
In 2022, indie folk artist Jonah Kagen was picking up momentum with singles like “graveyard shift” and “hill that i’ll die on.” Even though he was still coming into his own, fans instantly felt a connection and were eager for more. Before the year was out, he released his debut EP, georgia got colder, where he packaged new singles with fan favorites for one breathtaking project. Jonah then went on to have an incredible 2023, which saw the release of his sophomore EP, The Roads. Its six tracks were almost entirely produced and recorded by Jonah himself – a fact that is not one to take lightly, considering the EP now has over 260 million streams. With radio success through singles like “The Roads,” Jonah became one to watch out for in 2024.
For anyone who was literally watching out for him, they would have to keep their eyes peeled for the Airstream that Jonah is currently travelling in across the U.S. Halfway through last year, he announced that he would be connecting with fans on a more intimate level this way, and it has influenced the way he creates. He dropped his third EP, Black Dress, in November 2024, which was entirely produced and recorded by Jonah in the Airstream. It has gone on to have tremendous success, with singles like “God Needs The Devil” rising in streams on the daily. We were able to catch up with Jonah around the release to learn more about Black Dress, recording in the Airstream, and what to expect in 2025.
Hi, Jonah! It’s great to connect with you after writing about your music on Melodic Mag these past couple of years. How is your day going so far?
It’s been lovely! I can’t thank y’all enough for all of your support.
Your new EP is called Black Dress, which we hear you mention in a line on the opening track, “God Needs The Devil.” Did you know you were going to pull the EP title from that track?
I did not! I’m actually terrible at deciding on names, but this one came after the project was finished and I was able to look at it from a more macro perspective. It seemed to me that the pain and attraction that was personified as the black dress in “God Needs The Devil” was something that ran throughout all of the songs, so I landed on that for the title.
“Don’t Give Up On Me Yet” is one of the new songs that fans will hear on this project. While it touches on the weight of your feelings, it also captures the importance of perseverance. So, when you say, “Don’t give up on me yet,” is this a message to someone specific, to yourself, or to anyone out there who is listening?
As much as I agree that perseverance is important, I wrote this song entirely from a perspective of desperation. That line is really someone begging someone else to not give up on them. That said, I think the message of the song is whatever it means to whoever is listening!
The vocals on “Don’t Give Up On Me Yet” sound the most exposed than they do on the other tracks. It adds to the authenticity of the track, so how many takes did you do to get it to sound just right?
I can’t say exactly how many times I recorded the lead vocal, but I know that it was somewhere around three takes or so, and I know I sang it all the way through. My philosophy with tracking vocals, especially lately, has been to do everything in my power to focus on the emotion of the song rather than hyper-fixating on the technical details. It seems like that leads to a more authentic, human sounding song, which I love.
“Same Wind” is another new song on the EP. I love the imagery that comes through, starting with the bird flying over the mountain, to the strangers at your door, to the way wind can interact with the flames of a bonfire. Did any of these moments serve starting point or the inspiration for the track?
Yes! I wrote that song at a house in the mountains, and I was literally watching a really beautiful giant bird fly around. I started thinking about what could have been going on in its brain, and next thing I knew, I was thinking about some new existential emotional crisis of mine. Typical Tuesday evening for me at this point.
You have alternate versions of “Matches” and “God Needs The Devil” on here. In a live setting, are you more inclined to perform these versions or the original versions?
The alternate version of “Matches” was actually inspired entirely by how I perform it live. I had been performing it that way for a while, and people really seemed to enjoy the energy, so I had that in mind while I was making it. As for “God Needs The Devil,” I think I do a mix of both. The alternate version is definitely more stripped back production-wise, but I have adopted some of the vocal choices into the live performance.
A few months ago, you announced that you were going to pack up and travel the country in your Airstream, which is where you produced and recorded Black Dress. What were some pros and cons of making the EP in these conditions?
Honestly, it’s hard to even call the cons, “cons.” There were plenty of inconveniences–outside noise, cold weather, trying to find power, running out of gas, etc. However, all of those things either forced me to try something new and be creative or gave me an incredible story to write about. It’s definitely not easy, but I have found so much beauty in the freedom of being able to go wherever I want to and work.
Overall, 2024 marked a lot of firsts for you, from playing your first Euro tour with Chance Peña to playing your first ACL festival. Were these shows everything you expected?
They were all so incredible! I am trying my best to be as present as possible in all of these moments and appreciate the gravity of how far we’ve come.
What can fans expect next from you?
2025 is the year of the debut album. That’s the plan as of now, and I am working on it as we speak! I want to be out on the road playing shows and working on the album for as much of next year as possible.
Thank you so much, Jonah. Is there anything else you want to add or share?
I just want to share my absolute gratitude for everyone who has continued to show up for me. I feel so much love around me, and I will keep doing this for as long as y’all will have me!
You can listen to Black Dress here.
Keep up with Jonah Kagen: Instagram // X // Facebook // YouTube // TikTok // Website