Typically witty and “granola,” singer-songwriter Noah Kahan presents himself differently in the new documentary “Noah Kahan: Out of Body.”
Released on April 13, “Out of Body” reveals intimate moments of the “Stick Season” singer’s life, transporting viewers to his Vermont hometown. His humble beginnings diverge into key memories that influenced his gut-wrenching music themed around home, grief and reflection.
At his father’s home in Strafford, Vermont, Kahan reminisces on an old table where he drafted his songs “Homesick” and “Call Your Mom.” Most of Kahan’s music begins with him fiddling with his guitar and writing, an origin that feels almost at odds with the polished, high-stakes world he now inhabits.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kahan spent time with his family in Strafford, where he took a step back from his music career. Ironically, this distance made room for creativity. He drew on memories from shotgunning beers to playing music with family for inspiration. These scenes are among the documentary’s strongest, not just for their warmth, but because they prove that Kahan’s success is rooted in the ordinary.
Although Kahan was already signed to Republic Records in high school, his career catapulted after he uploaded clips of his songs to TikTok at age 25. It started as a joke, but his mix of wit and poignancy went viral.
It seems unreal the way one person can go from posting comical videos on TikTok to performing with big names and selling out stadiums. But “Out of Body” resists framing the process as a fairytale, instead questioning the cost of transformation, suggesting that rapid success can be as destabilizing as it is rewarding.
Feeling constrained by the expectations of fans after “Stick Season” — and life in Nashville, a city well renowned for its music scene — Kahan wonders if his career already peaked.
One bad show, he thinks, will make fans lose interest and faith in his music. While this anxiety is compelling, the documentary occasionally overstates it, leaving less room to explore how Kahan might move forward rather than simply dwell on his fear of failure.
With mounting scrutiny to make a flawless follow-up album, Kahan leaves Nashville. His return to Vermont reinforces the idea that his artistry is tied to home, even if the documentary doesn’t fully conclude whether returning is a solution or a temporary escape.
The beauty of “Stick Season” came from the storytelling rooted in his hometown. His return allows him to tap into a more grounded version of himself. Here, Kahan feels more human, less consumed by metrics and expectations.
His music isn’t the only cause of his insecurity. Kahan touches on his struggles with disordered eating and body dysmorphia, cycling between binge eating and starvation. These moments are the most vulnerable in the film, but feel somewhat underexplored and are not given the depth they deserve.
While some doubts remain about Kahan’s ability to balance superstardom while staying true to his evocative style, the release of Kahan’s newest album, “The Great Divide,” on April 24, and its subsequent world tour, are bound to answer them.
If “Out of Body” reveals anything, this isn’t the stereotypical rags-to-riches celebrity documentary. It’s a story with an important lesson: Uncertainty isn’t a sign of decline, but a reflection of an artist who is deeply attuned to his craft — still searching, still questioning, still creating.
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @makaylagoldenn
Related Stories:
— Reel Thoughts: Baz Luhrmann’s ‘EPiC’ explores Elvis’ throne in new musical documentary
— Reel Thoughts: ‘Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie’ is the funniest film of 2026
— Liner Notes: Hozier mythologizes life and death on ‘Unreal Unearth’