Noah Kahan is exhausted, and he is not hiding it. The singer just finished a 29-date North American leg of his The Great Divide tour, wrapping 48 hours earlier than this interview took place. He has three weeks off before heading overseas for 28 more dates across Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe. But even that breather comes with obligations — weddings to attend, a golf tournament to headline, and a nonprofit to run.
Kahan is a 29-year-old newlywed with a lot of weddings to attend. He is also a stadium-packing folk-pop sensation with a busy schedule. His Emmys appearance, where he sang “Bridge Over Troubled Water” during the In Memoriam segment, is followed by his annual Folk & Fairways golf tournament and headlining concert in Vermont. That event benefits his mental health nonprofit, The Busyhead Project, which raised $3 million this year, bringing the organization’s total to $13 million since launching in 2023.
In his last week off, as temperatures in Vermont dip into the 60s, Kahan is hoping to bust out his fall wardrobe. “I have a lot of light sweaters and pants that are cool, a lot of beanies,” he says, as if visualizing how cozy he will soon be. “Summer has been great, but I feel like I’ve been touring so much that I’ve kind of missed it. And no matter where I am, it’s just hot. So I’m excited for it to be chilly, get all emo, nostalgic smells, stuff like that.”
The Rooster That Interrupted the Interview
The interview took place at an early-20th-century craftsman home in Los Angeles’ West Adams neighborhood. A rooster had interrupted Kahan’s train of thought before the conversation began. “Sorry,” he said, collecting himself as he inhaled and glanced toward the yard.
The setting is fitting for a man who just wrapped a grueling tour. Kahan is coming down from the 29-date North American leg, and exhaustion is creeping in. He knows the next stretch will not be easy.
“It’s going to be an intense time,” he says, “but it’ll be nice to be in Vermont.”
The Track That Made the Album Famous
Kahan famously captures the feeling of that seasonal shift — which he dubs “late-August angst” — on “End of August,” the opening track of The Great Divide, his acclaimed fourth album. The record debuted atop the Billboard 200 following its April 24 release.
An arguably now more famous line comes right before that, when he declares: “The minute that September hits/I’m going off my medicine.” He did not.
The Wedding Season Ahead
Kahan has a lot of weddings to attend during his time off. As a newlywed himself, he understands the social calendar. But he also has work obligations, including his Emmys appearance and the Folk & Fairways event.
The golf tournament and concert raise money for The Busyhead Project, the mental health nonprofit he founded. This year’s two-day event raised $3 million, boosting the organization’s total to $13 million since launching in 2023.
Kahan says the workload ahead will be intense. But he is looking forward to being back in Vermont.
The Style Behind the Shoot
The shoot drew on several brands. Todd Snyder provided shirts and pants for some looks, while Bode supplied jackets, shirts and pants for others. Found pieces and Marc Nolan shoes rounded out the wardrobe.
Styling was handled by Elliott Taylor, grooming by Amanda Wilson, and set design by Peter Gueracague.
| Brand | Role |
|---|---|
| Todd Snyder | Shirts and pants |
| Bode | Jackets, shirts and pants |
| Marc Nolan | Shoes |
The Line About Going Off Medicine
The song’s line about going off his medicine is a metaphor. Kahan is describing the feeling of wanting to leave behind the weight of summer and start fresh. The lyrics are personal, but they are also universal. Many listeners have connected with the idea of letting go.
The song is about the end of summer, the transition between seasons, and the anxiety that comes with it. The line is a lyrical device, a way of expressing the feeling of wanting to let go. But Kahan is not actually planning to abandon his medication.
The Numbers Behind the Story
- The Great Divide debuted atop the Billboard 200 on April 24
- The album’s opening track is “End of August”
- The Folk & Fairways event raised $3 million this year
- The Busyhead Project’s total is now $13 million since launching in 2023
- Kahan has 28 dates across Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe ahead
- He has three weeks off before the overseas leg begins
A Man Who Says What He Means
Kahan is not a man who hides behind his art. When he writes about going off his medicine, he means the feeling of wanting to let go. When he says he did not, he means it.
The song is a hit. The album is acclaimed. The nonprofit raises money. And the man behind it all is just trying to enjoy a sweater and a beanie in the fall air.
He did not go off his medicine. He wrote about the feeling of wanting to. The difference is small, but it matters.
Source material: “Noah Kahan: Photos From the Billboard Cover Shoot,” Billboard.
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