I Was/I Am
is the sophomore LP from Vermont-born troubadour
Noah Kahan
. Produced by
Joel Little
(
Lorde
,
Taylor Swift
), the ten-song set is built around earnest, emotional songwriting that carries the torch of modern indie folk. Many songs, like the rousing romantic opener "Part of Me" and the buoyant "Caves," feature folky stomp/clap-style rhythms married to big pop choruses. The album's centerpiece is "Someone Like You," a soulful, laid-back duet with
Joy Oladokun
, which leans into
Kahan
's R&B tendencies. Released in late 2021,
feels like a less-engaging precursor to
Stick Season
, the singer's breakout third album, which topped several international charts. ~ Timothy Monger