I Was / I Am
2021 studio album by Noah Kahan
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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]
- Golden Age (Los Angeles, United States)
- The Clubhouse (Titirangi, New Zealand)
- Mmm (Auckland, New Zealand)
| I Was / I Am | ||||
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| Released | September 17, 2021 | |||
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| Length | 36:49 | |||
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| Singles from I Was / I Am | ||||
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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. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Part of Me" |
| 3:59 |
| 2. | "Animal" |
| 3:39 |
| 3. | "Caves" |
| 3:21 |
| 4. | "Bad Luck" |
| 3:11 |
| 5. | "Godlight" | Kahan | 4:07 |
| 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" | Kahan | 4:45 |
| 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 (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[11] | 59 |
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[12] | 15 |
| UK Albums (Official Charts)[13] | 70 |
| US Billboard 200[14] | 154 |