I Was / I Am

I Was / I Am
Studio album by
Noah Kahan
ReleasedSeptember 17, 2021 (2021-09-17)
Studio
  • Golden Age (Los Angeles, United States)
  • The Clubhouse (Titirangi, New Zealand)
  • Mmm (Auckland, New Zealand)
Length36:49
Label
Producer
Noah Kahan chronology
Cape Elizabeth
(2020) 		I Was / I Am
(2021) 		Stick Season
(2022)
Singles from I Was / I Am
  1. "Godlight"
    Released: June 30, 2021
  2. "Animal"
    Released: August 6, 2021
  3. "Someone Like You"
    Released: September 16, 2021

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.[5] 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 December 19, 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]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Part of Me"
3:59
2."Animal"
  • Kahan
  • Ryan Keen
3:39
3."Caves"
3:21
4."Bad Luck"
3:11
5."Godlight"Kahan4:07
6."Someone Like You" (featuring Joy Oladokun)
3:06
7."Fear of Water"
2:51
8."Hollow"
4:32
9."Bury Me"
3:14
10."Howling"Kahan4:45
Total length:36:49

Personnel

Personnel taken from I Was / I Am liner notes.[10]

Musicians

  • Noah Kahan – lead vocals (all tracks); backing vocals (1–9); acoustic guitar (1–5, 8–10); electric guitar (2, 6, 8); piano (4)
  • Joel Little – keyboards, drum programming (tracks 1–6, 8, 9); synthesizers (1, 2, 4, 7, 8); electric guitar (1, 2, 5, 8); bass (1, 3, 5, 8, 9); percussion (1, 3, 4, 9); acoustic guitar (2); backing vocals (7)
  • Mark Rankin – backing vocals (tracks 1, 4, 5; keyboards (2–4); drum programming (2, 3, 5); synthesizer (2, 3)
  • Joy Oladokun – featuring artist (track 6)
  • Sarah Aarons – piano, backing vocals (track 7)
  • Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper – violin (track 7)
  • Peau Halapua – violin (track 7)
  • Joel Harrower – viola (track 7)
  • James Bush – cello (track 7)


Technical

  • Joel Little – production, engineering (all tracks)
  • Mark Rankin – production (tracks 1–3, 10); engineering (1–6, 8–10); mixing (all tracks); additional production (4–6, 9); co-production (8)
  • Stephen "Koz" Kozmeniuk – co-production (track 8)
  • Todd Clark – engineering (track 6)
  • Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper – engineering, string arrangement (track 7)
  • Hunter Airheart – video directing

Charts

Chart performance for I Was / I Am
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[11] 59
Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] 15
UK Albums (OCC)[13] 70
US Billboard 200[14] 154

References

  1. ^ Wilson, Kieran (September 27, 2021). "Noah Kahan Returns with Thoughtful Album 'I Was / I Am'". The Heights. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  2. ^ "I Was/I Am - Noah Kahan". AllMusic. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "Noah Kahan and Joy Oladokun perform 'Someone Like You'". TODAY.com. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Paul, Larisha (September 17, 2021). "Noah Kahan Shares Long Awaited Sophomore Album 'I Was / I Am'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Rawls, Murjani (September 16, 2021). "Noah Kahan Has Done A Lot of Growing and Is Ready To Show the World How Much". Substream Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Gera, Makena (August 31, 2023). "Meet Noah Kahan, the Voice of an Emotionally Evolved Generation". Boston Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  7. ^ Howell, Marin. "Noah Kahan Connects With Fans on 'I Was/I Am' Tour in New York City". The Observer. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  8. ^ "Noah Kahan: I Was / I Am Tour". www.houseofblues.comeventdetail. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  9. ^ Mosk, Mitch (September 17, 2021). "A Beautiful Inner Reckoning: Noah Kahan's Stirring 'I Was / I Am' Plunges into the Deepest Depths of Self". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  10. ^ I Was / I Am (CD booklet). Noah Kahan. 2022.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Noah Kahan – I Was / I Am" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  12. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 26/4/2024 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  13. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 26/4/2024 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  14. ^ "Noah Kahan Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
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