Stick Season

Noah Kahan released Stick Season on July 8, 2022 as the lead single from his third studio album. The track emerged from a period of personal stagnation in Vermont following a breakup, with lyrics that map the specific melancholy of New England winters against the feeling of being emotionally stuck. Kahan collaborated with producer Gabe Simon to blend acoustic folk instrumentation with modern indie textures, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive.

The song gained initial traction through streaming platforms before surging in popularity after the release of the "We'll All Be Here Forever" edition. Critics praised the raw honesty of the writing for capturing the weight of heartbreak and seasonal change. This resonance propelled the original 2022 album to the top of the Billboard 200 years after its initial release, driven by billions of streams globally.

Culturally, the track became a viral phenomenon on TikTok where users utilized the audio to express feelings of nostalgia and loss. The song earned Kahan a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance in 2024 and won Song of the Year at the Americana Music Awards. It stands as a defining work of the 2020s indie folk revival without relying on industry hype. [edit]