Noah Kahan - "Stick Season"

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Calaruga Shark Media. In this episode
of The Hit Maker Chronicles, we dived

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deep into Noah Kahan's Stick Season,
a poignant and introspective indie folk masterpiece.

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Noah Kahan, of a mont native, has been making waves in the indie

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folk scene with his introspective lyrics and
heartfelt melodies. Born on January first,

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nineteen ninety seven, Kahan discovered his
love for music at an early age,

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picking up the guitar and writing his
first songs in his teenage years. Influenced

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by the likes of Paul Simon,
James Taylor, and The Lumineers, Kahan

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began to craft a sound that blended
the intimacy of folk with the accessibility of

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pop. Kahan's journey as a musician
took a significant turn when he caught the

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attention of Republic Records, leading to
the release of his debut EP Hurts Somebody

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in twenty eighteen. The title track, a duet with Julia Michaels, showcased

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Kahan's ability to create emotionally resonant narratives
that connected with listeners on a deep level.

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This early success set the stage for
the creation of Stick Season, a

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song that would become a defining moment
in Kahan's career. Released in twenty twenty

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as part of his debut album,
Busy Head, Stick Season is a poignant

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reflection on the passage of time and
the lingering pull of one's home town.

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The song's title refers to a specific
time of year in New England, when

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the leaves have fallen and the bare
branches of trees resemble Styx. This imagery

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serves as a metaphor for the stark
realities and raw emotions that surface when confronting

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the past. The lyrics of stick
Season paint a vivid picture of a place

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and time that holds a special significance
for the narrator. Kahan's opening lines,

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I'm headed back to Newton, New
Hampshire, back where I was born and

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where I'll die, immediately establish a
sense of rootedness and inevitability. The verse

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continues, I know every corner of
Main Street and it takes more than snow

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tires to drive, hinting at the
deep familiarity and connection the narrator feels with

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his hometown. As the song progresses, Kahan delves into the conflicting emotions that

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arise when returning to a place filled
with memories. The chorus, but I'm

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stuck in Stick Season, nothing's changing, I'm still the boy you left behind

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captures the sense of stagnation and the
struggle to move forward. The lyrics suggest

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a longing for growth and change,
while also acknowledging the comfort and safety found

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in the familiar. Musically, Stick
Season showcases Kahan's talent for crafting melodies that

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are both memorable and emotionally evocative.
The song begins with a gentle acoustic guitar

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riff, setting a contemplative and introspective
tone. Kahan's vocals, tinged with a

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raw vulnerability, carry the way of
the lyrics, conveying the depth of feeling

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behind each word. As the song
builds, additional instrumentation is introduced, including

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subtle percussion and atmospheric electric guitar flourishes. The production, understated yet effective,

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allows the emotional content of the lyrics
to take center stage. The use of

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harmonies in the chorus adds a layer
of richness and depth, underscoring the song's

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themes of connection and shared experience.
One of the most striking aspects of Stick

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Season is its ability to resonate with
listeners on a personal level. The song's

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themes of hometown nostalgia, the passage
of time, and the struggle to reconcile

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the past with the present are universal
experiences that many can relate to. Kahan's

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lyrics have a specificity that makes them
feel authentic and lived in, while also

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leaving room for listeners to project their
own memories and emotions onto the song.

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In a sense, stick Season serves
as a musical time capsule, capturing a

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specific moment and place, while also
speaking to the larger human experience of growing

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up and grappling with change. The
song has become an anthem for those who

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have left their home towns, whether
physically or emotionally, and are navigating the

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complexities of adulthood. The cultural resonance
of Stick Season extends beyond its musical merits.

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The song has sparked conversations about the
role of place in shaping identity and

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the bittersweet nature of nostalgia. It
has become a touchstone for a generation grappling

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with the challenges of finding their place
in the world while still feeling the pull

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of their roots. Critics and fans
alike have praised Stick Season for its raw

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honesty and emotional depth. The song
has been celebrated for its ability to capture

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the essence of a specific time and
place while also speaking to universal themes.

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It has solidified Noah Kahan's position as
a rising star in the indie folk genre

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and has garnered comparisons to the likes
of bon Iver and Phoebe Bridges. In

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the broader context of Kahan's discography,
Stick Season represents a defining moment in his

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artistic journey. The song showcases his
growth as a songwriter and his ability to

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craft narratives that resonate on a deep
level with his audience. It serves as

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a testament to the power of music
to connect us to our past, our

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present, and our shared human experiences. More in a moment, as we

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come to the end of our exploration
of Stick Season, it's clear that this

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song is more than just a musical
composition. It's a reflection of the human

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condition. It reminds us of the
ties that bind us to the places and

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people that have shaped us, and
the ongoing struggle to find our place in

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a world that is constantly changing.
Noah Kahan's Stick Season is a masterclass in

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storytelling through song. It invites us
to explore the depths of our our own

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emotions and memories, and to find
solace in the knowledge that we are not

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alone in our experiences. It is
a song that will continue to resonate with

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listeners for years to come, a
timeless reminder of the power of music to

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heal, to connect, and to
inspire. As we conclude this episode of

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The hit Maker Chronicles, we are
reminded of the enduring impact of songs like

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stick Season. They serve as a
testament to the artistry and emotional intelligence of

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the songwriters who create them, and
to the universal human experiences that bind us

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all together. Until next time,
keep exploring the stories behind the songs that

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move us, and never underestimate the
power of music to shape our lives and

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our world. I'm Andrew Irons and
this has been another inspiring episode of The

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hit Maker Chronicles. Join us next
time as we continue to uncover the magic

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and the meaning behind the songs that
define our times. The hit Maker Chronicles

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is a production of Calarogush Shark Media
Executive producers Mark Francis and John McDermott.

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Portions of this podcast may have been
created with the assistance of Ai