - backing vocals, drum programming, keyboard, synthesizer
• Sarah Aarons - backing vocals, piano
• James Bush - cello
• Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper - violin
• Joel Harrower - viola
• Peau Halapua - Violin
• Joy Oladokun - featuring artist (track 6)

Technical

• Joel Little - production, engineering (all tracks)
• Mark Rankin - production, engineering, mixing (all tracks excluding track 7)
• Stephen "Koz" Kozmeniuk - production (track 8)
• Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper - engineering
• Hunter Airheart - video directing

External links

• Web site: I Was / I Am by Noah Kahan . 2024-05-08 . Genius . en.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wilson . Kieran . 2021-09-27 . Noah Kahan Returns with Thoughtful Album 'I Was / I Am' . 2024-05-08 . The Heights . en-US.
2. Web site: I Was/I Am - Noah Kahan . . 2024-05-08 . en.
3. Web site: Noah Kahan and Joy Oladokun perform ‘Someone Like You’ . 2024-05-08 . TODAY.com . en.
4. Web site: Paul . Larisha . 2021-09-17 . Noah Kahan Shares Long Awaited Sophomore Album ‘I Was / I Am’ . 2024-05-08 . uDiscover Music . en-US.
5. Web site: Rawls . Murjani . 2021-09-16 . Noah Kahan Has Done A Lot of Growing and Is Ready To Show the World How Much . 2024-05-08 . Substream Magazine . en-US.
6. Web site: Gera . Makena . 2023-08-31 . Meet Noah Kahan, the Voice of an Emotionally Evolved Generation . 2024-05-08 . Boston Magazine . en-US.
7. Web site: HOWELL . MARIN . Noah Kahan Connects With Fans on ‘I Was/I Am’ Tour in New York City . 2024-05-08 . The Observer.
8. Web site: Noah Kahan: I Was / I Am Tour . 2024-05-08 . www.houseofblues.comeventdetail . en-US.
9. Web site: Mosk . Mitch . 2021-09-17 . A Beautiful Inner Reckoning: Noah Kahan's Stirring 'I Was / I Am' Plunges into the Deepest Depths of Self . 2024-05-08 . Atwood Magazine . en-US.